With gas and airplane costs soaring higher than ever before, it's not feasible for most families to visit loved ones as frequently as they would like. Even if you can't travel to see your favorite family and friends, you definitely don't have to lose touch. If you sit down and take the time to write letters as a family, we guarantee that your loved ones will not be disappointed. Nine out of ten Americans say they look forward to receiving personal letters and greeting cards on special occasions, so imagine the joy they will feel upon receiving a random note of love for no reason in particular. With any luck, your friends will respond via traditional mail and you will have rekindled a whole "new" tradition of communication and love. Even if distance, finances and other factors keep you and your loved ones apart, you will remain close in spirit.

Do you usually look forward to spending Thanksgiving with Grandma, but the prospect of getting across the country to see her would mean breaking the bank this year? Instead of reserving plane flights, "reserve" a night for family time instead. Set out plenty of colorful stationery, pens and pictures from the past year. Each member of the family can write a personal note to grandma in which they share stories and exciting news they would normally share in person. By including recent photos, mementos, and memories, you'll be creating a packet full of love for Grandma to open on Thanksgiving day, even though you won't be there to share it with her in person. Receiving such a beautiful gift will be sure to make her day, and you just might be surprised to find what a sentimental and memorable experience writing letters as a family can be.

Take this idea one step further by getting each family member his or her own set of personal stationery, or by sending the recipient personalized stationery, encouraging him or her to write back.

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We all know the old adage that says "birds of a feather stick together." While it may sound a bit cliche, research shows that there is in fact value in surrounding yourself with positive, successful, happy people. When you surround yourself with people and things that inspire you and make you happy, you will be more likely to find strategies to help you live the life you want to live. When you spend time with people who you don't aspire to be like, who you don't respect, or who make you feel bad about yourself, you will likely feel less empowered, and not at all inspired, to make good things happen for yourself. Think about it...reaching out to people that you admire just might provide you with a better job opportunity, some solid advice, or even just a new network of positive friends.

Sounds good...but where do you go from here? It can be a bit intimidating to randomly reach out to a casual acquaintance just to say "hello," and it's definitely tough to blatantly ask for help or advice. Writing a friendly, hand-written note can be much less daunting than picking up the phone. A hand-written note also displays a certain level of respect because it takes more time and thought than sending a quick email. Maybe most importantly, a letter can actually make you more approachable and a lot more memorable. Receiving a letter in the mail is less intrusive to the recipient because they can read it, put some thought into it, and get back to you in their own time. A letter is also special in that it is something more permanent than a phone call or email. It's easy to forget to return a voicemail or absently delete an email; it's a lot harder to ignore that beautiful, hand-written letter sitting on your desk!

Some suggestions for opening the lines of communication are: Just saying hello; inviting the person for dinner or a drink; sharing a story or discussing a topic the two of you have in common; or including an article you think the person might be interested in.

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According to a recent survey conducted by Consumer Affairs, fifty-two percent of Americans are not saving enough money, with many saving no money at all. If you and your family are "just getting by," you are certainly not alone. Why not take matters into your own hands and make a change for the better? Even small changes, like switching to a company with better benefits or one with a great retirement plan can make a huge difference for you and your family in the long run. Think about it...you owe it to yourself, and to your future, to see what is out there and weigh your options.

A great way to uncover your options is to get out there and just start interviewing. Even with all the hype about layoffs and hiring slumps, you never know who might be on the lookout for your specific skill set and singular background experience. Is there a local company you have always been interested in? Have you heard that a friend's company is looking to hire? Update your resume ASAP, print it on a high quality paper, and drop it in the mail along with a professional, personalized cover letter introducing yourself to the hiring manager. With any luck, they will call you soon to schedule an interview. At the very least, they will probably file your resume away for later, because a resume delivered via "snail mail" is much more memorable (and not as easy to "delete") than the hundreds of email applications they will likely receive. If you are lucky enough to get that interview, make sure to leave an immediate and lasting impression for all the right reasons.

As soon as you get home from the interview, ensure that you will stand out from the crowd by writing a professional, sincere, hand-written thank you note directly to the person with whom you interviewed, thanking them for their time and re-expressing your interest and enthusiasm for the job. Make sure to proofread it, and send it without delay. Employers have to make tough decisions, and any extra steps you take can only help your chances to land the job of your dreams.

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