No, it can’t be! Are there really only eight Fridays left before the holiday season? How many paydays is that for you? That’s right folks. Pretty soon you will be seeing the holiday displays going up in the retail stores and will be lamenting that it is too soon. “It seems we just get through summer and back to school and we are quickly reminded that the holidays are fast approaching,” states Jana Castanon, spokesperson for Apprisen. “But, use this as an incentive to start thinking about how you are going to handle the upcoming expenses associated with this time of year.”

Governor Pat Quinn today proclaimed Saturday, Nov. 26 as "Small Business Saturday" in Illinois to encourage shoppers to support the more than 500,000 small businesses in the state. Consumers are encouraged to use the Saturday after Thanksgiving, Nov. 26, between "Black Friday" and “Cyber Monday” – traditionally two of the busiest shopping days of the year – to shop at small businesses around southeastern Illinois.

“Thanksgiving weekend traditionally serves as the kick-off for the holiday shopping season, and we want all Illinois businesses to have a strong showing,” Governor Quinn said. “I encourage people throughout Illinois to use this time to show their support for local merchants that contribute to our local economies, putting people to work and keeping our economy moving forward.”