Are you addicted, conflicted, hypnotized and CONSUMERIZED by the demon monoculture of materialism?

PRAISE the Lord and put away your credit cards, people! The Reverend Billy Talen-head of the Church of Life After Shopping--is here to SAVE you from path to eternal debt!

Seriously. The Rev. Billy and his partner Savitri D, co-director of the Life After Shopping church and gospel choir, are on the road this month promoting their new documentary, "What Would Jesus Buy?", produced by Morgan Spurlock (who chowed his way to fame in "Supersize Me").

They took time from their soul-saving schedule to enlighten DailyWorth about their mission.

What exactly is the Shopocalypse?
It's the nightmare of total commercialization, when everything around you—all the objects, your personal life, the weather—they've all been monetized, everything is an occasion for shopping.

This seems like the worst time to preach the anti-shopping gospel.
Christmas symbolizes the beginning of change. You don't have to buy a gift to give a gift. The sheer volume of communication we're getting indicates a massive shift in our culture. People are receptive to the message of stopping shopping as never before.

How can the faithful survive the oncoming Shopocalypse?
Don't believe the hype. News anchors say people are "afraid to shop"—but maybe they prefer not to shop.

Flex your muscles. Pick one thing you can do. Flex your human muscles. Flex your citizen muscles. Remember that real satisfaction in your life comes from somewhere else, not what you get at the mall.

Say, AMEN, sisters!

"What Would Jesus Buy?" is streaming FREE on Snagfilms.com, and you can watch the trailer here: WWJBmovie.com.

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It sounds almost silly: A survey of drug store goods, in the January issue of Consumer Reports, found that items aimed at women tend to cost more—sometimes 50% or 60% more.

What's disturbing is how pervasive and financially poisonous the so-called gender price bias is—especially when you consider that, on average, women earn about 23% less than men with comparable credentials.

Some other examples:

• Women are 32% more likely to pay more for their mortgages than men, according to a 2006 Consumer Federation study.
• Health insurance companies regularly charge women 22% to 50% more for care, according to recent Congressional testimony.

It almost sounds like a conspiracy. Women are generally paid less, yet from moisturizer to mortgages, our cost of living is significantly higher.

Why? Because we can't add? Because corporate America knows that women can be financially manipulated more easily than men?

You Tell Us: What are ways that you're being overcharged, why do you think women pay a premium for basics, how can we take back our money and use it to enrich our lives and our futures? Leave a comment below.

With thanks to Consumer Reports.
Get more details in MP Dunleavey's MSN Money column today on the same topic.

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Outlet malls lure shoppers with the promise of designer goods at fire sale prices—but many don't deliver bona fide bargains, so beware.

Here are three ways outlet malls tempt you to spend:

1. That looong drive. Consumer research shows that with most outlet malls an hour away from urban centers, the investment of time (and having dragged five girlfriends) may spur you to shop more. "I didn't come all this way for nothing!"
2. Value confusion. Although outlet malls sport brand names galore, many stores don't offer genuine designer items. Some (Brooks Brothers, Ann Taylor, Coach) have separate product lines just for the outlets.
3. The maze. If you can't find the bathroom or the food court at the outlet mall, you're not alone. Many malls are designed to keep customers moving—not sitting.

Outlet malls do offer discounts. Just make sure you can identify high quality at a low price when you see it. Or save time, stress (and gas) and shop online or close to home.

You can read more of MP Dunleavey's analysis here on MSN Money or review this recent CBS broadcast.

Many thanks to Ellen Ruppel Shell, author of "Cheap: The High Cost of Discount Culture," for her input.

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Dear Readers,

Your 40+ responses to Amanda's post last week ("Amanda's Money Coma") have inspired us!

Given the interest so many of you showed in Amanda's own dilemma, we think it's time to open the floor. We're planning a series of future dailies based on the real stories of readers' money struggles and triumphs.

There's something schizophrenic about being mired in a colossal downturn, with reports of rising foreclosures, bankruptcy rates and, lately, escalating credit card debt—alternating with the holiday pep rally to S-H-O-P!

While there are many of us who are fortunate to be employed or otherwise on steady financial ground, some of us aren't. This is one holiday season we'll remember as a time when we're not only wrestled with our own concerns, but when we did things differently for other people's financial well-being, too.

So...how are you coping? Whether you tied a rock to your credit cards and tossed them in the river or you've found creative ways to celebrate the season, let us know! We can't wait to hear.

Share by leaving a comment below, either identified or anonymous. If you'd rather email us—send it to This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

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What’s a budget-conscious grocery shopper to do? There are obvious tips like ‘buy fruit in season when it’s cheapest,’ and ‘shop the sales,’ and ‘always shop from a list.’ Even if you’re not shopping the sales, you can still eat well without over spending. Here are five healthy – and affordable – items to put in your cart:

1. Avocado - $1-$3 per avocado
   It's one of those "good fats" (monounsaturated) that should be embraced in moderation as part of a healthy diet. An avocado is packed with 20 vitamins, minerals and phytonutrients, and acts as a "nutrient booster," enabling the body to absorb more fat-soluble nutrients like alpha- and beta-carotene and lutein.
   
   
2. Walnuts - $3.50-$8 per pound
   Go to town with this nut. It’s an omega-3 essential fatty acid-packed snack that has been found to protect the heart, promote better cognitive function, and provide anti-inflammatory benefits for asthma, rheumatoid arthritis, eczema and psoriasis.
   
   
3. Kidney Beans - $1.50 or less per pound - a bargain!
   Dried beans in general are a supremely inexpensive source of nutrition. Kidney beans, in particular, are an excellent source of fiber and protein, as well as the trace mineral, molybdenum. This mineral helps detoxify sulfites, a type of preservative added to many foods (and to which many people are sensitive), from the body.
   
   
4. Peanut Butter - $3.50-$6.00 per jar
   It may be hard to stop once you've started eating it, but if you can control yourself, peanut butter is a healthy eating 'do'. Two tablespoons can add vitamins A and E, folic acid, calcium, magnesium, zinc, iron, fiber and monounsaturated fats to your diet.
   
   
5. Eggs - $2.75-$5.00 per dozen
   No matter what time of the day, eggs make a satisfying meal. Thanks to the protein and fat, eggs keep you feeling full, so you're less likely to want a snack in between meals.
   
   

Today's DailyWorth was provided by Vital Juice. Vital Juice is a free daily e-mail that delivers the latest must-read information about fitness, nutrition, beauty and wellness. Ready to be healthy? Check out Vital Juice.

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Today's guest blogger Jenny Newcomer is a busy mom of 2 and the founder of LobotoME {eco-friendly organizational products} - For more information visit at www.LobotoME.com.

We all need to take a break from buying new things once in awhile. I've found that a spending hiatus is a great way to not only reduce my bills for a period of time, but also a way to analyze what is truly important in my life. During prior spending hiatuses, my family & I found ourselves at home more together, cooking, relaxing, playing instead of going out to eat, going shopping because we were bored, and reassessing our financial priorities.

I first learned of the concept of a spending hiatus via the blog Simple Lovely.  She went on a self-imposed 3-month spending hiatus earlier this year. Some of her readers joined in, many watched and waited to see what she had learned in the process. After she wrapped hers up, another set of bloggers spear-headed by Aimee of the blog Mostly Mod began a "remainder of the year" spending hiatus -- 8 months long! Some chose to have a "No Spend Weekend" or a "No Spend Month", only paying for housing, utilities, food & gas for a shorter time frame.

I joined in, but made a few exceptions -- some travel, some unfinished house & landscaping related expenses, birthday & holiday gifts (that aren't homemade), and I vowed not to by any "un-necessary" items. If I found we did need something (eg. Sam new sneakers), to try a thrift store first. I am 4 months into it and have been doing really well, for the most part.

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Need $10,000 to renovate your kitchen? How about $2,000 to buy a new computer? Big expenses happen. Here's a way to save for large, one-time, non-budgeted expenses:

Set up a separate savings account (try ING DIRECT (9/9/09 APY: 1.3%), SmartyPig.com (9/26/09 APY: 2.0%), or your existing bank) with a goal and specific dollar amount in mind. For one full year (or as long as it takes), dedicate all of your unexpected checks  and deposit them in this account. "Unexpected" might mean a $200 birthday check from grandma, insurance disbursement, or a tax refund. You can save many thousands of dollars this way, and it shouldn't affect your allocated budget because it's all unexpected. If you simply deposit this money into your checking account, you'll likely spend it on that cashmere sweater you've been eyeing. And you don't really need that sweater like you need a new computer.

What's SmartyPig? It's not a bank like ING DIRECT. It's like a public piggy bank and has some unusual requirements (for example, requires automated contributions). You can read an independent review here: SmartyPig Review.

What's your next big expense?

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