The Thanksgiving shopping weekend wasn't the disaster some retailers feared, but the struggling economy has some consumers putting the brakes on gift giving.

Merchants report that shoppers focused on bargains and smaller-ticket, practical items like blenders, clothes and video games.

Psychologist and author Linda Mintle spoke with CBN News about this change in shopping habits this year.

Click play to watch as she explains how to avoid falling into the trap of over-spending this holiday, and how to best make children aware of financial challenges.

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