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I can’t believe we’re already beginning to close out 2008. With just about three weeks to go, the new year will be here before we know it. It seems like just a few months ago I was getting ready for spring, planting the garden, and doing some landscaping around the house. Now, it’s only a few more months until that starts all over again. It’s amazing how time flies.

So, as we slowly bring this year to a close, it’s a good time to make the most of what time is left. There is still time to save money, make money, and prepare for making the most of 2009. Here are some good articles from the past week that can help you.

Also, I’m trying to get into the habit of using social media a bit more, so if you want to connect with me, you can find me on Twitter and on the Generation X Finance blog page on Facebook.

Are You In Financial Trouble? Money Tips To Cope With Hard Times -A lot of people are in financial trouble these days. Unemployment continues to increase, the ability to obtain credit is difficult, and overall, people are having a hard time making ends meet. But, all is not lost. There are some things you can do to help you cope with hard times, and The Digerati Life has put together a great list.

Love Them or Hate Them, Make the Most of Gift Cards this Holiday Season - Whether you like them or not, chances are you may receive a gift card for Christmas this year. Not much you can do about it once you already receive one, but you can at least make the most of them.

Black Friday: Why Does It Exist? – We heard all about it for the past week, but what is Black Friday exactly? What does it mean, and how did it get started? Well, I don’t have all of the answers, but Lazy Man shares his experience and compares the perspective of both the consumers and the retailers.

Why You’ll be Richer Without Kids – A controversial topic, but the bottom line is true. Whether you like it or not, it costs money to have and raise children, so obviously, without children, you could have more money. But, since life isn’t all about money, is it really worth it? Brip Blap starts an interesting discussion.

Save Money at Restaurants – Tips for Spending Less When Eating Out -This is a busy time of year for many people, so that means spending more time eating out. We all know that eating out can be much more expensive than eating at home, so Ben has some tips to help you spend less when eating out this holiday season.

Reduce your Taxes by Claiming your Capital Loss -If there is any silver lining to the drop in the stock market, it’s that you can use realized losses to reduce your gains, or even taxable income. While this article comes with a Canadian perspective, similar rules apply here as well. If you have sold an investment for a loss in a taxable account, you may be entitled to some tax savings.

Roth IRA Q & A – The Roth IRA continues to be a popular investment choice, especially for younger people. The idea of withdrawals in the future without paying taxes is enticing. But, these vehicles can work for a number of other situations as well. Madison answers some common questions sent in by readers.

Fidelity to Reopen Contrafund and Low–Priced Stock Fund – Fidelity is reopening some good funds. I was always a fan of the low-priced stock fund, but it closed years ago. Luckily, the institutional version of the fund reopened in our 401(k) earlier this year, and it looks like the regular fund is doing the same. Come December 16th, you can take advantage of these funds as well.

Free FICO Credit Score Estimates -Who doesn’t like stuff that’s free? It’s even better when the free stuff is actually something useful. Jim highlights some free offers to help you get some free credit score estimates.

10 Essential Steps to Take BEFORE You’re Laid Off – Be prepared. The best offense is a good defense. Ok, boy scout motto and cliches aside, the best thing you can do is prepare for a job loss before it happens.

Recession-Proof Careers -Speaking of losing jobs, here are a few careers that tend to hold up even during a recession. Unfortunately, I don’t see my line of work in there, and working in finance is probably one of the worst places to be right now. But, maybe you’re career choice is on this list.