(NECN) – It’s Money Monday and joining Good Morning Live to talk about what we can expect from the economy in the new year is Barry Armstrong, host of “Money Matters” on WBIX and a financial planner with Securities America Advisors.

We continue to lick our wounds from a financially painful 2008. What should investors and homeowners do to recover in 2009?

On Friday we saw a dramatic decrease in the rate on the 15 year fixed rate mortgage. That mortgage is now available with a rate of 4.375%, and the 30 year fixed rate mortgage is now available at a rate of 4.875%. Both of these programs are available without points and modest closing costs. I would strongly advise people to take advantage of these rates now. They might get a little bit lower, but I would not count on it.

Investment portfolios have lost almost 50% during the past 15 months. Do you have any portfolio advice for 2009 and beyond?

There is a tremendous amount of stimulus being put into our economy. We have low interest rates, high levels of government spending, and low energy prices. If history holds true, then we will be experiencing high rates of inflation. Investors should anticipate that inflation, and plan accordingly.

What types of investments provide an investment hedge?

Investors can purchase inflation protected securities. These are available individually or in the form of mutual funds. In addition I feel that Real Estate Investment Trusts will provide an inflation hedge over the mid to long term.

What about really safe investments?

CDs and treasury returns and perhaps headed lower. The yield on the 10 year treasury is less than 2.5% and 5 year CD rates are in the range of 3%. They are safe, but I question as whether they will hold their spending value over the next 10 years. In addition the FDIC is going to start charging more for insurance in April.

When do you feel that the bad news will subside?

We are paying for past sins, and the scariest data that I observe is the rate of unemployment, and the weekly jobs report. I do not expect that data to improve until 2010, so I am afraid we could be in for another long year.

We try to come up with lots of our own frugal ideas – but it would be rude to steal them from anyone else. So instead, we’ll just give you this handy-dandy link to a list from Slate Magazine of a few sites that are part of a growing interest in saving money.

Among them, Wise Bread, which seems to be about saving almost anything – the lead story as I write this is about cutting calories. The two-year-old site has a strong following, and is worth a look.

There’s also slickdeals.net, which is a barebones “Here’s some good stuff on sale” site you can scan to your heart’s content.

And there’s much more. Check it out in Slate.

And speaking of good deals – we have a few lingering half-price bargains at NECN’s Project Half Price. There are certificates to Aura, the great restaurant in Boston’s Seaport Hotel, and Asian C, a neat Asian fusion bistro in Hingham, Mass. Plus, half-price coffee deals from the Coffee Break Cafe in Quincy and Braintree, Mass., and even some indoor golf bargains from GolfTEC, so you can get your game in shape while the only things flying outside are snowflakes.

Check them out at necn.projecthalfprice.com.

Welcome to WordPress. This is your first post. Edit or delete it, then start blogging!

(NECN) – The wallets are a little tighter this winter, but it doesn’t mean there aren’t other ways you can give back.

Joining us now with some ideas for “frugal giving” is Louise Sacco of www.frugalyankee.com .

(NECN) – Did the snow keep you from buying Christmas presents this weekend?

You’re probably not alone.

Here with some last second and economical gift ideas for those procrastinators is Louise Sacco of the www.frugalyankee.com

Everyone else is having a pre-Christmas sale – so why not Project Half Price!

We have a major blowout Friday at 8am – with deals from some amazing places – half-price certificates from:

Clink., the fabulous restaurant at the Liberty Hotel in Boston. The menu changes daily, but the unique atmosphere is always a conversation piece. Buy a $100 gift certificate for $50.

Vintage, a West Roxbury landmark giving an urban feel in a more suburban location, and featuring a great wine list. (With a name like Vintage…). Get $100 gift certificates for $50.

Three great Worcester restaurants – Bocado, Mezcal and Block 5 Bistro Bar – all operated by Niche Hospitality Group. Bocado takes you on a journey for the taste buds with Mediterranean-inspired tapas and other cuisine. Mezcal features Southwestern and Mexican cuisine with homemade ingredients and a large selection of tequlias. And Block 5 Bistro showcases an eclectic spin on comfortable American cuisine, in a cool building in Worcester’s Canal district. Your $100 gift certificate can be used at any of the restaurants – for just $50.

And if food isn’t your the thing on your gift list… take a swing at some great deals from Golf Tec. You can brush up on your swing (or maybe cut your lost golf ball budget for 2009) with some winter lessons. Your $100 certificate (on sale for $50) can be applied to lessons at any of their greater Boston locations.

It’s your last chance to get certificates before the holidays, and it will sell out fast.

They all go on sale Friday at 8am… and when they’re gone, they’re gone.

This has been a little bit of an obsession of mine this holiday season – finding gift ideas that give something back – whether they are gifts to charity, microloans or other ways that your thoughts, sweat or cash can serve someone else this holiday season.

With that in mind, and recognizing that not everyone has a lot of money to spend this holiday season, a pair of bloggers came up with The Give List. They got people from all over the country to suggest gift ideas that cost little or no money but could make a big difference in the life of the recipient.

71 ideas in all, and there is still a possibility of a second list coming soon.

Among my favorite suggestions:

6. When people ask what you want for Christmas, ask them to give canned goods to a food pantry.

16. If you crochet or knit and have extra yarn sitting around, make winter scarves or gloves and donate to an nonprofit working with at-risk populations.

28. Do you live where it snows? Need a holiday gift for an elderly neighbor? Present them with a pledge to shovel their walk.

43. Make a personal pro bono commitment for 2009 to Food First to learn more about hunger and DO something. (ed note: Doesn’t have to be ‘Food First’, just find an organization and donate your time, especially in honor of someone who might not be able to.)

68. Create a wish list of your favorite arts organizations, and ask people to make donations in your name rather than buying you presents for the holidays.

You get the idea. There are a ton of things you can do – especially if you’re shopping for someone like me who doesn’t need a lot. I tell my family, “Want to get me something? Give somewhere. The organizations need it more than I do…” And we all have much more to offer than just money.

Check out the list at http://www.thegivelist.org/.

(NECN) – During Good Morning Lives, Money Mondays segment, we’re talking frugal holiday stocking stuffers.

Joining Good Morning Live with some fun and useful tips is Louise Sacco of www.frugalyankee.com .

The holidays are creeping up — do you have your shopping done? Do you have any money left at this point to spend?

Erin Murray, the Boston editor of www.dailycandy.com, joins NECN with some cool gift ideas for $50 and under!

From bronze candlesticks to a Winston’s New England breakfast basket, Erin has the scoop on it all!

And if you’re looking at ways to give gifts that give back, Ted McEnroe has got you covered!

Ted McEnroe, bless his soul, is back with more of those gifts that mean a little something extra. Take a gander at the video. Links can be found by clicking on this post’s title.

[Ted note: Don’t miss the Give List – more than 70 gifts you can give that cost nothing. Nada. Zippo. Zilch. Zero. You get the idea. There are some great ideas… I might have to write more about it later.

As we find ourselves deeper in the holiday season, gift giving begins to move its way to the front burner. But before one can give a gift, one must buy a gift. Or maybe not.

Beth Kanter points out on her blog a few different ways to give this holiday season, including a simple way to get a major corporation to give to the Boston Food Bank.

We also take a look at the site NetworkForGood.org, which helps with online fundraising. They offer the Good Card. Rather than donating in someone’s name, you can make a donation on this card, which the gift receiver can then apply to a charity of their choosing in the Network For Good. If you would like a hard copy of the card, get a jump on it. It takes up to two weeks for delivery.

And if that’s not enough for you kindhearted gift givers, take a peek at TheGiveList.org. It is a list of, so far, 71 ways to give a gift without opening your wallet.