Last night, I had a dream about the Dow Jones industrial average. Clearly, I've been doing way too much of what I've been warning you not to do. As of this morning, I've removed certain cable news channels from my television lineup.

Then, amid all the doom and gloom, I made a list of things that are doing well and for which we can be grateful:

GAS PRICES ARE DROPPING. I'll admit it. In my heart, I figured that once gas reached $4.50 a gallon, that price would become the new "floor." I truly never believed prices ever would come down. Boy, was I wrong! I saw $2.57 a gallon recently, and I almost cried tears of joy.

INTEREST RATES ARE LOW. As I write, the prime rate is at 4.5 percent. Wow. Thirty-three years ago, when we bought our first home, we were thrilled to lock in at 8.5 percent interest on our Federal Housing Administration mortgage. Although credit card companies are cutting personal spending limits, their rates are dropping, too. The average rate on credit card purchases fell to 11.89 percent in the first week of October, down from 12.13 percent in September, according to LowCards.com, which tracks 1,260 credit cards.

HOMES FOR FIRST-TIME BUYERS. First-time homebuyers who have good credit scores and reasonable down payments should be ecstatic. They will be able to buy homes now that prices are more reasonable. This is good news not only for newbie homeowners but also for those who want to begin investing in real estate. There are bargains galore, with more coming.

NEW CARS FOR A SONG. Auto manufacturers are doing just about anything to make deals on the glut of new models sitting in car lots across the country. But more than that, they're gearing up to develop more fuel-efficient models for the future.

LIBRARIES ARE RESURGING. Public libraries are doing record "business" these days, as Americans across the country are increasingly taking advantage of the best deal in town, where everything, including books, CDs and even video game sessions, is free.

BOUNTIFUL HARVEST. Despite weather challenges, America's heartland is poised to deliver a record-smashing bountiful harvest. Exports of U.S. farm products will increase more than 40 percent in value this year. That is great news for both farmers and consumers, as the weak economy and excellent supplies are expected to prevent further price increases.

HOLIDAY BARGAINS. It appears that retailers are more motivated than they ever have been to get your holiday dollars. That means they're cutting prices like crazy and offering free shipping at many online sites. Bargain shoppers with cash should be ready to ascend their thrones because this year, cash will be king.

Mary Hunt is the founder of DebtProofLiving.com and author of 17 books, including "Debt-Proof Living." You can e-mail her at mary@everydaycheapskate.com, or write to Everyday Cheapskate, P.O. Box 2135, Paramount, CA 90723. To find out more about Mary Hunt and read her past columns, please visit the Creators Syndicate Web page at www.creators.com.
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