"It's just not the holidays without them!" exclaims an Old Navy modelquin in a 2009 holiday commercial. She is referring to alpine hoodies, without which, in the modelquin world, Christmas apparently just isn't Christmas. Every year during the holiday season, Americans are inundated by advertising, convincing them they need to spend more and get more than they ever have before. This commercial is a typical ad of the holiday season, created to make consumers think they have to buy the advertised product in order to be happy.

Since the turn of the millennium, Americans have spent an average of $794 on Christmas gifts, according to Gallup Inc. Last year, however, Americans spent about $639 on Christmas gifts, a low number due to the nation's economic recession. If last year is any indicator, the holiday spending of 2010 will be much the same. To get consumers to buy their products, companies must continue to come up with innovative ways to draw appeal. Perhaps the most well-known tactic of American industry is to go for those who have the most to spend and the least to save—teenagers.

Teenagers are widely regarded as having the most disposable income. Allowances, first jobs and almost zero monetary responsibility open up the wide world of spending to America's young people. They are being targeted at younger and younger ages, and good money-management skills are being taught less and less often at home.

What's a youth pastor to do when his or her kids are being assaulted on every side? Especially at Christmastime, kids easily can get sucked into the allure of extravagant spending. After all, it is everywhere; but if kids aren't taught about the importance of money management while they're young, they will grow into a debt-ridden, credit card-dependent generation. So how do youth pastors equip their kids with the right tools to fend off these Christmas come-ons?

American industry knows exactly what to do to draw in teens. Kids are growing up faster and faster, thanks to the influence of companies that insist that it's cool to be an adult. Gap has been running a commercial starring a group of preteen girls, shaking their hips and loudly proclaiming to their parents that they need new clothes. At the midpoint of the commercial, the cute little girls yell, "Not gonna wear it anymore!" This commercial seems to say that if a child complains and pushes enough, she is bound to get what she wants.

There are few Christian organizations that facilitate education for teens on biblical stewardship, but there are some. Crown Financial Ministries exists to teach people everywhere "to learn, apply and teach God's financial principles so they may know Christ more intimately, be free to serve Him and help fund the Great Commission." There are also some secular organizations such as Money Savvy Generation, which was founded by Susan and Michael Beacham in 1999 to help parents and teachers give youth a better understanding of fiscal responsibility and a basis for money-management skills.