With the economy showing limited signs of recovery, Black Friday offers hope for many retailers. Amazon, Target, Best Buy, Wal-Mart and others will try to engage consumers with early holiday deals. But taking those deals might be a mistake for consumers who are already struggling financially.

A new online campaign—"Festive & Frugal"—is encouraging people to think twice about purchases and celebrate the holidays without overspending. The campaign, sponsored by Orange County’s The Frugality Game, is using social media tools like Facebook to spread the word that gifts don’t have to be expensive to be meaningful.

"Since holiday shopping often perpetuates the cycle of credit card debt and overspending, we’re offering solutions," says Eric Fairon, Vice President of The Frugality Game. "While most companies are encouraging spending, we are advocating spending right with frugal approaches to holiday shopping."

The "Festive & Frugal" Web site (www.FestiveAndFrugal.com) offers tools such as a video guide to gifts under five dollars, complementary holiday cards, tips, and a list of websites offering holiday deals. It even includes scripts for consumers that need assistance telling their loved ones that their financial status will affect holiday spending. Some of the suggested ideas on the site include being creative by only spending $5.00. A few examples of this are: a gift basket with fresh fruit, a coffee plant, or a beautifully decorated ornament.

The campaign is stirring up controversy, however, from people concerned that reduced consumer spending will negatively impact the global economy. But lasting economic recovery only occurs when consumers are no longer saddled with debt. "To see our economy truly turn around, we have to begin by rebuilding financial strength in the American household," Fairon says. "Our site is geared toward people that want a stress- and debt-free holiday."