A boat may not seem like the most frugal purchase these days.  But a large part of the region’s lake culture is made up of middle-class families with relatively modest outfits – a far cry from the Lady Lola, Duane Hagadone’s famous former “superyacht,” or even from some of the high-end boats that will be on display at the Spokane Boat Show, starting Friday at the fairgrounds.

Your old credit score ain’t what it used to be. As lenders tighten the purse strings, a FICO score that might have been considered good a year ago won’t be enough to get the best rates today – making it more difficult to buy a home or a car, or to qualify for a credit card.

A few short months ago, the idea of traveling home for the holidays was a daunting proposition. Gas hovered above four bucks a gallon. Airfares steadily climbed, and airlines added fees for everything from checked baggage to holding a child on your lap. What a difference a few months – and an economic crisis – can make. In Spokane and Coeur d’Alene, gas prices have tumbled to levels not seen in more than four years. And as airlines strive to keep people in the seats, they’re offering deals here and there that can still make it competitive for people in the Inland Northwest to fly, rather than drive, to regional destinations, said Todd Woodard, spokesman for Spokane International Airport. “The economy has started to drift downward and airlines are starting to lower their fares to fill seats,” Woodard said. With that in mind, here are some questions and answers regarding your prospects of making a last-minute travel decision for the holidays. Q: Isn’t time running out for Christmastime plane tickets?