Something is different this year. First, it seems like the holiday season is starting earlier than usual, which is just fine with me.

I love Thanksgiving and Christmas so much, I like stretching the season a bit. But an avalanche of mail order catalogs? Most of them arriving in late September? Not so much.

I'm kind of surprised that this year, more than recent years past, far more catalogs are arriving in the mail.

Here's what I find puzzling. Given the popularity of online shopping, why are companies spending so much money on paper catalogs? These things in full color are not cheap to produce. But I'm sure marketing geniuses have been paid plenty to figure out that we respond well to hard copy catalogs. And that scares me a little. My best intentions to not order my brains out can easily fall by the wayside once I flip open to see what's inside.

Take these particularly adorable Drinking Glasses I saw. These are only $3.99 and what cute little grandson would not love to watch his apple juice or milk flow up one side, around his eyes and down into his mouth?

Did I say only $3.99? Well, plus tax and shipping. And that's not the only item that's easy to love in this Container Store Wish Book.

Here's what I need to do: Not open these things! Stop browsing, already! And I really should throw them in the shredder. But I have an obligation to you, my dear readers. I need to research and report.

I know that you count on me to keep you on the straight and narrow. Carefully navigating the waters of Christmas Shopping can be downright treacherous.

Besides, I'm a bit curious to find out just how many catalogs I get this year. So how about this? I'll not open them, just stack them.

And watch how high the stack will grow.

With that, I am officially kicking off the Great Everyday Cheapskate Christmas Holiday Challenge. This is open to everyone with the courage to draw a line in the sand by taking a pledge.

If you're in, please raise your right hand and repeat after me:

"I accept the EC challenge and pledge to do whatever it takes to get through the entire Holiday Season 2016 without dragging any new debt into the New Year!"

Congratulations! I believe we have just started a movement.

Would you like more information? Log on to EverydayCheapskate.com, where this column is archived complete with links and resources for all recommended products and services. Mary invites questions, comments and tips at [email protected], or c/o Everyday Cheapskate, 12340 Seal Beach Blvd., Suite B-416, Seal Beach, CA 90740. This column will answer questions of general interest, but letters cannot be answered individually. Mary Hunt is the founder of www.DebtProofLiving.com, a personal finance member website and the author of "Debt-Proof Living," released in 2014. To find out more about Mary and read her past columns, please visit the Creators Syndicate Web page at www.creators.com.