You’ve seen them before: Those creepy ads encouraging you and me to reduce needless spending and to put money away in savings. (Personally, that “Pig” dude has been the subject of my latest night terrors.)

The “Feed the Pig” public service announcement campaign has been on the air for about a year, but with the economy at its worst and the government’s economic stimulus checks in the mail next month, it couldn’t be a better time for the Ad Council and media networks to increase the campaign’s visibility.

So, to put it simply, don’t be surprised if you start seeing way more of these ads during your favorite TV shows and web videos.

But as cheesy or just plain weird as these ads might seem, the larger campaign is actually pretty creditable and, dare I say, educational.

I like the simple and straightforward feel of the “Feed the Pig” website and the whole campaign in general. (Just compare the “Feed the Pig” site to the IRS website.)

The campaign is not what you’d expect from its backers, the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants, an organization that sounds slightly more interesting than the words “manila envelope.” (Sorry, accountants, but it’s true.)

There’s definitely a need to get this information across to people in the simplest way possible, and it seems like traditional organizations like the AICPA are finally grasping how to get through to the cash-strapped Millennial Generation. Hell, there’s even a podcast, and it’s actually informational.

Yes, I totally sound like a shill for these marketers and “The Man” in general; but for the sake of giving credit where it’s due, “Feed the Pig” is sending a critical message to all of us: Get your cash right, or we’re all in for a lot of trouble.

Now for some video: