Keeping Tabs On Holiday Debt
Ah, the holiday season! Truly a season of giving. Unfortunately most of us suffer from the gift that keeps on giving: holiday debt. Americans on average will take 6 months to pay off Christmas debt. Here are a few tips to keep your holidays bright and debt free this year.
Before the holidays arrive, do some careful plotting and planning. A few hours spent in preparation can mean less money spent on gifts. You don’t have to be Scrooge, you just have to be smart.
1) Decide how much you are willing to spend, and stick to it. Pretend you are spending cash. How much can you afford out of pocket this month? If you cannot afford it right now, consider that you cannot afford it at all.
2) Make a list of everyone you will be buying gifts for, and estimate how much you want to spend on each person. Include the smaller gifts for teachers or your mailman. Include the price of cards and stamps, because Christmas cards count as gifts when it comes to your budget. Then, add it up and compare the total to your budgeted amount. Make the necessary adjustments. Your brother-in-law may only get socks this year.
3) Cut down your list. This may sound harsh, but look closely at who you are buying gifts for. When saving money is an issue, you don’t need to give gifts to everyone you know.
4) Be creative. Determine if maybe some people wouldn’t be happy with a nice card or maybe some home-baked cookies. Remember, the holidays aren’t about presents, but about good will towards man. Good will comes in many forms and does not always need wrapping paper. If you have a skill or a hobby, use it: needlework, knitting, art, poems. Make a photo album, or offer to plant their garden.
5) Carry your shopping list with you. Take every opportunity to shop. Start early and look for sales. This gives you a chance to comparison shop. It also takes away some of the stress and reduces your risk of overspending just for the sake of getting shopping over with.
6) Have willpower. Stick to your estimates and you won’t go over budget. eBay is a wonderful shopping tool if you remember to start early enough to account for shipping time. Find the right item, bid your budget price and leave it. If someone outbids you, don’t get into a bidding war, just bid on something else within your price range.
7) Increase your income for the season. During the holidays there are lots of ways to make a little extra money. Many stores hire part-time workers for the holidays. Since it is a party season, babysitting is in high demand. Be imaginative. You could be the Official Gift Wrapper in your neighborhood and wraps gifts for friends and neighbors for a small fee.
Last January, when you started paying those credit card bills, you probably mumbled to yourself, “Next year will be different!” It can be. A few hours spent planning can save you lots of money come January, and can make next year start off happy and holiday debt free.
American Credit Foundation offers a free self-help holiday spending guide. You can get one by clicking on the following link for a debt free holidays handbook.
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Tags: debt, holiday, money
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