It strikes fear in the hearts of every man or woman who has ever been in debt and it’s here again. It’s the holiday season and people everywhere are quaking in their boots or more likely, in their wallets. Just how does one survive the holidays without piling on the credit card debts?
One of the problems with holiday shopping is it’s just too easy to pull out the credit card and be done with it without taking into consideration the price tag on that “perfect giftâ€. But, is the gift really perfect if the gift giver couldn’t afford to pay cash for it?
So, as you prepare to hit the malls, take with you these few simple rules.
Budget: Starting early and finding ways to trim your usual budget is a good way to set aside money for the holidays. Not everyone really thinks about holiday spending throughout the year though so it may be necessary to do some heavy hitting cutting to come up with the cash but the more you can cut, the less debt you’ll be paying off in January. Starting a new year buried in mountains of debt is never fun.
Don’t Buy Just Because It’s There: Desperation often hits holiday shoppers. You know the feeling. It’s the one where your minding is yelling “I have to buy him something….anything.â€Â Don’t listen. Be prepared with a list of 2 or 3 ideas for each gift recipient and stick to the list. Don’t be lured by that sweat shirt with the Christmas tree lights that blink everytime a person moves and don’t cave in and just buy dad another tie unless he really needs a tie.
Shop Sales: Are you on any store mailing lists? If you are, you’re sure to get some exclusive invitations to special sales. Don’t just recycle them. Take advantage of the serious discounts the stores offer. Check the add circulars that come in the newspaper. If a store has an item on your list at a good price, get there as soon as the sale starts.
Consider Giving Your Time: Do you know a young parent? Maybe they could use some babysitting time. An elderly person might find the perfect gift to be shoveling her snow. A child might enjoy an outing to the zoo.
Surviving the holiday season without increasing your debt or going into debt is tricky, but with a little creativity and careful planning, it can be done.
