I Can Buy Him/Her the Dream Gift but then Everybody Else on My List Gets a Fruitcake
A few basic tips even if you have not already saved for everyone on your list:
1. Determine how much you can AFFORD to spend and then set a specific dollar limit for each persons gifts. You will have to make some choices here on who really deserves those top dollar presents.
2. Use the web to find the best deal. Many stores give discounts to online shoppers. There are also many quality price comparison sites such as Shopzilla.com, Pricegrabber.com and MySimon.com. There are also community led "deal" sites like Cheapstingybargains.com and GottaDeal.com
3. If you have to go into a store than try to avoid the peak shopping times. Other shoppers spending habits tend to rub off on us. Also try to avoid rushing - do not shop on your lunch hour as you will forget all about your budget and just buy the first thing that catches your eye.
4. Leave your credit cards at home. If you cannot afford to pay cash for that gift this month what makes you think you can afford the credit card bill for it next month?
5. Do not fall for the store credit card offers either. They can be a good deal if you pay them off in full prior to the due date as many of them have a holiday special "no-interest till..." What the fine print tells you is that if you don't pay it off prior to that date you are liable for ALL the interest from the day of your purchase. These "deals" turn bad quickly considering that store card interest rates are normally quite high AND that most of us never pay off our credit purchases in full the first month.
6. Look for alternative to expensive gifts for everyone on your list. Homemade gifts such as photo albums and scrapbooks can go over quite well. You can also do a Secret Santa gift exchange between family and friends - that way everyone gets a gift but nobody spends a fortune.
7. Plan for next year by saving your receipts. After the gift buying is completed you add up everything you spent. This is useful for many reasons but one important use is creating your budget for next year. Take the total amount you spent and add 15% then divide that number by 12. That is the amount you have to save every month to pay for next years season.
If you find yourself in post holiday debt trouble you can always talk to a debt management professional. You can get a referral to one based on your situation at www.debtspiral.com
Related Tags: credit card debt, debt management, holiday spending, family finance
Paul Beckwith
DebtSpiral.com
DebtSpiral.com is a free search service that finds you help with credit counseling, debt management, student loans and mortgage refinancing
Your Article Search Directory : Find in ArticlesRecent articles in this category:
- What's In Your Credit Report?
IdentificationYour name, address, social security number, birthdate and previous and current employm - Pros And Cons Of Low Purchase Rate Credit Cards
Low interest credit cards are outstanding until the time period runs out. Most of these offers promo - Bad Credit Loan Scams
There are several bad credit loan scams out there. These are usually aimed at those that don't have - Successful Credit Repair Methods
If you bad credit, you are not alone. Fact of the matter is there are tens of thousands in the count - Auto Loans Bad Credit: Bad Credit Is Not An Obstacle Now
Now a days, people want their own Cars. Though there are Public Transport Systems, they do not watch - Credit Card Services For Your Business
Co Branded Credit cards can be very beneficial for you if you have a business. These cards are onlin - Will The Actual Natural Motion Endure Large Food? -- Horizon Milk
The natural food business may be going through major work day in energy in the past 10 years. Becaus - Prices Of Dlp Lamp Alternative Parts - Dlp Bulbs
Since you will have to purchase a DLP> lamp each and every few years, it might be useful to know the - Dlp Bulbs -- Facts About Dlp Lamp Replacement
With regards to technical breakthroughs there aren't many things that are more popular than tvs and - Ways Which Anybody May Restore Their Very Own Credit Rating Easily - Credit Repair For Dummies
If you listen to a lot of the actual ads which are available regarding credit>, more than likely you
Most viewed articles in this category:
- Credit - Repair
To make the life more comfortable people purchase lots of things from clothing to cars and homes tha - Helpful Tips For Using Low Interest Rate Credit Cards
People with good credit ratings often receive offers for low interest rate credit cards. A credit ca - Benefits to Businesses Accepting Credit Cards
Many business owners report a sharp increase in profit when they begin accepting credit cards as a m - How To Remove A Bankruptcy From Your Credit Report
Credit report repair can be a long, tedious process and one of the hardest items to get removed is a - Putting Low Interest Rate Credit Cards To Work
If you have a solid credit rating, then you may receive offers for low interest rate credit cards. Y - Buying A Car With A Personal Contract Purchase Loan
If you are looking to buy a car but are unsure whether or not a new car is worthwhile, then you shou - Credit Repair - Tips And Tricks That Work
When you apply for credit, your lender will request a credit report from a credit reporting agency. - Bad Credit Debt Consolidation
No doubt there are numerous bad credit personal loans but hunting for a secured loan for bad credit - Before You Buy
Check out the market in the area you want to buy. Find out what price houses are going for and - Top 10 Keys To Creating A Good Credit Score
We know it can be unfair but credit is used for everything these days. Utility companies are even us