Holidays
Stop The Holiday Bill Paying Blues
Strategies to Ligthen your debt Load for a Less Stressful Holiday
Wednesday, October 22, 2003
CBS MarketWatch
Dvorkin, president of Consolidated Credit Counseling Services, Inc.� says to uncover ways to manage holiday stress ask yourself:
What are your best holiday memories?
What do you like the least about the holidays?
What do you enjoy most about the holidays?
A free holiday guide and worksheets can be found at www.consolidatedcredit.org.
"Make a plan for how you want to spend your time, money and energy. Most importantly, do not get deeper into debt during the holidays," says Dvorkin CPA, MBA and noted speaker on credit and debt issues.
For a less expensive and less stressful holiday he says:
Stick to a Budget. Set a spending limit and draw names instead of buying for everyone. Help children prioritize requests within a budget. Consider giving gift certificates to your kids. Then hit the stores the day after Christmas for amazing bargains!
Cash is King. Don't buy on credit. If you must, then use a low-rate credit card that you will pay-off over 3 months. Use another credit card that you will pay in full when the bill arrives. If you are over your head in credit card debt, stop now! Call 800-728-3632 for help in your area.
Keep Track. Write down holiday purchases when you make them so you don't lose track of your spending.
Concentrate on Experiences, Not Gifts. You probably can't remember the majority of the gifts you gave or received as children, but you probably have holiday memories you treasure.
Family Projects. Make ornaments; framed photos or scrapbooks; homemade breads or jams; potted plants or herbs for gifts.
Surprise People. Do good deeds without getting caught. Shovel a neighbor's walk without them seeing you. Leave homemade cookies on a doorstep and run away before they answer the door.
