Amount Owed on Accounts is Too High
Your credit score suffers when debt balances are too high.
Settlement for Debt Relief Includes Many Costs, Few Benefits
It is a far from perfect solution. In some cases though it can help you move forward from previous mistakes.
How Identity Thieves Steal Your Information
Understanding how the thieves typically obtain information can help prevent being victimized by the crime.
Take No Risks With Credit Insurance
Have you been fooled by this "packaged profit" tack on? It can make repayment of any debt nearly impossible.
6 Things to remember before filing bankruptcy
Here are a few things which you might like to know before deciding to opt for bankruptcy.
Debt Management Tips for a Smarter Debtor
Keep track of your expenses before your debt gets out of control.
What You Need to Know About Home Equity Interest
Interest rates depend on your credit, equity, your limit on the line of credit and market conditions.
Debt Settlement: The Right Solution?
One benefit and dozens of consequences hardly sound like a fair tradeoff. Tell them you are not stupid enough to believe their lies.
Amortization: Pay Down Your Mortgage in Baby Steps
Thirty years of 6% interest on a $200,000 home loan will see you pay an additional $230,000 in interest.
Help With Cell Phone Bills
Are there strange charges on your cellular bill? You may be able to dispute some of those charges with this approach.

Call us now

1-800-838-0861

Cutting Holiday Costs by Planning Ahead
By Alexander Carl on November 18, 2010

sale-(1).jpgThe Winter holidays stress out everyone— even if you hardly observe them. There are crazily packed stores, even crazier traffic, parties, dinners, services, school exams… and the resultant January financial drain.

Here are ways to get some bank account and credit card relief during December:

Pre-budget your plan. Even if you plan on spending less, go through last year’s receipts and bills to see how much the season costs you. Figure out what expenditures you need this go-round, and what you can cut.

If your budget is looking extra tight, you could chart out the season on a calendar to track how much spending happens when.

Know your list before you hit the stores. Santa Claus has to be organized, even if he’s just buying a gag gift for a co-worker.

You’ll cut down on a ton of stress (and overspending) if you have a good idea of what your gift recipient wants. Great gifts can be found through browsing, but that takes time, stamina, and can easily inflate your budget.

Shop early. Most of us don’t shop on Christmas Eve (at least, we try not to), but kicking off on Black Friday is a nightmare. Retailers offer bargains year round, so snatching up a potential gift in August can be a real blessing.

(Be aware that some Christmas “sales” actually have inflated prices. Remember: the word SALE! can mean “on sale”, or “for sale”.)

Did you look online? Internet retailers can be cheaper than their real-world counterparts. Don’t forget shipping and handling.

Do-it-yourself gifts. They can be endearing or disastrous. At best, they’re a sign of love and a money saver. At worst, the needs and likes of the recipient are ignored, and your ten-year old nephew gets a pink bunny suit.

Don’t forget second-hand shops! There’s no shame in being “cheap” if that means giving an appreciated gift at a reasonable price. Second-hand stores can be goldmines.

Forget expensive gift wrap. Unless your recipient is a wrapping paper connoisseur, use an in-store wrapping service, or gift bags.

And once you have your holiday budgeted, you can celebrate knowing that you won’t be cleaned out in the New Year.
Current Rating: 0 (0 ratings)
Share:   Add to Twitter   Add to Facebook   Add to Terchnorati   Add to Google Bookmarks   Add to Digg   Add to Reddit   Add to Delicious
Defeat Your Credit Card Debt Today!
 

() -


*Please input the following code to safely submit your information.
 Security code