Credit Counseling Blog

The editors of credit-counselling.org have completed a survey of credit counselors, and we have compiled their top tips for avoiding debt this Christmas:

• Before you go to the mall, make a list of who you are buying for, and what you will spend and stick to it. Impulse buying is the number one cause of excessive spending at Christmas.
• Put some effort into your gifts. By thinking ahead, you may find that homemade gifts, pictures, or crafts are the best gifts, and often the least expensive.
• Leave your credit cards at home. People who use credit cards spend more than people who pay by cash or debit card, because credit cards don’t feel like real money.
• Don’t forget to include in your budget the extras, like gift wrap, shipping, and cards. As a bonus tip, stock up on all of these items after the holidays to save money next year.
• Shop early. Waiting until the last minute makes it very hard to plan ahead.
• Shop on the internet. Many web sites allow you to comparison shop, and they are a great source of ideas.
• Consider a gift pool with your relatives. Instead of buying for everyone, put everyone’s name into a hat, and just buy one gift for the person you get.

The holidays are supposed to be fun, so plan early, and make the holiday season enjoyable for all.