7 Strategies for Avoiding a Holiday Debt-Hangover

  1. Create A Holiday Spending Plan On the back of this publication, you will find a simple form to help you plan your holiday spending. The point is to create a gift list that won’t have you singing “Blue Christmas” when the bills arrive. In your regular monthly budget, remember to include a holiday spending amount to help you save gradually throughout the year.
  2. Smartly Shop with your list. After you have calculated your available funds (using the Holiday Spending Planner) and made a gift list that fits your budget, be sure to take your list with you… and stick to it. Consider shopping online. It’s convenient for you and you can get some great discounts, but take precautions. Start early. If you feel rushed or pressured, you’re more likely to purchase carelessly. See if you can arrange to shop in the morning or early in the week to avoid the heaviest traffic.
  3. Use Cash For Holiday Purchases It’s a fact that the average person will spend less if they have to physically hand over cash for a purchase. If you must use plastic, use a debit card to help you avoid spending money you don’t have. Avoid buying on credit or pay later offers. Use a credit card for online purchases to limit your liability if the purchase goes bad (check your policy agreement for exact details). Remember to cap your spending at what you have budgeted, so that you will be able to pay off the balance in full when the statements arrive.
  4. Practice Online Safety. Here are tips from the Federal Trade Commission:
    • Use anti-virus software and a personal firewall (keep them updated).
    • Make sure your web browser and operating system are up-to-date.
    • Know who you’re dealing with. Confirm the seller’s physical address and phone number, search their name and look for a store rating or comments from buyers.
    • Know exactly what you’re buying. Read the product description carefully: Is it new? Unopened? First quality? Fully warranted?
    • Know what it will cost – the total cost including shipping, fees, and taxes.
    • Check the terms. Know the refund policy and delivery dates.
    • Check the privacy policy. How will they use your information? How will they keep it safe?
    • Keep a paper trail. Print and save records of your online transactions.
    • Don’t email your financial information. Look for indicators that the site is secure: a “lock” icon at the bottom of your browser, a web address that begins with https:/
    • Be cautious about opening any attachment. If you don’t recognize the sender, don’t open it.
    • Ask your credit card company about “substitute” or “single-use” credit card numbers. This new technology allows you to use your credit card without revealing your account number.
  5. Avoid Payday Loans As You Would Avoid Scrooge A payday loan (or cash/check advance loan) can be the equivalent of loan sharking. Fees charged on these loans range from $15 to $30on each $100 advanced. That’s the equivalent of an annual percentage rate of about 400% to 1000%!
  6. Disregard The Jingle Hype No doubt, we will be bombarded with media hype – beginning earlier each year it seems – telling us that the true meaning of the season can be wrapped up in a box. Remind yourself that you don’t need to “keep up with the Jones.” You know that you are more than a consumer and that love, peace and joy are not sold at any store – in spite of any commercial claim. You are in control; feel free to hit the mute button.
  7. Spend More Time, Not More Money. The best thing you can give your family and friends is your time. Memories with family and friends will long outlast any material things. Many soup kitchens, food banks and charitable organizations would love to have more volunteers, especially this year. What a great gift your whole family could offer!

Trimming Your Costs

Gifts and Decorations

  • Make gifts. Use your talents: baking, cooking, crafts, computer-generated cards, calendars, or multi-media slideshow albums.
  • E-Shopping. There are plenty of major online stores (such asAmazon.com, SmartBargains.com, Overstock.com, Half.com, Buy.com,Ebay.com) where you can probably do all or most of your shopping. Many products can be purchased for less than at a brick-and-mortar store. If you look carefully, you can avoid sales tax. Many online stores offer free shipping (but check the delivery times: ship early). Free shipping saves the time and gas it would cost to pick it up yourself. You may be able to find similar types of benefits using mail order companies.
  • The Consumer’s Union recommends you skip the extended warranty. These add-ons raise the product price and provide huge profits, but in reality fewer than 20% of these products will be brought in for repair.
  • Consider drawing names for certain gift-giving circles. Adult siblings, cousins, friends, or coworkers might vote in favor of some shopping relief.
  • Consider giving attractive coupons for a service you can provide. Give something outside of your regular duties: a small repair if you have a trade-skill, dinner & a movie, a massage, (use your imagination).
  • Wrap presents with the Sunday comics, if you get the paper. Use seasonal bows, that you can keep and reuse. If a more formal look is needed, consider using a gold or silver colored gift bag that can be reused.
  • Make decorations. Again use your talents and involve the whole family.
  • Take advantage of after-the-season discounts to get a jump on next year.
  • For 63 Gift Ideas for Under $10, visit: www.betterbudgeting.com

Greetings

  • If you normally buy cards to send, consider these alternatives. Send a letter (if you have a computer, use it to make the letter or card). Go paperless: send a free “e-greeting” to those on your list who have email addresses. If you can use a digital camera, send a family picture or video clip.
  • If you anticipate making long distance calls, shop for a long distance plan or prepaid cards to get the lowest rates. Or consider the “Virtual Visit” described later, under “Travel.”

Food

  • Compare prices and watch for holiday specials that are not just gimmicks.
  • Use generic or store brands for baking and cooking, or where possible.
  • Buy non-perishable items you use frequently in bulk; check dry-goods at discount supermarkets.
  • Clip coupons for products that you know you use regularly. You may find it helpful to clip a clear plastic bag to the fridge for storing the coupons, so you can be reminded of expiration dates.
  • For more ideas visit: www.GrocerySavingTips.com.

Energy Use

  • Use a timer on your holiday lights.
  • Use a programmable thermostat to lower the temperature while you sleep and are at work.
  • Home heating costs are predicted to be higher again this year. Give your home an energy efficiency checkup. See the US Department of Energy link below.

Travel

  • Make arrangements early. Supply and demand dictates that costs for transportation and accommodations will be higher if you wait until the last minute.
  • Consider a Virtual Visit. If you can’t afford the travel expenses this year and if you and your distance-family have Internet service, you might try a “virtual visit.” You could put your desktop/laptop & webcam in the room where you’ll be opening gifts or where you’ll be eating. A pair of webcams (with built-in microphones) can be purchased for about $80. You could mail one to your distance-family. Free net-conferencing software is available from companies like MSN and Yahoo. This set up will give you visual as well as oral contact, which you can enjoy throughout the whole year.

Holiday Spending Planner

(For a thorough spending plan, see the link in the To Find Out More section)

Monthly Income (add all sources)

Self: +_________ Spouse: +_______ Other: +_______

Monthly Expenses (subtract each item)

Fixed Witholdings (tax, etc): -______ Charitable: -________ Savings: -_______ Housing: -_______ Transportation: -_______ Utilities: -_______ Support Obligations: -_______ Variable Food: -_______ Clothing: -_______ Personal Care: -_______ Credit Cards: -_______ Loans: -_______ Medical: -_______ Optional Recreation: -_______ Vacation: -_______ Other: -_______ Total (available for Gifts): _______

Remember 7 Things More Important Than Money

  1. Your religious beliefs/spirituality
  2. Your family
  3. Your friends
  4. Your health
  5. Your talents and abilities
  6. Your environment
  7. Your freedom
To Find Out More

The Spending Plan (Alliance): TheSpendingPlan.pdf Holiday Shopping? Don’t Take A Holiday From Savvy Online Shopping (FTC): www.ftc.gov Tips For Holiday Shopping (CU): www.consumersunion.org/tips Consumer Energy Guide (US Department of Energy): energy.gov/node/28747/ © 2005 Alliance Credit Counseling.