December 2011
Budget for the Holidays with this Interactive Tool
December 5, 2011
By This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it , America Saves Communications Manager
Without a budget, holiday spending can get out of control. A few unplanned gift purchases and a last minute plan to visit relatives for the holiday can add up fast.
Take the guessing out of how much you will spend this holiday season with ClearPoint’s Holiday Planning Tool. This innovative tool suggests a holiday spending budget for you based on your annual salary. You can then use their tool to break down your holiday spending over several categories including gifts, parties, travel, food, and donations.
I really like this tool because it takes into account more than just the gifts you will buy this holiday. Many people throw a holiday party or have to drive or fly to visit family and forget to budget for these items in their holiday spending plan.
This is a great tool for this holiday season and can help you get a jump on saving for next holiday season as well.
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More Consumers Feeling Worse About Their Finances
December 1, 2011
By Katie Bryan, America Saves Communications Manager
According to the 12th annual CFA-CUNA Holiday Spending Survey, 37% of people reported that their financial condition was worse this year than a year ago. These findings help explain why 41 percent said they were planning to spend less this year than last year.
Ideas for Keeping Holiday Debt Under Control
- Make Budget, and a List
- Right now, decide how much you can afford to spend and stay within that budget. Staying within budget will be much easier if you make a price list of all gifts and other holiday items you plan to purchase.
- Comparison Shop
- You can easily save more than 10 percent on most items, sometimes considerably more, by comparing prices at different stores. The easiest way to do this is to use the Internet and compare offers online. But when shopping online, shop wisely.
- Pay Off Debts Quickly:
- You’re less likely to overdo it if you pay in cash. If you must make holiday purchases using credit, use a lower-interest card and pay off this debt as soon as possible early next year. Read More.
- See what’s in your supply drawer:
- You may have more wrapping paper, ribbons, unused cards and gift boxes stored away from last season than you realize. Use up those holiday supplies first to trim down the amount you’ll have to buy this season.
- Be Smart About Gift Cards
- Rules that took effect last year significantly restricted gift card expiration dates and fees. But those who give or receive a gift card should still read the fine print. And if you get a gift card, use it sooner rather than later to avoid forgetting about unused balances on the card, or forgetting about the card altogether.
Do you feel your financial condition is worse than a year ago? Let us know on our Facebook page.
Related Articles:
Don't Increase Debt During the Holidays
Keeping Track of What you Spend and Budgeting
The Hardest Part About Getting Our of Debt
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