Feeling the pinch?
Five ways to enjoy your holiday season without going into debt
Posted on December 1, 2009
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(Orlando, FL) — One of the biggest causes of post-holiday stress is opening the
first credit card bill of the New Year. InCharge® Debt Solutions, one of the nation’s
leading nonprofit credit counseling organizations, says it doesn’t have to be that
way! Here are five tips they offer to avoid debt-distress before, during and after
the holidays:
1 – Plan now– Inpulse spending is one of the biggest culprits of unnecessary debt.
Look through newspaper flyers and keep coupons, ideas and special offers in a separate
envelope. Keep them with you and you’ll be able to shop with confidence, knowing
you are not paying full price!
2 – Lay it away – Layaway has regained popularity again! Take advantage of it and
you’ll have all your gifts paid for by the time the holiday has arrived!
3 – Shop virtually – Start your comparison shopping online. Some retailers will
offer a better price online than in the store. With offers such as free shipping
and easy return, this will save you time, money and help alleviate your shopping
stress. Plus, you can avoid long lines and save on gasoline!
4 – Exercise your brain – Homemade gifts from the heart are often the best! Creating
a personalized 2010 calendar online or at any photo kiosk is a great example of
relying on your creativity and not your wallet. Did you know you can even put your
own picture on postage stamps and give them out as gifts?
5 – Share it – Your family may also be feeling financially strained this year. Maybe
you limit your gifts to one per person or perhaps you decide that only the kids
will be recipients. Try to come up with a creative way to enjoy the holiday season
together without spending a lot of money. Sometimes the biggest gift is that of
time. Spend it together or share it with others through volunteering and you’ll
create wonderful memories that can never be returned!
Those who are trying to reduce their credit card debt may want to utilize the free
credit counseling assistance offered by InCharge Debt Solutions, before or after
the holidays. Certified Credit Counselors can help consumers struggling with excessive
debt by offering budgeting assistance, educational resources and a debt solution
suited to their needs. InCharge often works with creditors to help consolidate several
payments into one, reduce interest rates, eliminate late and over-limit fees, and
bring a halt to collection calls.
For more personal finance tips and credit counseling information, visit (www.InCharge.org) or call InCharge at 888-360-9694.
About InCharge® Debt Solutions
Headquartered in Orlando, Florida, InCharge Debt Solutions (IDS) provides professional
credit counseling and personal money management education to consumers and is a
member of the Association of Independent Consumer Credit Counseling Agencies (AICCCA).
IDS is one of the unique organizations to be dually accredited by both ISO 9001-2008
Quality Standards and the Council on Accreditation (COA). Consumers can access InCharge
Debt Solutions credit counseling services for free by calling 1-888-360-9694 or
online at (www.InCharge.org).