| 5 Tips for Sensible Holiday Shoppers | | | | mail-in rebate, find out all the facts about the cost |
| Every year, Americans spend many months | | | | of your purchase. |
| saving money for the holidays. From Christmas | | | | 3. Build a Holiday Budget - Household budgets help |
| trees to holiday parties, and the countless number | | | | us organize our financial lives on a weekly basis, |
| of gifts, it is easy to lose track of spending and | | | | and the same process can help guide us through |
| unknowingly subject yourself to years' worth of | | | | holiday spending just as easily. Visit to download a |
| overwhelming credit card bills. This year, before | | | | free Holiday Budget Worksheet, and plan out |
| you head out to the malls consider these 5 tips | | | | exactly what you can afford to spend on gifts, |
| for sensible holiday shoppers: | | | | decorations and holiday parties. |
| 1. Use Cash Whenever Possible - Carrying cash | | | | 4. Read the Newspaper and Circulars- Many |
| allows you to track exactly how much money | | | | popular gifts go on sale to during the holiday |
| you have, and how much you've spent. Using | | | | season. If you are on a holiday budget, it's a good |
| cash also serves as a precautionary measure for | | | | idea to look through the newspaper each week to |
| potential overspending., since you can't spend | | | | begin comparison-shopping. Although the item you |
| more than you have in your purse or wallet. While | | | | want may be on sale at one store, its competitor |
| using credit can be useful, and is necessary in | | | | might just be charging $5 dollars less and that is |
| certain situations, the less you use it the better | | | | $5 you can use to buy Christmas cards instead. |
| chance you have for staying out of debt. | | | | 5. Utilize Free Services - The holiday season is |
| 2. Ask Questions - Companies are all trying to win | | | | intended to be a time for giving, and many stores |
| your business and will run a wide variety of | | | | and shopping malls will offer you free gifts and |
| advertising campaigns and promotions to try and | | | | services in exchange for your patronage. From |
| grab your attention. If you are uncertain as to the | | | | free gift wrapping to $10 gift cards, these store |
| price of an item or a sale item in a flyer, be sure | | | | perks can save you money in the long run, so |
| to ask a store employee. Before you pay a | | | | take advantage as often as you can. |
| service fee for your gift card or disregard that | | | | |