Consumer Tip
The festive season is a wonderful time of year to celebrate, but it’s important to avoid overtaxing yourself when it comes to seasonal spending. This December, don’t go into debt trying to show your love with overpriced gifts. Set a budget and stick to it, and don’t fall for in-store promotions like “pay now, buy later” offers that encourage more debt.
Discuss holiday plans with your family beforehand, and decide what you’re going to spend on entertainment and gifts. You might decide that experiences and quality time are more important to you than new material items.
Keep track of what you spend and how much you have left. Leave the credit cards and store cards at home. Most importantly, focus on spending time with the people you love, rather than spending money at the mall.