How to avoid Christmas debt overload
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How to avoid Christmas debt overload
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by: Rose Lenk
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| The Christmas season is truly the season of giving. There is no other time of the year when people’s hearts are as open or their hands are as freely generous as they are during the Christmas holiday. I mean, even our favorite Christmas motto states, “It is better to give than to receive.” While giving does fill your heart with joy and help those who are less fortunate than us, many have taken this motto to extremes when it comes to buying Christmas presents for their children, spouses and other family members. It is not uncommon for families to run up tremendous high-interest credit card debt to buy their children elaborate and expensive gifts such as computers, stereos and designer clothes as Christmas gifts. Just take a look at the commercials that air constantly during the Christmas season. They all have one goal in mind: to motivate you to spend as much money as you can during the holidays. I can remember one commercial in particular that advertised a leading high-end car manufacturer. The husband opened up his gift from his lovely wife to reveal a set of keys. When he went outside to look in the drive, there was a very expensive, sleek and seductive sports car. Seriously, who has been good enough all year to deserve a $50,000 luxury sports car? But the message is clear, give the very best. The same angle is used on men when it comes to buying expensive jewelry for their wives. It’s never ending. Now, I’m not saying that advertisers are to blame for our ballooning Christmas debt. They are simply armed with the knowledge that more consumer spending takes place during the holidays, and they want a piece of the pie. The fault then lies with our own inability to curb our holiday spending. It seems that even if we do not have the money to finance a lavish Christmas, we will still purchase one using our high-interest credit cards and worry about paying it off later. And worry we do. If this scenario sounds familiar, it doesn’t have to be that way yet again this Christmas. You can take a few simple steps to alleviate Christmas debt altogether. Here’s how: · Spread your holiday spending throughout the year. If you’re one of those people who love to lavish your family members with expensive gifts during the Christmas season and you don’t want to stop the practice, you can avoid a debt hangover by spreading your purchases throughout the year instead of all at once a few weeks before Christmas. · Set a holiday budget. Decide what you can reasonably afford to spend during the holidays and do not go above that amount even if it means sacrificing gifts along the way. · Buy only for those closest to you. Contrary to what you might believe, you do not need to buy gifts for all 27 of your nieces and nephews. Buy for those in your household first, and then, if you have any left over, buy for those closest to you. You should also avoid buying for everyone at work. Just because someone buys for you that does not mean that you need to return the favor. Simply send a Thank You card and remember to put them on your Christmas card list. · Remember that the best gifts come from the heart and not the department store. Likely many in your family would enjoy spending more time with you during the holiday season instead of watching you run from store to store trying to find the perfect gifts. Why not opt to spend more time together this year and keep gift giving to a minimum? · Homemade gifts mean more and are less expensive. Wouldn’t it warm your heart to know that your beloved Aunt or Grandma baked your favorite Christmas treat especially for you? You wouldn’t have to know that yours was just a sampling of a large batch that she also distributed to her beautician, neighbors and friends. It didn’t cost her much money, and it won’t cost you much either to do the same for your friends. So, before you get caught up in the frenzy of Christmas consumer spending, take a moment to reflect on what is most important to you and your family during the holiday season. About the author: By Rose Lenk For more christmas information visit http://www.holidayprize.com Circulated by Article Emporium |
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Christmas, a time for giving and sharing.
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Christmas, a time for giving and sharing.
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by: Hege Crowton
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| Finally, the season so many of us are looking forward to is just around the corner.Joy, peace, happiness, children, lights, decorations and Santa Claus, these are just a few of the things associated with Christmas. Although these are things most people think about Christmas, for others it might be a nightmare. Unfortunately Christmas has become the biggest commercial money making machine there is and a lot of people has fallen in its trap. This should not be. Yes, Christmas is about giving but not the type of giving that comes out of your wallet rather the type that comes from the heart. Giving and sharing is what this season is all about and if all of us could just remember that and take our wallets and money out of the picture, it would lighten the burden of Christmas for so many people. These two words, giving and sharing, can have different meanings for different people but it basically comes down to the same thing. Offering some of yourself to others in need. Imagine if you could make a difference for one family this Christmas. Many families have nothing to offer their loved ones, no Christmas dinner, no gifts and no decorations. Worst of all, some don’t even have a place to go. Therefore sharing some of yours with them could be the greatest gift you give someone this year. The joy from doing so would be beyond your belief. Why not try something like it this year? You might end up making it a tradition, something that you will do every year from now on. Seeing the joy in a little child’s eyes, and his/her parents, will put you right into that Christmas spirit. Merry Christmas to us all. About the author: Hege Crowton is an expert copywriter. Source ChristmasContent.com- and check this out SubmitContent.comYou can submit your articles to over 400 Article Directories with one click. Circulated by Article Emporium   |
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