21 Feb 2008 02:01:56 | Itna Yeknom
Credit Advice and Credit Tips for Shopping Safely. Credit Card
Safety.
How to keep your spirits bright and your wallet full during the
holiday season and others.
Whether you are celebrating Christmas, Eid, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa or
just living life this year, make sure you keep track of your
holiday spending to avoid a New Year full of debt.
Create a holiday budget that includes gift buying, decorating
and entertaining expenses. Make sure the list is within your
budget and stick to it!
Don't blow your balances. Check your debt analysis Free Calculators online
before you start to shop to see how much you can really afford
to charge. If your debt reaches more than 50% of your available
credit, you could see your Credit Score drop in January.
Keep an eye out for Identity
Theft Identity Theft during the holidays. Sign up
for Credit Alerts that will swiftly notify you if a Grinch has
stolen your personal information.
Get creative with your decorations instead of spending a
fortune. Paper snowflakes, pop-corn chains and homemade wreaths
are just as festive as expensive store-bought decorations.
Shop early. Spacing your purchases over a few paychecks will
help you watch your budget and reduce the amount you charge.
Purchase and send gifts that need to be mailed early to avoid
expensive one or two-day shipping rates.
Consider sending holiday postcards instead of letters. You can
make the cards yourself and save on postage.
Make a point of checking your receipts to avoid any faulty
charges. During the frenzy of holiday shopping, you can easily
be overcharged for a purchase.
Take advantage of free gift-wrapping services. Every little bit
counts!
Visit the ATM before your shopping trip and withdraw the
budgeted amount. Paying with cash will keep you on track.
Avoid the "buy now, pay later" philosophy. Before you pull out
your credit cards, gently remind yourself, "If I can't afford to
pay for it with cash, I really can't afford it."
If you really want to give, but don't have the money, try
creating less expensive homemade gifts such as jam, cookies or a
creative gift basket.
Low Interest Credit Cards
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