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When
November rolls around every year, stores begin
advertising like crazy, and people start getting
in the mood to shop. Just about everyone has a
list of people for whom gifts must be purchased,
and the only way to accomplish this is obviously
to spend money. Unfortunately, many people see the
holiday season as a good excuse to put all
purchases and expenses on a
credit card
because they don’t have enough cash on hand to pay
for everything all at once.
The
holiday season, however, is no reason to rack up
credit card bills that can’t be paid. Using some
smart shopping tips and other creative ideas can
help prevent a person from spending too much money
that they don’t have.
As
long as the holiday season is celebrated in
moderation each year, people can rest assured that
credit card debt will not haunt them for the rest
of their lives. This is in no way saying that
credit cards
are not useful tools and should not be used while
shopping. It is, however, saying that credit cards
should not be abused during November and December
each year.
It’s very easy to go to a shopping mall and want
to buy everything that is seen on the shelves.
With a credit card, it’s easy to over-buy things
that aren’t really needed, because using plastic
to buy things doesn’t always seem like real money
is being spent. At times, credit card spending can
get out of control very easily. To help curb this,
a list of what needs to be bought on a shopping
trip should be written before arriving. Once
there, even though things are tempting, only items
on the list should be purchased.
Another useful tip when it comes to using a credit
card while shopping for gifts next holiday season
is to write down everything that was purchased
using the card. Making a list (and checking it
twice!) will allow the credit card holder to keep
track of how much was charged, and how large the
bill will be at the end of the month. Many people
are shocked when they receive their credit card
statements in January of each year, because they
are unaware that they charged so much during the
months of November and December.
Something to keep in mind each holiday season is
the fact that “more expensive” doesn’t always mean
“better” when it comes to gifts. Many people would
much rather receive a homemade gift, a home-cooked
meal, or something small as opposed to an
expensive items that may not even be liked or
enjoyed by the recipient. Using creativity and the
imagination when choosing gifts can do at least
two things… be perceived as extremely thoughtful
by the gift’s recipient, and also save money.
A
fancy meal at a restaurant on Thanksgiving, the
week of Christmas, or on New Year’s Eve is always
fun. However, once it’s over… it’s over. And, when
the meal which was eaten is paid for with a credit
card, it’s sure to give a person an upset stomach
when the credit card bill arrives a month later.
Seeing a charge of several hundred dollars on a
statement for food that was consumed, digested,
and expelled a month ago can be upsetting. So,
instead of eating out, consider having a low-key
pot-luck dinner in the home. Guests may even enjoy
this venue more than a crowded restaurant.
Using a credit card is definitely safer than
carrying a huge amount of cash in a purse or a
pocket while shopping during the holiday season.
With a credit card, it if is lost or stolen, it
can be reported immediately and the card can be
deactivated. Also, it’s quicker and more
time-efficient to swipe a credit card in a machine
than take five minutes to write a check for a
purchase. So, as long as spending can be kept
under control and gift buying is kept to a
minimum, using a credit card can be a smart choice
in November and December of each year.
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