| The Christmas season is truly the season of giving. | | | | Here's how: |
| There is no other time of the year when people's | | | | · Spread your holiday spending throughout the |
| hearts are as open or their hands are as freely | | | | year. If you're one of those people who love to lavish |
| generous as they are during the Christmas holiday. I | | | | your family members with expensive gifts during the |
| mean, even our favorite Christmas motto states, "It is | | | | Christmas season and you don't want to stop the |
| better to give than to receive." | | | | practice, you can avoid a debt hangover by spreading |
| While giving does fill your heart with joy and help those | | | | your purchases throughout the year instead of all at |
| who are less fortunate than us, many have taken this | | | | once a few weeks before Christmas. |
| motto to extremes when it comes to buying | | | | · Set a holiday budget. Decide what you can |
| Christmas presents for their children, spouses and | | | | reasonably afford to spend during the holidays and do |
| other family members. | | | | not go above that amount even if it means sacrificing |
| It is not uncommon for families to run up tremendous | | | | gifts along the way. |
| high-interest credit card debt to buy their children | | | | · Buy only for those closest to you. Contrary |
| elaborate and expensive gifts such as computers, | | | | to what you might believe, you do not need to buy |
| stereos and designer clothes as Christmas gifts. | | | | gifts for all 27 of your nieces and nephews. Buy for |
| Just take a look at the commercials that air constantly | | | | those in your household first, and then, if you have any |
| during the Christmas season. They all have one goal in | | | | left over, buy for those closest to you. You should also |
| mind: to motivate you to spend as much money as | | | | avoid buying for everyone at work. Just because |
| you can during the holidays. | | | | someone buys for you that does not mean that you |
| I can remember one commercial in particular that | | | | need to return the favor. Simply send a Thank You |
| advertised a leading high-end car manufacturer. The | | | | card and remember to put them on your Christmas |
| husband opened up his gift from his lovely wife to | | | | card list. |
| reveal a set of keys. When he went outside to look in | | | | · Remember that the best gifts come from the |
| the drive, there was a very expensive, sleek and | | | | heart and not the department store. Likely many in |
| seductive sports car. Seriously, who has been good | | | | your family would enjoy spending more time with you |
| enough all year to deserve a $50,000 luxury sports | | | | during the holiday season instead of watching you run |
| car? But the message is clear, give the very best. The | | | | from store to store trying to find the perfect gifts. Why |
| same angle is used on men when it comes to buying | | | | not opt to spend more time together this year and |
| expensive jewelry for their wives. It's never ending. | | | | keep gift giving to a minimum? |
| Now, I'm not saying that advertisers are to blame for | | | | · Homemade gifts mean more and are less |
| our ballooning Christmas debt. They are simply armed | | | | expensive. Wouldn't it warm your heart to know that |
| with the knowledge that more consumer spending | | | | your beloved Aunt or Grandma baked your favorite |
| takes place during the holidays, and they want a piece | | | | Christmas treat especially for you? You wouldn't have |
| of the pie. | | | | to know that yours was just a sampling of a large |
| The fault then lies with our own inability to curb our | | | | batch that she also distributed to her beautician, |
| holiday spending. It seems that even if we do not have | | | | neighbors and friends. It didn't cost her much money, |
| the money to finance a lavish Christmas, we will still | | | | and it won't cost you much either to do the same for |
| purchase one using our high-interest credit cards and | | | | your friends. |
| worry about paying it off later. And worry we do. | | | | So, before you get caught up in the frenzy of |
| If this scenario sounds familiar, it doesn't have to be | | | | Christmas consumer spending, take a moment to |
| that way yet again this Christmas. You can take a | | | | reflect on what is most important to you and your |
| few simple steps to alleviate Christmas debt | | | | family during the holiday season. |
| altogether. | | | | |