Shopping Season

HAVE WORKING SMOKE DETECTORS. IT’S NOW 616. HOLIDAY SHOPPING IS IN FULL SWING. MANY FOLKS HAVE ALREADY INDULGED IN BLACK FRIDAY OR CYBER MONDAY DEALS. A STUDY FROM NERDWALLET SHOWS ABOUT 1 IN 4 PEOPLE ARE SHOPPING FOR GIFTS THIS CHRISTMAS, WHILE STILL PAYING OFF LAST YEAR’S HOLIDAY SHOPPING. THAT’S RIGHT, 28% OF CREDIT CARD USERS STILL HAVE CREDIT CARD DEBT FROM BUYING GIFTS. LAST CHRISTMAS, SCOTT COLE, A FINANCIAL PLANNER IN THE BIRMINGHAM AREA, SAYS YOU HAVE TO REALIZE WHEN YOU’RE OVERSPENDING, YOU’VE GOT TO BE HONEST WITH YOURSELF. YOU’VE GOT TO UNDERSTAND WHAT IS DRIVING THIS, THIS URGE TO SPEND STUFF THAT YOU DON’T HAVE. SO HERE’S THREE REASONS WHY YOU MIGHT OVERSPEND. ONE, YOU FEEL EMOTIONALLY INCLINED TO DO SO. THE MARKETING OF A PRODUCT GOT YOU OR SOMEBODY THAT WANTED THAT REALLY EXPENSIVE ITEM. SECOND, SOCIAL PRESSURE. IT LOOKS LIKE EVERYBODY ELSE IS SHOPPING. SO I BETTER GO SHOPPING. AND THIRD, COMPARISON SHOPPING. THEY SPEND $100 ON MY GIFT, SO I SHOULD DO THE SAME. SO INSTEAD OF THAT, DO THESE THINGS HERE. COMMUNICATE WITH FAMILY AND FRIENDS. HOW MUCH YOU’D LIKE TO SPEND ON A GIFT. ALSO, BUY AND DON’T SHOP. CREATE A LIST AND STICK TO IT. DO NOT GET CAUGHT IN THE STORE JUST PILING STUFF INTO YOUR CART. AND THIRD, IF YOU USE A CREDIT CARD, PAY IT OFF IN FULL AND DO SOME RESEARCH. COLE SAYS PEOPLE SHOULD LOOK AT CARDS WITH CASH BACK OPTIONS, AND HE SAYS IF ALL THAT FAILS HERE, THERE IS ONE OLD SCHOOL TRICK YOU COULD DO. JUST USE THE OLD FASHIONED BUDGETING TECHNIQUE OF SAYING, I’M GOING TO SPEND X DOLLARS FOR THE HOLIDAY. GET THAT IN CASH, STICK IT IN AN ENVELOPE, AND WHEN YOU GO OUT AND SHOP, YOU DON’T USE THE CREDIT CARD. YOU JUST PAY CASH. COLE ALSO SAYS MEANINGFUL GIFTS MIGHT JUST BE SPENDING TIME WITH FAMILY AND FRIENDS, NOT RUNNING THROUGH THE MALL, STRESSING OVER THAT PERFECT GIFT. NOW, IT’S NEVER TOO EARLY TO START SAVING FOR NEXT CHRISTMAS. A LOT OF BANKS WILL LET YOU SET UP A CHRISTMAS SAVING FUND, SO THINK ABOUT SAVING JUST A LITTLE BIT FROM EACH PAYCHECK THROUGHO