x10 Home Automation - Control Lights, Irrigation, Appliances

You Better Watch Out, You Better Shop Smart!

Newton, MA (PRWEB) November 21, 2007 -- It's easy to get caught up in the spirit of the holidays, especially when shopping for family and friends. Consumers see no harm in breaking out of their normal budget and using their credit cards a little more freely than usual during this time of year. Before they know it, months worth of debt pile up, with interest on top of it, and payments for charges on those holiday gfts end up lasting much longer than expected. Here are a few tips from American Consumer Credit Counseling to keep consumers from overspending this holiday season.

Have a Plan - Determine how much can be spent on all holiday purchases by making a list. Gifts, food, entertainment, and travel expenses should all be considered when compiling the list.

Set a Limit - It's difficult to please everyone, giving them all gifts, especially on a budget. Prioritize who to give gifts to. Consumers should communicate their plans to those whom they normally exchange gifts with. This way, embarrassment is spared if somone is planning to give them a gift.

Monitor Purchases - In order to stick to the plan, consumers need to track their spending. All of the little expenses like clothing, cards, decorations and wrapping paper add up too. Keeping tabs on the small things, in addition to the big gifts, will help to stay within their budget.

Do Your Homework- Consumers shouldn't rush to get all of their shopping done at once. They should look in catalogues, sales ads, and on the internet to find the best deals. They should ask themself: " Is this gift I'm buying in my price range?". It's not worth charging a purchase that can't be afforded now, only to pay more for it later.

Carry Cash - This forces consumers to adhere to their strict budget, and makes overspending more evident. Consumers are likely to spend one-third more using plastic than they are with cash.

About ACCC: American Consumer Credit Counseling (ACCC) is a non-profit 501 (c) (3) organization dedicated to empowering consumers to regain control of their lives through education, counseling and debt management. ACCC provides individuals with practical solutions for solving financial problems and recognizes that consumers' financial difficulties are often not the result of poor spending habits, but more frequently from extenuating circumstances beyond their control. As one of the nation's leading providers of financial education and credit counseling services, ACCC works with consumers to help them with the best plan of action to reduce their debt and regain financial stability. For more information or to access free financial education resources log on to www.consumercredit.com.

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