Economize at Christmas and New Year

To prevent this from happening to your family and can peacefully enjoy the next season without having to go into debt for months or even years, it is necessary to reassess the true meaning of this time, organize your expenses, take advantage of the resources you have at hand , to avoid spending more than necessary and consider the following recommendations:

1 .- Consider the total expenses: This takes into account the amount you normally spend each month and on that basis determine how much you can actually set aside for the season in question and prevent problems and to support yourself upon arrival in December will have saved the amount needed to celebrate the holidays with joy and tranquility.

2.-Make a spending plan: Once calculated, the amount saved can be spent without affecting your monthly budget, list of gifts, but remember that the best are not necessarily the most expensive and with a little creativity can save money and look good with their family and friends also note the special foods for the time as well as other purchases you intend to do in December and early January, do not forget to decide how much depart for everything and spent record amounts.

3 .- The method of payment:

a) cash or check, is that while shopping indipensable decembrinas not send money by mail, much less pay by cash, check or credit card when the goods have not arrived.

Both pay by check fectivo as has its advantages, the first prevents it saturated with advertising and paid in full your item without having anything checks instead help pay the entire gift without the risk of keeping cash in your pocket or stop payment if you have problems with a product or merchant, though in this case remember to charges the store and the bank for a returned check and keep track of your balance.

b) Debit Card: These are very useful when you do not want to carry cash or write checks, but on the other side after making purchases with this card, can not take the payment as you can with a check, as purchases are deducted immediately from your checking account.

c) By credit card: I hereby is much easier to over-extend, so if you decide to pay some credit card spending, avoid borrowing too much and before you go shopping analyze the credit debt you already have, because if this is too high is better not to use it.

On the other hand if he can, before December change your credit card to handle the lower interest and no annual fee.

It indipensable to keep track of all charges in December and do not exceed the amount you know you can pay a few months.

If you have more than one card, limit your charges to one, this will allow you to have a clear and specific idea of ​​their Christmas spending and simplify the payment when the bill comes.

Credit cards will be very useful for purchasing items that are delivered at home and is easier to return when they arrive in poor condition that if any acquired through a debit card or cash.

4 .- Do not borrow to pay your bills Christmas or credit cards, as only worsen your financial situation and in some cases may even lose their properties.

5 .- Do not defer payments: If you do not pay the full balance on the due date, borrowing costs are charged retroactively from the original date of purchase.

6.-To make your holiday shopping: Buy gifts before the season or the start, help yourself to advertising in newspapers and circulars, be aware of special offers and sales to take advantage, try to go to places where he found several stores to save time and gasoline, compare prices, quality, warranties and do not forget to read labels and other information.

If you buy products such as computers or appliances appliances, choose brands you know and trust.

Keep well its receipts or other proof of purchase and keep track of everything related to the company that handles rebates. Many stores will return your money or let you exchange the product with a similar, while others only allow an exchange.

If the product you buy at the store does not have the features advertised, return it quickly and ask for a refund or replacement.

If you are filing a complaint, be persistent and do it in writing to the cosumidor service offices.

7.-Christmas shopping on the Internet: More and more people continue to do their holiday shopping through the network, because they save time, no time limits, avoiding crowds, many retailers offer a wider selection of products compared to what you have in your local mall and the method of payment.

If this time I choose to shop via internet only note the following:

Organize your list of purchases and gifts.
Comieco to place orders as soon as possible (one month in advance), thus avoiding problems such as that the goods arrive on time or expense of mail.
Take the time and from before deciding on exactly what you want to buy and their characteristics. Find out if there are substitute products if they do not find exactly what you want.
Remember also set a budget for your online shopping.
Be aware of the reputation of the company or person you're buying, as well as its policy regarding privacy and security of the transaction.
Pay for your purchase using your credit card because you will have more protection.
When you get the goods to your home, review it and compare it with your order.
Contact the seller time and in writing if you have a problem.

8 .- Gifts with his signature: We understand that the best gifts are the most expensive, but which reflect a part of us and what the other person means to you; use their skills and talents to create gifts made by You can be fun or practical, without having to hoard stores.

Be early and set aside a place in his bedroom, as a shelf or cabinet where you can store and making gifts to go shopping during the year when you find a good deal, so when arriving in December will be less that you lack.

9 .- For those who are far away: Christmas cards and New Year should not miss, but look for ways to spend less and save time only to those who can not see during the celebrations. Design it and decorate it yourself (a) using blank cards.

10 .- The decorations: Use your creativity and imagination to decorate your home and create a holiday atmosphere without spending much, for this use decorations you already have, if taken care can use them year after year, but if you are some develop a bit battered, it is worth what you have at home to make a Christmas wreath, a table centerpiece or to decorate the tree. And for the coming year, the best time to buy decorations for the holidays of Christmas and New year is the end of them that are at greatly reduced prices.

11 .- For dinner: The meetings of Christmas and New Year, consider organizing with coworkers or other family members to carry out the dinner, so costs are shared, the time and effort. Plan something simple but tasty. On the other hand can also arrange a dinner suit, where each guest to participate with a snack, entree or dessert.

12 .- Travel: If to these holiday season plan to visit family and friends living far away, do significantly increase spending Christmas looking for tickets and tickets in advance, if possible several months to get the best prices, be sure to include in its budget for this trip, the cost of gasoline and car maintenance if this means or travel by plane tickets and lodging and feeding.

13 .- Do not forget to be charitable: Remember those in need in these times and set aside a little of yours to make monetary donations to charitable organizations and names of other family members rather than give gifts. If you can not afford to give money to the disadvantaged then spend a little time is also very valuable.

14 .- Make this holiday season, moments of enjoyment, love and share quietly with family and friends, a long list of debts and precupaciones.