Christmas Day is only ONE WEEK away! Where has 2015 gone? While most of you are no doubt almost finished with your holiday and Christmas gift buying there is still time to avoid going into debt and save money and at FIRMS, the premiere debt collection company, we are hoping to help you do just that.
According to an article written at Daily Mail, 1 in 3 people will go into debt during the holiday season! We at FIRMS want to make sure we don’t see your name on one of our future contact lists and so we have created a few simple tips and tricks that you can use this holiday season to help you spend less, save more, and avoid going into debt.
The easiest thing to do at Christmas time is spend money. With all the Christmas and New Year’s parties to attend, the traveling during the holidays, and the gift buying, there is no doubt that December will be an expensive month for most people. Follow some of these steps below and you’re guaranteed to save some money.
- Make sure and track your spending. Keeping track of your spending by writing down every purchase you make at the end of the day will help you put into perspective how much money you have going out of your checking account and wallet. Go out and buy a little notebook and start writing down every purchase you make. It helps to cut down on those extra purchases that add up in the end.
- Pay with cash. It is all too easy to charge everything on your credit card or your check card. But studies show that we have a tendency to spend more when we pay with a card over cash. Go online and do your shopping, then go to the store and buy your gifts suing cash and LEAVE YOUR CARD AT HOME! If you bring just enough cash and leave your card at the house you will be less likely to buy those extra gifts you can’t afford.
- Budget! Budget! Budget! If you haven’t already set a budget for your monthly expenses and bills GO DO IT NOW. Seriously, you need to have a handle on the money you have coming in and going out. Being aware of what you have available in your checking account will prevent you from overspending on gifts and then being cut short on your bills when they are due.
- Think outside the box. When it comes to gifts remember that some of the best gifts you can give is your time and talent. Maybe you can offer to help a friend clean up their computer? Or you can offer to babysit for a date night for friends or family in lieu of buying a gift. Invite friends over for a movie night or have them over for a dinner party. These are little ways to share more of the spirit of the holiday season and save yourself some money at the same time.
Remember, the holiday’s are mainly about having time to share love with your friends and family and less about spending exuberant amounts of money on gifts we won’t remember next year. So this Christmas, leave your credit cards at home and spend some extra hours close to the one’s you love the most and you’ll have priceless memories for years to come.
Happy Holiday’s from the best debt collection agency in the business,
- FIRMS.