Holiday Spending Habits
The holiday season is just around the corner and you may be thinking about all the holiday costs. We agree that Christmas should be a wonderful time of year and can be if you keep spending under control.
Many people sacrifice quite a bit to supply Christmas gifts for loved ones. A recent article on British news site “24/7” stated that the average Britain spends $351 dollars per family for holiday gifts. In contrast, American families spend an average $859 per holiday according to the American Research Group.
Are Americans too caught up in “keeping up with the Joneses”? It is a good question, especially when considering the credit card debt that builds after each Christmas season.
While many may make a point of saving for a car or for their child's education, few people plan ahead for their annual holiday spending. If you are paying down debt, it may be time to cut back on the Christmas spending. You don’t have to skip the holiday, just be more like the British and spend less. Or you could decide to make a gift or give a gift of your time to a family member rather than spending cash.
But we understand that holiday cash requirements can arise and times get a little tougher around the holidays. Therefore, Achieve Security has programs designed to help get you through the seasonal crunch.
Too often, we see clients drop out of their debt program entirely without discussing their options. We would be happy to discuss reducing your payments during November and December. But remember, any decrease in payments will increase the time necessary to free you from debt. Still, it is better to stay with your program through the holidays so that next year can truly be a happier New Year!
Please call our client services department at any time for more details.
Labels: budget ideas