Run date: September 2010

By Meghan Streit
Erickson Tribune

Ahhh, the holidays—cozy evenings by the fireplace, champagne toasts, juicy turkeys with all the trimmings, and a credit card bill to make your head spin come January!

If you think you have to give pricy gifts or serve lavish dinners to show you care, you’re not alone. Christopher Scully, author of The Debt Survival Kit, says overspending during the holidays is one of the top reasons people get into debt. “It’s things like wanting to please everybody all the time and not planning expenditures that get people into trouble,” Scully says.

If you’d like to accumulate warm memories instead of interest charges this holiday season, read on for tips on the best ways to save while you celebrate.
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It really is the thought that counts

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The best way to stick to a gift-giving budget is to decide in advance who you are buying for and how much you will spend, which is easier said than done. One way to make sure you stay within the price limit is to give gift cards.

California mom Shelley Hunter is convinced that gift cards don’t have to be impersonal. That is why she created www.giftcardgirlfriend.com to give people creative ideas to customize gift cards. A gift certificate to a cooking store might seem like a generic gift for your granddaughter, Hunter says. But if you pair it with five of your favorite family recipes, it takes on a whole new meaning.

“Retirees have time, wisdom, and experience,” Hunter says. “I would suggest they pair gift cards with the things they can give, like free babysitting or an offer to help weed the garden.”
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Read the full article here.