Celebrating the Holidays on a Budget
It's that wonderful time of year again: Christmas. Time for the snow, hot chocolate, friends, and family. But with the holiday season coming to a close, you may also feel the pressure of having to finalize your shopping. The end of the season is the most hectic. Everything is sold out, overpriced, and understocked. Don’t empty what's left in your pocket after this month of shopping. Here are some ways to finish out your shopping, while sticking to a budget with both quick tips and holiday loans.
Staying Organized
A great way to finish your shopping without overspending is to start a journal to keep track of your financials for the remainder of the holiday season. Write down your next paycheck and how much, approximately, you think it will be.
Make a List and Check It Twice
Also, be sure to write down the date that you will receive this check. That way you'll have an idea of how much money you have coming your way to finish up your shopping without having to use credit cards. After writing down your income, figure out the total amount of your expenses and when they are due. This will prevent you from tapping into money that you need for more important things, such as your bills. Having a visual of how much and when your bills are due will prevent late payments, and also help you stay organized. After figuring out your bills and income, you will be left with an amount that you are able to use for spending. Doing this simple trick can prevent you from spending money that is needed for something more pressing without bringing yourself down to your last dollar.
Cash, Please
One of the easiest ways to prevent overspending does not require any effort at all: keep cash in your wallet. You may be thinking, “why?” Well, most people do not like to keep cash on their person because it can make them spend more often. This is a common misconception.
By not having cash, we're required to use our debit/credit card. When we use our cards, we can't see how much we have left in the bank, only what we are spending. Using cash prevents overspending by providing us with a visual of how much money, exactly, we have left. Keeping cash in your pocket can finally put an end to your Christmas debt and overspending.
How Title Loans Could Come in Handy
If you are too far into shopping to use these tips, you may want to look into taking out a title loan. What can you use this loan for? Title loans can be used, around the end of the holidays, to get you back on track with your finances. You can use this loan to consolidate some of your credit card debt that you may have acquired over the holidays. Pay off as much as you can to get rid of the pesky interest rates. Although it may seem like more debt added to your plate, it will save you money on the extra fees and interest you were paying in maxed out cards.
Happy Holidays, & Happy Savings!
Note: The content provided in this article is only for informational purposes, and you should contact your financial advisor about your specific financial situation.