Prevent Debt this Holiday with These Financial Tips

It's no wonder that Christmas is one of the happiest holidays of the year. It's a time for family to come together and spend time, while also showing appreciation for one another. We get to shower each other with gifts and cook meals to share together. On average, people spend about $2,000 on Christmas. But there's much stress that also comes along with the holidays. If you come from a large family, you know exactly what this means: having loads of people to buy for. Even if we can't afford it, we make it happen to show the people we love and how much we actually love them. Before you put yourself deep into debt, here are some ways to avoid financial problems from the holidays.

Stay Organized

Many of us spend and spend and don't actually keep track of what we are buying and how much it costs. Write a list of everyone that you have to buy for and how much you are spending on each of them. After you purchase your gifts, write them down and how much they cost, in a notebook. You can even keep all of your receipts in your notebook as well to avoid losing them. By writing down how much you are spending, you can keep totals on your overall holiday shopping. This will prevent you from overspending and going overboard this Christmas.

Use Cash

We all know that using credit cards is so easy and convenient - almost too easy. When you're shopping with a credit card, it's much easier to spend more than you can afford. We almost tend to look at credit cards as “free money” at times.

When you use a debit card, it's possible to overdraft your account when you don't how much you're spending. When you get paid each month, take cash out immediately and try shopping with cash only instead. Doing this gives you a better visual of how much money you have to spend. Using cash can help you to limit your spending and save some money this holiday season.

Side Job

If you're struggling to make ends meet this year, you may need to get a side job. There are many things that you can do to put extra cash in your pocket without wearing yourself out. A new and popular side job among people is to drive for Uber or Lyft. These services are basically personal taxi drivers. You can download the app, sign up to drive, and begin driving all within a few days. You do, however, need to have your own vehicle. The job is done completely at your own convenience. You can work whenever you want, and for however long you want as well. This can give you up to $500 per week!

You can also make some extra money by selling old (or new) items you don't use anymore. There are many sites that you can post clothes, shoes, and household items that you are willing to sell. Some of these sites are Poshmark, Mercari, and eBay, and have apps you can use as well.

In all, Christmas is a time for family, friends, and happiness. If you feel extra stress due to not being able to afford the holidays, you can look into taking out a cash advance. This will give you some fast cash to allow you to do your shopping all at once, and pay it back throughout the month.

Enjoy the Holidays, and Merry Christmas!

Note: The content provided in this article is only for informational purposes, and you should contact your financial advisor about your specific financial situation.