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Archive for April, 2006

Debt Consolidation In The US

Sunday, April 30th, 2006

By: Ken Charnly

Debt Consolidation is the process of bringing together ones debts from various sources, amalgamating or consolidating them into one single debt usually at a lower rate of interest. The resultant single debt is also known as a debt consolidation loan.

This process of debt consolidation has become very popular in recent times because of the flexibility and simplicity it offers to the takers. Debt consolidation becomes an irreplaceable tool when an individual or business is indebted by high interest loans and is interested in replacing them with a debt consolidation loan that carries a lower interest rate. Debt consolidation has also become popular because of the ease in making one payout instead of many which can again be negotiated to be weekly, fortnightly or monthly.

Debt consolidation involves very common debts like credit cards, mortgages, student loans etc. The most common of these is credit card debt since this debt carries a very prohibitive rate of interest usually nearing 18% p.a.

Debt consolidation has become popular in the US since the US has always been known for its high interest credit cards. An American holding two or three credit cards being charged at about 18% p.a., would only be happy to manage and consolidate his owing at 7-10% interest bearing debt consolidation loan. Not only, would he save a lot of money in the process, he will have lesser monthly payments to bother about.

Debt consolidation works with almost all kinds of loans available in the US today. Another reason why debt consolidation has caught on in the US is because of the highly competitive marketplace with products having extremely higher rates of interest.

Debt consolidation in the US is still growing in popularity, since the number of lenders is on the rise. Americans with loans taken at higher rates of interest are replacing them with lower interest ones making use of the “honey-moon period” bearing further lower interest rates to pay off the old debts.

The awareness of the advantages of debt consolidation has become wide-spread especially in regard to:

Negotiating with their creditors for paying less,
Getting a debt Consolidation Loan,
Going through the debt agreement with a magnifying glass in case of trouble

Debt Consolidation loans available in the US are of various kinds and are widely classified as per objectives. They are debt consolidation, mortgage consolidation and bill consolidation. As the types signify a normal debt consolidation loan is used to pay off personal debts like personal loans and credit cards. A mortgage consolidation deals with getting all your housing debt under one loan thereby reducing mortgage payouts and offering flexibility of a negotiated and single payment. Bill consolidation on the other hand deals with a loan that amalgamates all due bills into one single loan and again offers the flexibility of negotiated and lesser payouts.

In case of need, the advice is to do your calculations and shop for the best debt consolidation loan and options in the market before deciding on one. Various lenders offer various sops from time to time. It is up to you how you can turn them to your advantage.

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Banks, Loans & How To Save Big Bucks

Sunday, April 30th, 2006

Are you familiar with your credit report and FICO score? If not, you should be. Visit annualcreditreport.com to receive a free copy of your credit report, from each of the three credit reporting agencies, once every 12 months. Typically, these reports are $9.00 each but many consumers do not realize that they are entitled to a free copy every year. There are no catches, no gimmicks and no trial period in any type of paid service in order to gain access through this website. The information contained in your credit file is one of the top factors in determining your loan amount, interest rate and ultimately a decision as to approval or denying the loan request. Everyone should be familiar with their credit report, verify the accuracy of their contents and correct any mistakes that are present. The FICO score is a number that is calculated based on previous payment history, debt to balance ratio and length of credit history. The higher your FICO score, the lower your interest rates.

During the loan application process, banks will retrieve a copy of your credit report. They will also request certain other information, which only you can provide. Among the items that banks request when processing a loan application include current pay stubs, a copy of the previous two years of tax returns and possibly even bank statements and proof of employment. When applying for a large loan, patience is the key. Some banks respond within 24 hours while others may take up to a week. Even if one bank denies your request, don’t give up. Try other banks, who may be enticed to extend a loan in hopes of gaining you as a future customer.

These days, there are loan opportunities for practically everyone. No credit, bad credit, slow credit. You name it and there are banks out there who want your business, but there may be a catch. Depending on your credit history, you may end up spending more than twice as much in interest as someone with a spotless credit record.

Some banks do not specialize in large loans, such as home and auto, but rather extend smaller lines of credit to consumers. These lenders typically issue credit cards to those who are approved. While your credit history does play a large role in determining your interest rates with credit cards, it does not determine other miscellaneous fees. Certain fees, which are charged by banks issuing credit cards, are blanket fees issued to everyone who carries a line of credit. Late fees, overlimit fees and annual fees are among the miscellaneous fees charged by many credit card companies. Avoid banks that charge excessive fees upfront and reduce a large amount of your available credit with said fees. With credit cards, keep in mind that interest rates can skyrocket after only one missed payment. You will save a lot of money by paying on time, every time and by keeping your credit card debt to a minimum.]]>

You Need a Personalized Trading System

Saturday, April 29th, 2006

By: Jeff

On your way to work (or the next time you’re out of the house), stop and notice what the first person you see is wearing. Now imagine that you needed to wear those clothes, those exact clothes in that exact size, at your job every day. How would that affect your performance?

Maybe you got lucky, and the first person you saw was the same gender and size as you. But their clothes probably still wouldn’t fit quite right. You’d be a bit uncomfortable, and likely to underperform somewhat compared to your peak potential. When trading stocks, futures, options, or foreign currencies, your trading system should be as personal as your clothes.

A trading system tells you when to buy and when to sell. If it’s a good trading system, it will also tell you how much to buy and sell.

There are a lot of people claiming to have a “Hugely Profitable Trading System!!!!” Normally, once you pay the fee and actually try to trade this system, it doesn’t work out nearly as well for you. That’s because nearly every trading system has some small amount of room for “the trader’s discretion.” Unless you’re trading a purely mechanical, automated, hands-off system, you, as the trader, are always involved in the decision making process.

Suppose your trading system is highly aggressive, but you’re not feeling confident today. So you ignore a few “buy” signals on what appear to be risky trades. Sounds harmless enough, but as soon as you don’t do something your system tells you to do, you’ve broken the system. This is why it’s best to come up with your own personalized trading system.

Now I’m not suggesting you need to come up with something nobody has ever seen before. But you do need to pick and choose from the various strategies available to build a system that matches your personality. Nobody else can do this for you. Some people can deal with a bit more risk, so they like to have a position in the market at all times. Others like to lurk and wait for the sure-thing, making only a couple of trades a month.

As you survey the many training products out there for traders, try to find the ones that teach you strategies and techniques rather than a particular system. Focus on putting together the building-blocks of a good system. It’s ok to follow someone else’s system for a while to see how you like it (I recommend doing so in a simulator). But, always remember that as soon as you take (or abstain from) any action dictated by that system your no longer trading someone else’s “Proven Money-Making System!”, you’re trading your own derivation of that system which may or may not be profitable.

Through careful self examination, thought, and testing, you can create a trading system that works for you.

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Banks vs. Owner Financing

Saturday, April 29th, 2006

In recent years, the internet has become a hub for owner financing properties while also providing plenty of lending opportunities for anyone who wishes to apply for a loan from banks. Currently, a lot of the major internet auction sites have a category that is specifically designed for buying and selling real estate. These categories are more often used for owner financing options related to land purchases, but buyers will find a few homes sprinkled in now and then. From a mountainous retreat to a tropical island paradise, there is owner financing for land in these and other areas.

Customers who wish to apply for loans from banks will find a variety of resources online, including eloan.com and lendingtree.com. These sites offer a customer the ability to have banks competing for their business. According to these sites, offers may begin arriving within hours. Not everyone will be approved, however, as there are a number of deciding factors that banks look at when deciding to extend credit. Among them, the customers credit history, debt to income ratio, ability to repay the loan and the presence of regular income.

Loans that are obtained through banks will require documentation, which may include previous 2-3 years of tax returns, current pay stubs and/or proof of employment. If they own land, individuals who are interested in buying or building a home will find that they have more success with banks. The reason is because the land will become partial collateral for the loan and, if the buyer defaults, banks will foreclose on both the house and the land. In addition, many land owners do not have to come up with the money for a down payment as the equity in their land will serve as the down payment.]]>

Is FOREX trading Right For You?

Friday, April 28th, 2006

By: Steve Scoresby

FOREX is the abbreviated termed used to describe the world’s largest foreign currency exchange market where of 1.5 Trillion dollars is traded on a daily basis. This more than 100 times the trading volume that occurs on the NYSE, and is fast becoming the hot spot for individual investors. A market that was once only accessible to large corporations and government entities is now available to individual investors with online trading accounts. Despite the hype and excitement around this market, is it right for you?

ACCESSIBILITY. Unlike most investment markets that open and close with the ring of a bell, the FOREX market is open 24 hours a day, six days a week. Trades can be made anytime the market is open from your home computer through the major trading centers located Sydney, Tokyo, London, Frankfurt and New York. Because of this you can act instantly upon news that may affect the market.

LIQUIDITY. Because of the high volumes that are being traded in this worldwide marketplace, there will always be a buyer or seller available for your trade. The trades occur in the “spot” market so your position closes immediately, avoiding the risks sudden market swings. The liquidity also helps insure price stability and lower spreads.

VOLATILITY. The FOREX market is always moving. Because of the liquidity of the market, you can make money when the market is moving up, down or even sideways. Volatility in other markets is oftentimes equated to risk or loss, but in the FOREX market volatility equates to profit potential.

MARGIN. Trading on margin means that you can buy or sell assets greater than the value of your account. You may be able to trade on margin in other investment accounts, but nothing like you can do in the FOREX market. Because currency exchange rates generally only fluctuate 1-2% daily, you can leverage your investment dollar for greater returns. The most common margin is 50:1, but you can find some trading accounts that will up to 200:1 margin. For example, if your risk capital is $10,000, you could control $500,000 to $1,000,000 in currency contracts. This type of leverage gives you the potential to make profits very quickly, but you can also lose your money just as fast. It is recommended to have a disciplined investment plan that does not put all of your capital at risk and is followed by stop losses to protect your returns.

PROFIT POTENTIAL. You do not need a large amount of investment capital to get started in this market. However, it is suggested that whatever capital you begin with is money that you can afford to lose. With FOREX mini-accounts, you can get started for as little as $300. With some discipline and a proven trading plan, you could realistically turn your $300 investment into thousands of dollars within a few weeks or few months. Without a trading plan, you could be out of the market within days.

PAPER TRADING. Most investment companies will set you up with a free paper trading account so you can practice your trading plan for 60 to 90 days before you begin actual trading. It is much better to lose money on paper that it is suffer a real loss to your own pocketbook. Once you have proven your trading plan you can open up a margin account and begin actual trading. FOREX is often traded without commissions (the profits are in the spread), making it an attractive investment opportunity for those who want to trade on a more frequent basis.

As you can see, the risks or disadvantages perceived in other markets actually become the profits and advantages of the FOREX market. As always, with any investment, one should proceed with caution, having an established trading plan and risking only money that they can afford to lose.

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BASIC SCIENCE OF ARTHRITIS

Friday, April 28th, 2006

For example, knees handle a force of three to four times a person’s total body weight on average when just taking a walk.The force of a deep knee bend during a squat can increase to nine times the body weight.

So just imagine multiplying weight of more than 150 pounds times a minimum of three or four, and then even more.That can sure add up to a lot of heavy work on knee joints over time.

Now for the science of this scenario. Where two bones meet, called the joint, the bone ends are covered with cartilage, also known as gristle. This cartilage is sturdy,elastic and spongy or compressible
,and keeps the bones from moving against each other at the joint.The cells of this cartilage, called chondrocytes,are thought to be the longest living cells of the body.

Surrounding the bones and cartilage is strong, fibrous capsule lined with synovium,a thin membrane that lubricates the joint area with fluid.The end result is less friction or smoother rubbing together of the bones.This fluid also feds the cartilage cells, keeping them healthy, and is pumped into them during joint movement.

Thus lack of movement (activity / exercise) can be unhealthy.

Other parts of the body features involved with this arthritic scenario include muscles, tendons, ligaments, bursea and mental activity. Muscles, attached to bones with tendons and ligaments, move bones by contracting.

They also cushion movement, absorbing impact or shock. Throughout the muscle and tendon areas are bursae or sacs filled with fluid.

These also help cushion movement.And throughout all the coordination of these parts during movement, the brain is a part.

The brain communicates via nerves throughout the body, in particular the muscles for this scenario, to prepare joints for activity. The exact science of what actually causes arthritis is still being researched. For most of the 100-plus forms of arthritis, the causes are unknown.

Injury, overuse of joints and mechanical issues with joints (like skeletal abnormalities, worn out joint muscles) can lead to arthritis. And many point to issues relating to bacteria and germs as some of the problem. Heredity, stress, drugs, food allergies and viruses have also been linked to some forms of arthritis. So have diet, poor circulation and lack of movement.

INFLAMMATION
Arthritic joints can be affected with inflammation when bacteria or a virus (or other undesirable element) enters the joint area or when an injury occurs. What happens is when foreign matter enters this area or the area sustains injury, white blood cells, antibodies and other natural fighting mechanisms automatically kick in internally to help.These fighters cause swelling, redness and heat as the body fluid moves around. Symptoms of inflammation, one of the uncomfortable issues associated with arthritis, are redness, swelling and tender joints.]]>

The Though Side Of Forex Trading

Thursday, April 27th, 2006

By: Dirk Kotze

You are sitting in front of your PC. Your heart is racing, sweat is starting to pearl on your forehead and adrenalin is pulsating through your veins at the speed of white light. You have live trade on the very popular Forex Market and your emotions are going mad.

If you ever wanted to feel like pregnant woman ( no offense intended) then this just the way to do it. A magnitude of pips and candles and fibs is glaring at you from the computer screen. Your money is gangling around in the air with your perspiration and the only thing that you can do is to have faith that you made the right move with you’re trade.

This is all very scary and exhilarating at the same time. Some times trading the Forex Market should be compared to teasing a hungry lion with an open cage gate. Sometimes it is just downright tough. Why you ask? Because your emotions are out of control and that makes you scared money and scared money always lose. Why would you lose your money when you are scared because you will jump out with you winning trades with small gains and stay in with your loser hoping that the market will not hit you stop and take your money.

How can you prevent your emotions form ruining your trading career? First off never trade money you can not afford to lose, you can not use money that you saved up for your retirement or study money for college, or any money that if it is gone you are in deep… trouble. That will make your trading very difficult, now you need a plan of attack to trade the market if you do not have a plan do not live trade use a demo account to build your strategy. Demo trade until you make constant winning trades and see your demo account grow then you are starting to get your emotions under control. The most important rule of them all never trade with out a STOP other wise you’re out of control. If your system tells you that you must take this lost never move your stop it will only worsen your losing trade.

What must I have in place before I start trading live? You must have a plan of attack and have the strength and discipline to stay with your Plan. If you lose, you have to go back and check if you followed you strategy if not to not trade again until you fix it. Every strategy will lose sometimes and you’ll have to learn that losing it part of trading. Learn form every lost you take, by writing down the fault why you lost, so next you will not make the same mistake again.

Trading is like exercise, jogging you need to practice, to be come emotionally free to be in control when you are trading. When you have your emotions under control then you will succeed and make yourself a great big bundle of money.

Good luck on building your winning strategy!!!!

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Basic Tips on Personal Finance

Thursday, April 27th, 2006

Planning your personal finances doesn’t always come naturally, and even if you’re just beginning to take your financial matters seriously, then you likely need a few personal finance tips.

Evaluate your current financial situation. One of the most important goals for most people is financial independence. Collect accurate information about your personal financial situation. Calculate your net worth which includes the real estate, saving and retirement accounts, and all other assets. This will help you decide how much money you can set aside for meeting future needs and goals.

A basic personal finance tip is to make a budget. A personal finance budget is information made up of your income and expenses and the more accurate this information is, the more likely you are be able to meet your goals and realize your dreams. A personal finance budget should be made for at most one year at a time and include a list of your monthly expenses.

All expenses must be included. To be sure of that go through all your paid bills, check register and credit card receipts to find expenditures that recure every month and expenditures that happen less frequently. Personal finance budgeting requires some small sacrifices. To be able to make good personal financial decisions and set priorities, you must know where your money is actually going. Start your budget and accomplish your goals.

Get an electronic bill pay. This is a very convenient way to pay your bills. You pay them electronically, by direct withdrawal from your bank account. The transaction is processed immediately. You can even link your bill pay service to your personal finance budget, so that your expenditures are automatically entered in the appropriate category. Personal financial management can be really easy.

Make an investment and finance plan. Now that the fundamental state of your personal financial security has been established, the time has come for the more prosperous part of your personal financial life. You need to make a personal finance plan of what you really want in life that money can buy. Your personal financial plan can be as simple or as detailed as you want it to be. Find out how to finally start to implement this plan and get the money to finance it. This is the long term part of your financial. This journey is the most interesting and exciting part of personal financing you can have toward financial freedom.

You can prepare for a secure personal financial future by following these simple tips. When you take control with your money, you don’t have to worry about debt taking control of you.]]>

Beginner’s Overview of Foreign Currency Exchange

Wednesday, April 26th, 2006

By: Jim McCabe

Foreign currency exchange trading can be very rewarding, but can also be very intimidating to a beginner. To get started, you will need to know some basics:

1. What is foreign currency exchange?
2. How is it traded?
3. What are the benefits?
4. What are the risks?
5. How can I get started?

What is Foreign Currency Exchange?

The Foreign currency exchange (FOREX) market is a cash (or “spot”) market for currency. Unlike the stock exchange, the FOREX market is not located on a trading floor or centralized on an exchange. Instead, it is entirely electronic within a network of banks and runs 24 hours per day Sunday evening (5:00 pm EST) through Friday evening (4:00 pm EST), excluding some holidays. The fact that it is all electronic means that you can tap into it from your computer.

How is it traded?

FOREX is traded in currency pairs, for example EUR/USD is the Euro base currency and the US dollar counter (or quote) currency. There are six major pairs: EUR/USD, GBP/USD (Great Britian pound vs. US dollar), USD/JPY (US dollar vs. Japanese yen), USD/CAD (US dollar vs. Canadian dollar), AUD/USD (Australian dollar vs. US dollar), and USD/CHF (US dollar vs. Swiss Franc).

Currencies are traded in dollar amounts called lots. For a “standard” account, one lot (called a standard lot) is $1,000 and controls $100,000 in currency. For example, when you place an order to buy one lot of EUR/USD, you are buying the EUR and simultaneously selling the USD. The margin you must put up to place the order is $1000 (for a standard lot). You are going long the EUR and expecting it to strengthen against the USD. For every increase of $0.0001 in the EUR, you make one “pip” (price interest point) equivalent to $10 per lot traded.

Similarly, for a “mini-account” when you place an order to sell one mini-lot (one-tenth of a standard lot) of EUR/USD, you are selling the EUR and simultaneously buying the USD. You are going short the EUR and expecting it to weaken against the USD. The margin requirement is $100.00 per mini-lot. For every decrease in the EUR of $0.0001 you make one pip equivalent to $1 per mini-lot traded.

Note that unlike trading stocks, there are absolutely no restrictions on short-selling in FOREX. Short-selling is exactly like buying – except that you’re selling of course.

The pip value and amount per pip per lot differs when the USD is not the counter or quote currency. For example, when buying the USD/JPY pair with a ask price of 109.00 (meaning 1 USD equals 109.00 yen), a change in the Japanese yen of 0.01 yen is equivalent to 1 pip or $9.17 per pip per lot traded ($9.17 = $100,000 x 0.01 / 109.00).

The broker makes money off the spread which is the difference in the quotation ask and bid prices. You buy the base currency at the ask price and sell it at the bid price. Generally, the major currency pairs have relatively low spreads. The EUR/USD is commonly two to three pips and the GPD/USD is commonly four to five pips. For example, the current bid/ask price for EUR/USD is quoted at 1.2322/1.2324. This means that you can buy 1 EUR (the base currency) for $1.2324 USD (the counter-currency). You buy at the ask price. You can sell 1 EUR for $1.2322 USD (you sell at the bid price). You will pay the broker the spread or $1.2324 - $1.2322 = $0.0002 = 2 pips. For a standard lot, the broker fee (in this example) is $10 x 2 pips = $20 per standard lot for a roundtrip trade (1 buy and matching sell or 1 sell and matching buy). For a mini-lot, the fee would be $1 x 2 pips = $2 per mini-lot for a roundtrip trade. The broker fee is automatically deducted from your account.

Obviously, if you buy (go long) a currency pair, you expect the base currency to increase in price. Your objective is to sell later at a price higher than you purchased and make a profit. On the flip side, if you sell (go short) a currency pair, you expect the base currency to decrease in price. Your objective is to buy later at a price that is lower than the price you originally sold, and thus make a profit off the difference.

There’s more to it than can be explained in this overview, but you should get the basic idea.

What are the benefits?

1. With FOREX trading, there is no inventory, no employees, and no customers. Your overhead can be as minimal as a home computer with internet access.

2. You can get started with a “mini-account” investing as little as $300.

3. Currency prices tend to repeat in relatively predictable cycles creating strong trends. Once you learn how to trade properly, you can compound your money, and potentially turn a little into a lot.

4. You can trade for a few hours per week, or much more if you want to. It’s all up to you.

5. The FOREX market is very liquid, with trillions of dollars traded every day. On its slowest day, orders can usually be placed within a few seconds if you stay with the major currencies. Instantaneous execution (1 to 2 seconds) is the norm during normal trade volume days (for the major currencies).

6. You can trade from just about anywhere as long as you have a computer with internet access to your account.

What are the risks?

1. The market can be very volatile, especially during times of major news releases, also known as “fundamental announcements.” The time of these announcements is usually known in advance. Many traders simply stay out of the market during these announcements and wait until market volatility has settled back down.

2. If you use too much margin or risk too much on any one trade, your account could suffer badly on a trade that doesn’t go your way. Proper risk management, including sound placement of stops and not risking more than 2 percent of your account on any one trade, can alleviate this risk. Do not risk more money than you can afford to lose.

3. A major world event could trigger a huge volatility swing that could wipe out your account (or even more). However, some brokers limit the loss to the amount in your account. (Of course, a major world event could also cause the trade to go your way.)

4. Trader psychology (fear and greed) can play a big role in your success or failure as a trader. Trading education is one of the keys to overcoming these human flaws.

5. You could fail to place a stop loss with your order. A change in price could force a liquidation of your trade if your account falls below the required margin maintenance. To alleviate this risk, always set a stop loss when you place an order.

This list is not meant to be inclusive. There are other risks.

How can I get started?

You can easily open an online account by selecting one from many available FOREX brokers. You can, and should open a demo account to practice (and learn) for several months for free. The practice account makes simulated trades using real-time data. This is called “paper trading.” You should not trade your real account until you have proven to yourself that you can be profitable in your demo account.

Once you get started, you can trade currencies from just about anywhere. About all you need is a computer with internet access to your trading account. Many brokers also provide free charting software.

Jim McCabe

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Be a Smart Shopper this Holiday Season

Wednesday, April 26th, 2006

No matter what your shopping style, it’s a good bet it ends up costing you more money than you realize around the holidays — you’re spending more time than usual in malls and specialty shops and in the spirit of the season, you’re feeling especially generous (you might even sneak in a “gift” for yourself). If you don’t have the money for that cashmere sweater, it is all too convenient to put it on the credit card now and deal with it later.

Don’t be one of countless consumers who has a fit of panic and regret when the New Year rolls around and the credit card bills start coming in. Begin planning now and you can make it through the holiday season with your finances and your credit rating intact. Here are some ideas to get you started and help you share the joy of the season without going overboard.

Check your credit

You probably have a general idea of your credit card balances, but now is a good time to sit down and get a complete picture of how much you owe and to whom. You may find that you don’t have as much available credit to use for the holidays as you thought. You’ll also want to check your credit report, both before (to make sure you’ll get approved for more credit if you need it) and after the holidays. You can get a copy of your credit report from Web sites such as creditmatters.com. Verify that all the information is correct, and that there are no unfamiliar charges or accounts on the report. If you carry a monthly balance, this would be a good time to consider consolidating your debt on the card with the lowest interest rate. Just don’t use the zero balance on the consolidated cards as an excuse to charge more. You can enter the New Year knowing that your credit is in good shape.

Look to last year

Take a minute to review your holiday spending from last year. You’ll be amazed how fast the total adds up. There are obvious expenses such as gifts, but don’t forget to include expenditures for decorations, food, party clothes, holiday activities and travel.

Draw up a Budget

Once you figure out how much you’ve spent during the holidays in the past, you can start making a budget for this year. Are there ways you can economize? For example, maybe you can talk to your immediate family about drawing names and buying for just one person, instead of getting gifts for your siblings, their spouses and their kids. In a similar vein, why not start a grab bag tradition among your friends, instead of buying individual gifts for everyone. Alternatively, set a price limit with friends and family. You may not want to be the one to broach the subject, but many people will be relieved at the suggestion.

Stick to Your Budget

Having a budget and sticking to it are two different things. Holidays are a time when emotions can easily trump good sense. With a budget in place, you’re less likely to succumb to impulse spending. You might want to include an “unexpected expenses” category in your budget for last-minute emergencies, like buying a gift for the co-worker who wasn’t on your list, but who gives you an unanticipated present.

Take Advantage of Sales

The past few years have been a bonanza for bargain shoppers as stores strive to entice shoppers during a sluggish economy. Look for good deals, and remember to save your receipts. Many stores will credit you with the difference in price if an item goes on sale within a certain timeframe after you buy it.

Plan for Next Year

Keep all your receipts and add up how much you spend this year; figure out what that translates to per month, and start putting that amount away for holiday spending during the coming year.

Throughout it all, have fun. After all, ‘tis the season to be jolly. Just because you’re on a budget doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy the holidays.

For more information on checking your credit report, visit creditmatters.com.

Courtesy of ARA Content]]>




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