- A recession looks likely to hit the US next year – and it could squeeze both incomes and employment.
- With Americans predicted to spend nearly $1,000 each on gifts, Christmas is coming at a bad time.
- Here are some ways to stick to your festive budget without compromising on holiday fun.
The holiday period is all about catching up with friends and family, giving and receiving gifts, and eating and drinking too much – but it can also be a minefield for your wallet.
How To Stop Christmas Burning A Big Hole In Your Wallet
A Gallup poll published in October suggested US households will spend an average of $932 on gifts alone. Add to that increased travel and socializing, and you could be putting yourself in financial peril at the worst possible time.
How To Stop Christmas Burning A Big Hole In Your Wallet
As the likelihood of a recession mounts, you might be worrying about the state of your finances when the new year arrives.
How To Stop Christmas Burning A Big Hole In Your Wallet
Insider spoke with four personal finance experts who shared some tips to help you feel more secure when the credit card bills land.
How To Stop Christmas Burning A Big Hole In Your Wallet
Stick to a budget
It’s vital to budget appropriately for the holidays. Travis Forman of Harbourfront Wealth said high inflation and rising interest rates was already forcing people to move from being “impulse buyers to plan buyers”. That shouldn’t change at Christmas, he said.
How To Stop Christmas Burning A Big Hole In Your Wallet
Cameron Huddleston, a family finance expert with Carefull, a service built to protect aging adults’ daily finances, said she often sees people making lists of gifts without having an idea what it’s going to cost.
How To Stop Christmas Burning A Big Hole In Your Wallet
“In addition to having that list of gifts, you need to have a budget of how much you can afford to spend, not how much you want to spend, in cash rather than relying on credit cards,” she said.
How To Stop Christmas Burning A Big Hole In Your Wallet
If you have to use credit…
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