| You dont have to pawn the lawn reindeer. | | | | stingy. The last thing we want is for you to |
| Holiday jobs, creativity and patient | | | | be gift-wrapping homemade macaroni necklaces |
| problem-solving can help you take control of | | | | or handing out handwritten Free back massage |
| your finances. | | | | gift certificates to your loved ones and BFFs |
| | | | (Thats kinda creepy). If you cant afford |
| When the reindeer cookies get stale and the | | | | pricey gifts for everyone on your shopping |
| staples are finally removed from the strands | | | | list, try tapping into your talents before |
| of 30,000 twinkling bulbs stuck atop your | | | | you dabble in the third grade arts and crafts |
| roof, the post-holiday season sometimes gives | | | | scene. Do you fancy yourself a photographer? |
| you a few new activities to occupy your time: | | | | Then how about snapping photos of friends and |
| fearing the mailman, dreading the phone and | | | | family, and tucking them in some affordable |
| hoping youll soon wake up from your credit | | | | frames? Are you a closet Gordon Ramsey fan |
| card nightmare. | | | | and something of an amateur chef? Bake up a |
| | | | few dozen cookies and pass them out around |
| It doesnt have to be like that. With some | | | | the office in tins. (Just be sure to pay |
| safe and sound decision making now, you can | | | | attention to peanut allergies; nothing ruins |
| maintain your financial health through the | | | | a good gift like a bad case of hives). |
| holidays, and still have enough moolah left | | | | |
| over for a six-month supply of that celebrity | | | | Then there are those pricey trips to go visit |
| diet milkshake. | | | | the fam. You know whats cheaper than |
| | | | coast-to-coast airfare? A couple of computer |
| According to Cardweb.com, the average | | | | webcams. Buy one for yourself, mail one to |
| American has about $9,000 in credit card | | | | the relatives and spend some quality |
| debt. With gift giving, travel plans, eating | | | | face-to-face time together in whats the next |
| out and parties spread throughout the winter | | | | best thing to actually clanging champagne |
| months, its peak season for abusing your | | | | glasses on New Years Eve. |
| plastic. So here are a few tips for saving | | | | |
| and surviving through the holiday money | | | | 3. Be wary of easy solutions |
| crunch. | | | | |
| | | | Were not here to be your personal financial |
| 1. Snag holiday jobs | | | | advisor, but if you do reach a state of dire |
| | | | debt, we do suggest that you consider credit |
| We realize this may be easier said than done. | | | | card consolidation, home equity loans, |
| You may already have a full-time job with | | | | opening new credit cards, and bankruptcy only |
| demanding hours. Or you might be juggling | | | | as final options. Fast-talking commercial |
| several part-time jobs. Or you may have other | | | | spokespeople and fine print can be especially |
| demands and responsibilities, such as school | | | | deceptive when preying on desperate people. |
| or family obligations. However, some of you | | | | |
| have no excuse. Yes, were taking to youthe 24 | | | | The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has a |
| 7 basement gamer, the soap opera addict and | | | | library of helpful articles and advice for |
| the weekend golf warrior. If you have the | | | | those in serious debt and suffering from |
| time and the need, seasonal jobs are abundant | | | | other personal finance problems. Whether |
| during the holidays, especially restaurant | | | | youre looking for ways to save money or want |
| jobs and retail jobs. Since part-time gigs | | | | to find creative ways to fix your credit, |
| offer such flexible schedules, you can grab | | | | check out these FTC facts for consumers. |
| extra cash on your own time. For seasonal job | | | | |
| search advice, read The secret to landing | | | | Of course, you can always go the obvious |
| seasonal jobs & temporary employment. And | | | | route by hiding your credit cards for the |
| remember, a part-time job after the holidays | | | | next few months. Rent a lock box, buy a safe, |
| can be just as helpful as one before them. | | | | or mail them to Great Aunt Edna in Oshkosh, |
| | | | Wisconsin for safekeeping under her mattress. |
| 2. Find the middle ground between cheap and | | | | Hopefully the cards wont get mysteriously |
| creative | | | | maxed out on yarn, catnip and Wayne Newton |
| | | | vinyl. |
| Were not encouraging you to be noticeably | | | | |