Straight Talk on Debt: The Three S's of the Holidays

The holiday's are here and with them come the three S's; stress, spending, and splurging. For those of us running a tight financial ship these three S's can sabotage our year end bottom line and leave us in a precarious position come January. You can see how the average American behaves with an infographic from @TheDigeratiLife , Christmas Budgeting & Holiday Shopping Trends.

Don't let the holidays take there toll on you or your finances; instead slow down and enjoy the simple pleasures they bring. This week's reading is full of articles to help you stay on track and share holiday blessings with even the smallest members of your family.

Practice & Teach Safer Spending

• Developing a Giving Spirit This Holiday Season @JeremyVoh "The point is that no matter what your economic status may be, you can find ways to help others during Thanksgiving and Christmastime. Give the gift of giving this year."
• A Different Kind of Holiday Gift Guide @MoneyCrush "Give yourself the gift of financial security and things that used to be major setbacks will become little hiccups - or blips that you don't even notice. Best of all, you'll able to help others when they need it, or give cool gifts to others just because."
• 9 Christmas Gift Ideas for Kids to Learn About Money @MyDollarPlan "Looking for gift ideas for kids that focus on personal finance? You're in luck, because gifts and toys that double as tools to teach kids about money management are some of my favorite gifts to give. They're also the perfect gifts for kids that have everything and really don't have a use for another expensive plastic toy."
• Change Your Financial Family Tree @NoDebtPlan "We learn how money works by watching our parents and the ways they interact with it. Whether good or bad, we see the decisions they make and we are learning from them. Our financial future is largely based on what we have witnessed and learned from our family. What if your parents don't have a healthy relationship with money? What if you have watched them struggle through the years and know they have made poor decisions?"
• Christmas Arts and Crafts Projects for Kids @PersonalDiv "If you are looking for some fun ways to help your child express his or her inner artist this Christmas, here are some ideas for fun things you can help them do."

Avoid Holiday Splurges

• Just Say No to Inflatable Santa's @EnemyofDebt "According to a Bloomberg report, "This year U.S. consumers will spend $6 billion on decorations, the most in at least seven years, according to the National Retail Federation, which began tracking the data in 2005."
• 5 Christmas Shopping Mistakes To Avoid @ChristianPF "Before you rush to the store or add something to your cart online, now's the perfect time to think about some of the biggest mistakes that you should avoid this season."
• 4 Financial Mistakes to Avoid During the Holidays @ReadyForZero "After all, spending money has become such a fundamental part of the holidays that it's hard to imagine them without it. Which is great for the retail industry and the country's GDP, but not so great for your bank account or your financial goals."

Stress Free Holidays

• Want to Save Money? Slow Down @GRSBlog "The moral of the story: Sometimes the best way to save money is to slow down. Instead of trying to be frugal by jamming as many tasks as possible into your conscious hours, save money by doing fewer things."
• 3 Powerful Ways To Decrease Your Financial Stress @roshawnwatson "Sixty-one percent of people live paycheck to paycheck, meaning it does not take much to push them to the brink of financial cataclysm."

Photo Credit

Suzanne Cramer  

Suzanne is a certified credit counselor and a Social Media Specialist for CareOne Debt Relief Services. Suzanne writes for Divorce, Debt and Finances and A Straight Talk on Debt. Follow Suzanne on Twitter @ADivorcedMom  and @AskCareOne where she shares her insights on divorce and managing your finances.