| The holiday season brings cheer, good | | | | financial freedom. |
| tidings, and warm family memories. | | | | |
| Unfortunately, for many Americans, the | | | | Now that you know where you stand, create a |
| post-holiday season brings more credit card | | | | budget, and stick to it. A written budget |
| debt, and the stress and depression that | | | | will help you analyze your finances; focus on |
| accompany it. According to the National | | | | reallocating your spending to put more |
| Retailers Federation, holiday spending | | | | towards paying off your credit card debt. |
| increased by fifty-one percent in the ten | | | | When creating your budget, make sure that you |
| years from 1997 to 2006. The Federal Reserve | | | | have a copy of all your bills and credit card |
| reported in June of 2007 that Americans' | | | | statements in front of you. You should have |
| revolving debt, which includes credit card | | | | your paycheck stubs or income statements in |
| debt, reached a stomach-knotting 904 billion | | | | hand, as well. This will help you be |
| dollars. If you are someone with more than | | | | aggressive, but realistic, while setting your |
| your fair share of that revolving debt, do | | | | monthly financial goals. |
| not despair. Create a plan to get back on | | | | |
| track, set good goals, and free yourself from | | | | If you work hard and pay off cards before the |
| that post-holiday financial stranglehold. | | | | next holiday season, that's great! If you |
| The following paragraphs may help get you | | | | then go right back into debt because of the |
| started. | | | | holiday season, that's maddening. There is, |
| | | | of course, a way to avoid that frustration. |
| First and foremost, you must take stock of | | | | Decide on a reasonable amount you will spend |
| your financial situation, from top to bottom. | | | | during the holidays. Divide that number by |
| It is astonishing how many people do not | | | | the twelve months in a year. The result is |
| know the details of their credit card debt. | | | | the amount of money you should earmark each |
| How big is it? What is the Annual Percentage | | | | month for your Holiday Fund. Consider |
| Rate on each of your cards? Is that Annual | | | | opening a bank account just for your new |
| Percentage Rate fixed or variable? These are | | | | Holiday Fund. When the time comes, you will |
| things you must know if you want your | | | | already have your spending money. |
| situation to improve. If you don't know | | | | |
| where you are, you sure as heck don't know | | | | The main point of this article is that if you |
| where you're going. | | | | have a plan - and stick to it - you can |
| | | | defeat your credit card debt. Understanding |
| Be sure to look over your other areas of | | | | the details of your credit card statements, |
| spending, as well as your income. Where can | | | | creating a budget, and starting a Holiday |
| you make cuts? Is there a way for you to | | | | Fund are all little things that will help you |
| make more money? Remember that getting out | | | | make your next holiday season the best one |
| of debt is a huge step toward gaining | | | | yet! |