Make A List And Check It Twice

Trying to save money this holiday season? Well, take a page out of Santa Claus’ book and make a list, making sure to check it twice. Quite honestly, you will likely check it more than twice if you are a bargain-hunting shopper, and that should suit you just fine.

As is evident, we are currently in the middle of the craziest shopping season of the year. For many people, it unfortunately marks the beginning of a debt-ridden new year. But this, of course, does not have to be the case. Too often, holiday shoppers stack charges for gift after gift on their credit cards. In doing so, they forget just how much they have spent until they receive their credit card bills in the mail.

Needless to day, charges add up. To save yourself from the misery associated with inflated bills that are hard to pay, shoppers should create holiday gift shopping lists that they literally check off as they are shopping. Writing down the price of each item as it is purchased will help you to determine just how much you have already spent and how much you may spend going forward.

Essentially, you are keeping a running tab. Without doing so, you may eventually overspend and be caught in a situation where you cannot afford your purchases.

Another thing shoppers should always do is keep their receipts. Yes, this practice comes in handy when making returns becomes necessary. But even more importantly, consumers can ensure that the charges on their bills are indeed correct. From time to time, an incorrect charge may appear on a bill, swelling a consumer’s balance unnecessarily. In worst case scenarios, these charges are purposely made fraudulently, although most often they are simple mistakes.

Being aware of these errors will help for a bill to be paid correctly and within the realms of one’s budget. Often credit card users overlook these incorrect charges and end up paying for something that they did not purchase.

Cross-reference your receipts with the charges on your bills each and every month to make sure your spending is accurate. If you have already listed each of these charges on your holiday shopping list, your credit card bill should come as no surprise.

Obviously, the holiday season is meant to be a joyous time. However, all too often, people get themselves trapped in debt due to careless spending. Make your list, check it twice, and you will be sure to have happy holidays.