All those holiday splurges – the Christmas gifts, the tree, travel expenses and all those gourmet ingredients for cooking and baking have wreaked havoc on your credit card balances and your overdraft. Here are just a few tips on how to get back on the road to financial freedom after the holidays.
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Getting Back On Track After The Holidays
Tuesday, January 10th, 2012• • •
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Singing the January Blues?
Monday, January 3rd, 2011Holiday Spending hits record levels this holiday season. During the period October 31 to December 24, U.S. consumers spent an estimated $36.4 billion, a 15.4% year-on-year increase over the 2009 holiday season.
Does that make your stomach flip? Are you scared to open your credit card bills this month?
Its time to take control.
Enroll in the Home Sweet Home program at UtahCreditCoach.com
ITS TIME TO ELIMINATE THE BURDEN OF BAD CREDIT!
*statistics from Spending Pulse 2010 report)
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Another great video
Tuesday, December 14th, 2010Today I am featuring a video by the Dave Ramsey Group. I love the message and the fun, creative way they are sharing what they have to say.
Enjoy
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STICK TO YOUR BUDGET
Monday, November 29th, 2010• • •
Think twice about Holiday shopping
Wednesday, November 24th, 2010Want to buy a home or refinance your current mortgage? Think twice about how you shop this holiday season.
OK everyone. Stop what you’re doing and think again. Before you head out for Black Fridays “deals” or cyber Saturday’s online deals make sure you have the cash to purchase everything and a list to stick to. You may ruin your credit score and any loan or refinance you have in the works if you raise your debt ratios or open a store card. That store card and its “10% off” may be the difference between owning your dream home and continuing to rent.
Contact us at www.UtahCreditCoach.com with questions.
p.s. The lower your score the higher your interest rate. Its expensive to have a low credit score.
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Others are cutting back on their spending habits….are you?
Tuesday, November 16th, 2010A new poll from Harris Interactive shows that many Americans are continuing to cut back on their spending. Here is a break down of their findings over the last 6 months:
- 62% are purchasing more generic brands
- 45% are bringing lunch to work
- 37% use refillable bottles instead of buying new
- 22% have stopped purchasing coffee in the morning
- 17%have cancelled land line phone service
What ways have you cut back?
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Can You Guess What Industry Brings in Over 5Billion/Year
Friday, October 15th, 2010HALLOWEEN
So hold on to your wallets we are only a few weeks away. On average $65/person is spent on Halloween: children’s parties, costumes, cards, candy, decorations, office parties, gifts to others and the list goes on and on. So a family of 4 just took a $260 hit to their monthly budget… amazing how fast it adds up. Here are some simple steps to take before you start swiping the debt card.
Costumes:
Swap with friends, neighbors or siblings
Make your own with what you already have around the house
Go shop at a thrift store
Plan ahead and hit the after-Halloween sales for next year and get a jump on the holiday
Candy:
I know in my home if I buy it too early, I eat it and I mean I eat all of it. I will end up buying three times the amount I would have purchased if I just would have waited. So wait until a day or so before Halloween to make your purchase.
Buy in bulk: gather the neighbors and purchase the candy / split the cost. Price shop the stores for the best deals
Decorations:
Almost everyone loves to decorate for Halloween. Have your kids help out, make your own decorations instead of purchasing everything. Visit your local craft store. Keep your previous years decorations, you don’t have to buy new every year. Again, plan ahead, budget and purchase expensive items that you absolutely have to have after Halloween and try to catch an after Halloween sale.
Sticking to your budget and planning ahead will always save you money. Be thrifty, let the costumes, haunted houses and corn mazes be the scary parts of Halloween……… not your credit card statement in November!
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Christmas is coming…..
Tuesday, October 12th, 2010Believe it or not, Christmas is just around the corner. We are quickly approaching the “Holiday Season.” Check it out an official Christmas Countdown Clock: http://www.xmasclock.com at the time of this posting we were down to 73 days 14 hours until Christmas.
This means if you haven’t been putting money aside all year for your holiday expenses, you still have time. Sit down and create a budget. Write out your list of who you normally buy for, what you would like to spend per person and don’t forget to add in shipping/handling and Christmas cards/postage.
Now look at your budget and see if this “list” is even a possibility. Remember you do not want the January hangover due to credit card bills showing up in your mailbox or email inbox. Maybe the neighbors will get homemade cookies this year instead of a store bought gift, maybe more people will receive cards with a handwritten message or poem. There are ways to cutback, if you start now you’ll give your self more time to come up with options.
Put the moneyin a separate envelope with your final list so you stay focused and avoid overspending on impulse items. Advertisers and stores are very good at tempting you with “sale” items and displays showcasing these items throughout the store or prompted “suggested” items as you checkout online.
Shop smart; you’ll be grateful you did.
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