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Can You Afford to Deck the Halls This Season?

With Halloween already passed, we have entered the spending season. Between getting a handle on those Halloween bills and creating more bills for Thanksgiving and Christmas, this is the perfect time to get into real trouble with debt. MSN Money had some great tips for helping you through this expensive season.

Know how much you are spending. It is easy to lose track of how much you are really spending on gifts, food, and decorations when you get carried away by the Christmas spirit. Just keep in mind the shock you’ll receive in January if you aren’t keeping track of how many times you are swiping that credit card.

Don’t overdo it. Don’t put yourself into debt just because you want to get everyone an impressive amount of gifts. Be realistic about what you can afford; after all, the best gifts come from the heart!

Don’t wait until the last minute. At some point, we are all guilty of procrastinating but it doesn’t pay off around the holidays. Often, trying to pay for all the presents at once will make your next credit card bill give you the chills. Space out your gift buying so you can stick it in your budget.

Get a gift receipt. Unless you are absolutely sure, don’t spend a bunch of money in stores with no return policy. It could leave you feeling guilty and end up costing you more in the long run.

Hopefully these tips can help relieve you of the burden of debt that could inevitably crush the Christmas spirit we all love to enjoy. If you are already in trouble with your debt, you may want to explore the option of Bankruptcy. It has helped many families get through the holiday season—and an appointment to talk to someone about your debt may just be the best gift you could give yours.