Thanks for the advice Mike.  Good post and makes a lot of sense.

Hello John, the move toward sense and sensibility has to start somewhere!!!  I will be checking out your posts soon..Thanks for commenting    Best wishes

Yup, CHristmas should not be about things, it should be about good will and spending time with those that matter!

Take care!

RJH

Hey Robert. I just want to say I'm not all bah hum bug kind of person, just see that the mental attitude toward credit is just wrong. If you can afford it, buy what you need. But, don't forget that its supposed to be about family and sharing, not buying the love of our kids

This is great advice and you right holidays are a bad time for divorce and it usually is all from money problems. I promise no relative wants to see you homeless and would rather get a card from you than watch you in a soup line in March. I wrote a similar blog last night about what we do to avoid the after Christmas season debt.

Todd

Hey Todd, I was a bit worried that some would think this post was negative, but sometimes we need a little nudge to steer us in the right direction. We allow society to place extreme amounts of guilt in us if we do not spend into oblivion. Its crazy this think that the average credit card debt is over 8,000.00 and the average house hold DOES NOT have any savings...None...

Great Holiday Balance....I will add this to the entries if you get your title to read Holiday Balance somewhere....I only found it through your tags....I also emailed you with the link for the contest rules...Good Luck!

Thank you Sally, I did not write it for this contest, but if it fits, then maybe a few more people will read it. Best Wishes

Mike, Sally just informed me that this post will be an entry in the Holiday Balance contest.  I'm a judge in the contest, so I'll reserve my detailed comments until the ballots have been tallied.

Thanks Brian..I  look forward to seeing what happens. All I would want to happen is that people will not jump off the deep end just because its Christmas... Balance is a good thing

Okay...I just saw Holiday Balance in your tag and figured it was....click on your tag holiday balance and see where it goes....in any case...good luck!

We try to get back to the basics every year. We really need nothing, so we give a gift to charity in our name or adopt a needy family and get each other some small item. The Christmas spirit is not about "the stuff"

I was shocked & surprised to see a Christmas display in a major department store this summer!  It's the love & relationships celebrated at this time of the year that make the difference...not the stuff.

Mike- This is a great spin on Holiday Balance.....and as a pun I am sure that Visa and Mastercard hope we have a lot of Balance this year .....LOL

Seriously now, this is some great advice, and from one that is seeing the hardships if we allow ourselves to be trapped by all the hype of "Buy Buy buy".......buyings fine in moderation, and if we can afford it......Thanks for the reminder.

Hello Sally, I will take the time to look at all the links this morning, I thank you for being included...I did click and its all the posts in one place....very nice    C-ya

Hello Terry, Christmas is not about the stuff but I realize how easy it is for me to say that since I don;t have younger children   I know my grand kids are taught differently, but they still expect stuff because the tv is relentless. Last year our business club raised money to contribute to the local police department to fund the gift tree. They were so proud to find thier names on the tags, and understood that they were giving to help others that had problems.  Its not a easy task, but if everyone just slowed down a bit and was mindful of others.....

Nicely Said Lola, Nicely said   thanks for commenting

Hi Kathy, Visa and all the cards are in full attack flooding the mailboxes right now..It can get overwhelming  thanks for stopping by

Mike I think they started here on the first of October with the Christmas stuff. We buy and stash gifts all year when they are on sale.

Hello Keith, my mother in law has Christmas mainly done by Labor Day, My wife starts the day after Thanksgiving and is usually done by the next week or so. We started the balance thing about 10 years back, and really promote a holiday spirit of parties and get togethers with family and friends. Whats the point of having a tree piled high if the family doesn't even talk.  Best wishes to you and yours..C ya

Mike - great topic.  So many people have no idea of the hole they are digging when they use their charge cards.  It's become a real plague, yet the banks just keep on pushing their products down our throats.  Credit is a real two edged sword.

Yes, you are right Georgina, credit is a double edged sword...Lets all just have a good year, set some limits, and be able to open the bills come January without cringing

We believe in cash for gifts, but sometimes it's good to use the credit cards that offer points and pay it immediately.  Then you can get the benefits of both.  Happy Holidays

Hey Lori, I agree. Credit card use requires disapline, and you can get upside down soooo easy. I use the points myself. But  I will not go into debt  can't pay just to call it Christmas presents galore. I was upside down with credit once, and it took many painful years of denial to break out of the trap. I won't go back.

Happy Holidays to you also..Enjoy to the max

Mike, thanks again for your entry and support of the Holiday Balance contest.  We received so many wonderful contest entries, including yours.  Your entry won in my mind for most creative title and was tops in that category of judging criteria.  The message that you convey about credit cards and reckless spending is so timely and important not only during this time of year, but always.  Thanks for putting it out there, and I hope that it helps others think a bit before pulling out that plastic.