| You dont have to pawn the lawn reindeer. Holiday | | | | handing out handwritten Free back massage gift |
| jobs, creativity and patient problem-solving can | | | | certificates to your loved ones and BFFs (Thats |
| help you take control of your finances. | | | | kinda creepy). If you cant afford pricey gifts for |
| When the reindeer cookies get stale and the | | | | everyone on your shopping list, try tapping into |
| staples are finally removed from the strands of | | | | your talents before you dabble in the third grade |
| 30,000 twinkling bulbs stuck atop your roof, the | | | | arts and crafts scene. Do you fancy yourself a |
| post-holiday season sometimes gives you a few | | | | photographer? Then how about snapping photos |
| new activities to occupy your time: fearing the | | | | of friends and family, and tucking them in some |
| mailman, dreading the phone and hoping youll soon | | | | affordable frames? Are you a closet Gordon |
| wake up from your credit card nightmare. | | | | Ramsey fan and something of an amateur chef? |
| It doesnt have to be like that. With some safe | | | | Bake up a few dozen cookies and pass them out |
| and sound decision making now, you can maintain | | | | around the office in tins. (Just be sure to pay |
| your financial health through the holidays, and still | | | | attention to peanut allergies; nothing ruins a good |
| have enough moolah left over for a six-month | | | | gift like a bad case of hives). |
| supply of that celebrity diet milkshake. | | | | Then there are those pricey trips to go visit the |
| According to Cardweb.com, the average | | | | fam. You know whats cheaper than |
| American has about $9,000 in credit card debt. | | | | coast-to-coast airfare? A couple of computer |
| With gift giving, travel plans, eating out and parties | | | | webcams. Buy one for yourself, mail one to the |
| spread throughout the winter months, its peak | | | | relatives and spend some quality face-to-face |
| season for abusing your plastic. So here are a | | | | time together in whats the next best thing to |
| few tips for saving and surviving through the | | | | actually clanging champagne glasses on New Years |
| holiday money crunch. | | | | Eve. |
| 1. Snag holiday jobs | | | | 3. Be wary of easy solutions |
| We realize this may be easier said than done. You | | | | Were not here to be your personal financial |
| may already have a full-time job with demanding | | | | advisor, but if you do reach a state of dire debt, |
| hours. Or you might be juggling several part-time | | | | we do suggest that you consider credit card |
| jobs. Or you may have other demands and | | | | consolidation, home equity loans, opening new |
| responsibilities, such as school or family obligations. | | | | credit cards, and bankruptcy only as final options. |
| However, some of you have no excuse. Yes, | | | | Fast-talking commercial spokespeople and fine |
| were taking to youthe 24/7 basement gamer, | | | | print can be especially deceptive when preying on |
| the soap opera addict and the weekend golf | | | | desperate people. |
| warrior. If you have the time and the need, | | | | The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has a |
| seasonal jobs are abundant during the holidays, | | | | library of helpful articles and advice for those in |
| especially restaurant jobs and retail jobs. Since | | | | serious debt and suffering from other personal |
| part-time gigs offer such flexible schedules, you | | | | finance problems. Whether youre looking for ways |
| can grab extra cash on your own time. For | | | | to save money or want to find creative ways to |
| seasonal job search advice, read The secret to | | | | fix your credit, check out these FTC facts for |
| landing seasonal jobs & temporary employment. | | | | consumers. |
| And remember, a part-time job after the holidays | | | | Of course, you can always go the obvious route |
| can be just as helpful as one before them. | | | | by hiding your credit cards for the next few |
| 2. Find the middle ground between cheap and | | | | months. Rent a lock box, buy a safe, or mail |
| creative | | | | them to Great Aunt Edna in Oshkosh, Wisconsin |
| Were not encouraging you to be noticeably stingy. | | | | for safekeeping under her mattress. Hopefully the |
| The last thing we want is for you to be | | | | cards wont get mysteriously maxed out on yarn, |
| gift-wrapping homemade macaroni necklaces or | | | | catnip and Wayne Newton vinyl. |