Holiday Tips and Tricks with Lisa Adams

BUDGETING BLISS

By this time, we’re sure you have begun to think about the beloved onslaught of Christmas shopping. Uncle Bob wants a toolkit, Mom wants a cashmere scarf and your oldest sister simply must have the iPhone 4S. Before generosity mode kicks into overdrive, please (for the sake of 2012) make a budget! While the tinsel sparkle and cheery holiday carols can easily tantalize you into overspending, setting a specific budget for how much you would like to spend on decorations, gifts, food, etc. will keep you grounded and practical. Now here’s the hard part of budgeting: Stick to it! If an impulse buy doesn’t fit your budget, then don’t make it part of your holiday season. When January 1st comes, you’ll be so glad you planned ahead.