AICCCA Offers Last Minute Shoppers
Four Tips to Avoid New Year Debt
Fairfax, VA - December 15, 2005 — For the last minute shoppers of the world, the last few shopping days of the season may signal the time to go into panic mode. The Association of Independent Consumer Credit Counseling Agencies advises consumers to take a little time to make a financial plan before hitting the mall and opening up their pocketbooks.
"When time is short, the temptation may be to spend more than normal or just charge it in order to have a gift to give. But consumers may find themselves in financial trouble in the New Year if they exceed what they can realistically afford or charge their holiday expenses without a plan for paying the debt," said AICCCA President Dave Jones.
For the consumer short on time and money, AICCCA offers these four tips:
Make a list. Your list should include each person you will buy for, a gift idea with a dollar amount you can afford and stores that carry the item. Make use of newspaper, radio and television advertising to do a little comparison-shopping before you set out. This will save you both time and money.
Team up. Enlist the help of one of your "I finished my shopping in July" friends to come with you. Split up when you get to the mall and send them off with the cash to pick up some of the items on your list that you know are available for the price you want. This will have the added bonus of you not being tempted to use credit for these purchases.
Consider after holiday gifting. Take a page from the wise men and shop for your gifts a few days after all the hustle and bustle has died down. Have an envelope for recipients to open that states the gift is on the way. This will allow you to take advantage of the after-holiday sales, save some money and give the recipients something to look forward to.
Think of gift alternatives. Look at your list with an eye towards something besides a gift-wrapped package. IOU coupons for baby sitting, car washes or spring cleaning may be the perfect gift for someone on your list and will cost you little but time in the New Year. Best of all, there will be no checks to write, crowds to fight or new debt to handle.
Founded in 1993, Association of Independent Consumer Credit Counseling Agencies (AICCCA) is a national membership organization, established to promote quality and consistent delivery of credit counseling services. AICCCA and its members are focused on improved creditor relations, efficient processes and advanced technology to best serve clients and creditors. AICCCA members are independent nonprofit agencies that advocate for debtors, counsel millions of consumers annually nationwide and provide debt management services to consumers with excessive unsecured debt. For more information or to contact an AICCCA member office call (800) 450-1794 or visit www.aiccca.org.
