November 19, 2007

Safe and Smart Shopping This Holiday Season: Use the Resources Available

This holiday season; take the time to be a smart and safe shopper. Plan ahead for your purchases and research products before you buy. In addition, make a budget and stick to it to make sure the holiday financial hangover does not hit you in January. There are a variety of state and federal websites that can help you make this a successful shopping season.

The recent recall of thousands of toys and products for children has prompted concern about the safety of toys purchased and those currently in our homes. There are resources available that can help you determine whether or not products have been recalled. The Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade, and Consumer Protection publish a monthly list of recalled products. These lists will come in handy as parents and grandparents decide what to purchase their children for holiday gifts. According to the report, in October of 2007 the US Consumer Product Safety Commission issued the recall of 37 products affecting children. The consumer protection monthly report shows and describes the product, discusses what the problem is, and tells consumers what they should do with the product and how to seek remedy. Consumer Protection website:

http://www.datcp.state.wi.us/core/consumerprotection/consumerprotection.jsp

In addition, the US Consumer Product Safety Commission website has an up to date list of all products recalled because of safety issues and a way for consumers to report an unsafe item: http://www.cpsc.gov/ .

The Holiday season can be stressful for many reasons; events, obligations, expectations, and the financial burden of it all. Very few employers’ still offer holiday accounts for their employees, but taking the time to set aside money for the holiday season and working with a budget can help things go easier.

Robin McClure makes these suggestions: The time is now to get your finances in order to avoid debt and regrets that can lead to the holiday blues. The season of gift-giving and fellowship too often creates the spirit of giving far beyond what you can realistically afford. However, if you start now you can be holiday guilt- and debt-free with the new year. Here are seven ways to stay on track:

1. Review last years expenses to help you set a budget for this year.
2. Determine whether last year’s budget was on target or caused too much debt.
3. Talk with you family about the budget, so expectations are realistic and everyone is on the same page.
4. Make a list and definitely check it twice.
5. Say no to last minute temptations.
6. Decide how to pay and stick with it. If you have saved, only spend what you have saved. If you are using a credit card, keep track of what you spent.
7. Remember that a budget is liberating and is not a downer. Avoiding excessive debt and overspending is the best holiday gift to give yourself, long after the celebrations end.

Here is a good website that talks about holiday budgeting in detail: http://www.smartmoneytips.com/holiday-budget.php

Hope you have a safe and smart holiday season.