How Can You Make this Holiday Season a Happy One?

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With October past us and November flying by, it's about time to start planning a budget for the Christmas season. Ideally, you created a budget at the beginning of the year and are already prepared for the holidays. Unfortunately, many of us have a tough time sticking to a budget as the year goes on, which often makes the Christmas season, and all the spending that comes with it, more stressful than it needs to be.

In order to get through the holidays in good spirits, you need to spend responsibly. Here are a few tips:

• Start with a budget: Now is a good time to sit down and draw out a budget before the shopping season really begins. 
• Separate needs from wants: It's natural to want to give fantastic gifts to those you love, but you should only do so within a sustainable budget. Make a list of who you need to spend money on, and how much you can afford to spend on each. 
• Go in with someone else: If you want to give someone a large gift, see if friends or family want to go in on it together. This can achieve the same goal without having to foot an insurmountable bill. 
• Don't buy all your gifts at once: Take your shopping one paycheck at a time. There's no reason to buy all your gifts at once - budget what you'll spend on gifts out of each paycheck.
• Make it personal: If you can't spend a lot of money because of budget restrictions, add a personal touch to something smaller. For example, if you can only afford to purchase a gift card for a loved one, bake some cookies to add a thoughtful gesture to the gift.

We hope you find these strategies helpful. Of course, we're always here if you have questions about this topic, or if you would like assistance in keeping your finances in order this holiday season. Give us a call - we would love to help make your holiday season as stress-free as possible!

What Are We Thankful for this Season?

Get back on track with our Debt Management Program that helps you pay your debts by negotiating monthly payments to your creditors. Work your way back to credit health by contacting us today!

Over the last 34 years, it's been my pleasure to be the president and CEO of this fine company. During those years I've had a lot of excellent ladies and gentlemen work for me, who were great employees and even better counselors. 

Part of our job here is to help families and individuals by teaching them better money habits, providing educational information, and helping them get out of debt. We've literally returned millions and millions of dollars back to the community on behalf of those hardworking families who have gone to their jobs every day and paid off their debt. We've provided educational programs and have had a great deal of success over the years.

I want to say a big THANKS to my staff and all the people who have worked for Consumer Credit Counseling in the past. The many long hours and the dedication these people have put into helping community families and to do the right things to help people improve their lives and make better economic sense of what they have to work with.

Most importantly, thanks to all of you who have worked with us in the past and continue to support us. It's because of you that we're able to continuing assisting people in our area. 

Best wishes to you and your family this Thanksgiving season!

How Can You Manage Your Money Better When You're a Student?

Get back on track with our Debt Management Program that helps you pay your debts by negotiating monthly payments to your creditors. Work your way back to credit health by contacting us today!

Whether you're an 18-year-old freshman or a 30-year-old looking to further your education, it can be difficult to manage your finances when attending college. This is a great time of year to sit down and take a look at your expenses and begin budgeting for the school year. Because college is an expensive endeavor, it's crucial you get your personal budget worked out before the hustle and bustle of school becomes overwhelming.

Here are some basic tips:

• Know your credit situation: You should be well-aware of your available credit. Set a limit to what you're willing to charge to your credit card. Maxing out your card now will negatively affect your ability to get a loan in the future.
• Know what books will cost: Books can be incredibly expensive - you need to budget accordingly.
• Know your living/commuting expenses: Are you living off campus? Will you be spending money on gas or paying for public transportation? These are expenses you need to be aware of because they're a necessary part of going to school.

Attending college can make it difficult to keep your finances in line. Luckily, here at Consumer Credit Counselor Service, we have counselors who have worked with many students over the years. Our goal is to help you set up a flexible budget - one that works for you. It's crucial you stay out of credit trouble - but if you do need help, don't hesitate to call your parents, a credit counselor, or even your creditors to try to form a strategy to solve the problem. The worst thing you can do is set your credit problems aside and think you'll be able to fix them later.

Now is a great time to start learning some things about your money management habits. There are a lot of great apps out there you can download, or you can simply carry around a small notebook to record your expenses. Find out how you're spending money, add it all up at the end of the month, and determine whether you need everything you buy. Is there something you buy regularly that you don't really need? Making smarter spending decisions will help you get the best value for your hard-earned dollars.

If you are interested in getting help with your finances, don't hesitate to give us a call or stop by our website. We'd love to help make your life a little easier while you're in school!