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 Stasie Tillman is a writer & an investment and personal finance analyst. She oversaw the Analytics department for a prominent Long Island, New York brokerage firm for many years. She’s on a quest to live a balanced life in all aspects (mind, body, and spirit). You can find more inspiration and encouragement at www.astoiclife.com. Contact Stasie directly at stillman@astoiclife.com. |
| The holiday season is upon us. If you haven’t noticed your favorite retailors gradually moving the holiday decorations from the back of the stores to the front aisle displays, then beware. I’ve done my best to ignore the temptation. Typically, I’d have started my shopping already. I’d jump on every sale in the preceding months and buy excessive amounts of gifts for loved ones. I’d often think, ‘oh, they’ll need this,’ or ‘oh, they’ll love that,’ or the best excuse, ‘oh, I can’t pass up this deal, I’m sure someone would like it.’ I still have few of those impulse buys hanging around my attic, while still struggling to pay off the credit card balance that remained after all the holiday must-have purchases. This year will be different. Now that I am fully aware of this bad habit, I’m choosing to do better. Let’s decide to break the cycle of racking up debt for the holidays only to spend the next 8 months paying it off. We all know we’re going to lay out more money than we’d like to, so let’s create a budget and plan for the added expense. “I have no extra money,” you say! Trust me, you’re not alone there. Here are some suggestions for ways to pad your pockets and boost your holiday savings: • Part-time Jobs: Most retailers add seasonal staff members to help with the busy holiday shopping season. • Online Jobs: I’m all about working smarter not harder. Our online society has made it easier today to make cash in your spare time from the comfort of your own home. Many reputable companies are beefing up their holiday staff and are in need of work from home customer service agents. Typically, these jobs require little more than a computer and an internet connection. Some companies that frequently offer these opportunities are Amazon, American Express, or can easily be found by searching job boards for ‘remote,’ or ‘telecommute.’ • Cashback Deals: Ebates.com offers great cashback incentives for online shoppers as it partners with many popular retailers. Their deals change each week. Ibotta and Checkout 51 are apps that give you cash back when you snap a picture of your purchase receipts. These offer incentives for everyday grocery items and more. The holidays can get pretty overwhelming with all the hustle and bustle. Let’s limit the financial stress we experience this year. And refocus our energies on what the season is ultimately about, that’s good times spent with good people. |
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20 lucky winners will win $500 each in prizes totaling $10,000. 