Christmas Debt

Are you going into debt this Christmas? Why?

35 million Americans still have credit card debt from last year! Listen, Christmas debt is painful and unnecessary! 

I want you to avoid it. Be vigilant because retailers want sales and they don’t care about your finances.

You’ll have to make sacrifices, even if it means returning purchases.

Here are some tips to avoid Christmas debt.

Stay away from the stores. The tradition to give – even what we can’t afford – runs deep in our culture. So go against the trend! 

Give of yourself. Be creative and come up with some clever ideas. You can make gift cards offering to detail a car, run errands, babysit, or teach a craft.

Share words of affirmation. Everyone wants to know how much they’re loved and valued, and the time you put into writing and reading this will bless more than you can imagine!

Plan experiences for the holidays. You can surprise family members with something different each day.

Examples might include attending a free concert, strolling through a live nativity, playing board games and drinking hot chocolate, going on a hike, planning a potluck with friends, taking dinner to someone lonely, or volunteering at a shelter. 

Children learn values by watching, and experiences mean far more to them than stuff.

You CAN have a debt-free Christmas and experience the peace God’s planned for you! After all, Christmas is a celebration of the Prince of Peace!

And if you’re still experiencing the stress and strain of credit card debt, I recommend Christian Credit counselors. They can create a debt management plan just for you. For more information call the Crown Helpline at 800-722-1976 or visit crown.org/ccc.