EBillme.com offers Happy Stress-Free, Debt-Free Holiday Tips

Happy Stress-Free, Debt-Free Holidays!
By: Samer Forzley, Vice President of Marketing for eBillme

For many of us, the holidays can be stressful. December creeps up quickly and the holiday shopping list has not been made, let alone purchased, wrapped and tucked under the tree ( if it’s even up yet ). While some are out singing ‘peace on earth,’ you may be struggling for peace of mind this holiday season.

It has been a tough year economically for all, but don’t let the holidays take a toll on your finances or your sanity. Here are some “W.E.B.F.L.O.S.S.” tips for a stress-free and debt-free holiday season.

Write a shopping list. Make sure everyone is covered and start early to take advantage of the sales. Having a list will give you peace of mind that you haven’t forgotten about anyone, and will keep you organized during what can be a crazy Black Friday and Cyber Monday shopping experience. And most importantly, make sure you stick to that list. Having it written down will help make sure you don’t overspend or buy too much.

Eliminate the credit card temptation. While it may seem alluring to put off paying for those gifts, getting out of debt is not a resolution you want to make on New Year’s Eve. Peace of mind comes with knowing that your holiday shopping is already paid off.

Budget. Start by understanding how much money you are willing and able to spend on gifts. Look at how much cash you have saved, and factor in how much extra money you may earn between now and the holidays. Once you understand your total budget, assign a chunk of it to each person on your list and you’re set.

Find deals early. Don’t wait for the last-minute rush to get your gifts. Now that you have your list made, start looking for deals. The unofficial start of the holiday shopping season is Black Friday, followed by its Internet cousin, Cyber Monday. Retailers feature many great savings on these two days and the weekend in between. You are sure to find some discounts for the items on your shopping list.

Limit your gifting to one or two per person. This will let you focus on getting a great gift at a great price. If you are focusing on one gift per person, you have a better chance of giving a high-end gift on a middle-income budget.

Online shopping can pay off. It is common for retailers to offer special online only deals that can save you more money than buying from the store. However, keep an eye out for additional costs. While most online retailers offer free shipping, some still don’t. Check out comparison shopping and deal sites like RetailMeNot.com, PriceGrabber.com and others for great deals from retailers.

Shop safely. You certainly want peace of mind while you are shopping online. Keep an eye out for visual cues that let you know you are shopping in a secure environment. 1) Make sure that the data you are providing a site is being exchanged securely. Look for a little golden lock at the bottom right-hand corner of your browser. If the lock is on, you know your data is being safely transferred. 2) Look for trust marks such as TRUSTe, McAfee Secure and BBBOnline. 3) Use payment options that give you protection and do not require you to provide financial information. For example, www.eBillme.com is a cash payment option that lets you shop online without sharing any financial information. eBillme also has a buyer protection program that protects you from fraud, and provides a best price and satisfaction guarantee.

Shop Debt Free. Holiday shopping with cash is the best way to stick to a budget. You can only spend with the money you have. If you are shopping online, many Web stores now take cash or cash alternatives. Here is a list of merchants that allow consumers to shop online securely with cash. Shopping debt-free, without credit cards, will save you money in the short- and long-term. In the short-term, you can take advantage of extra discounts that retailers and payment providers offer when you checkout with cash. In the long-term, paying with cash will save you from the interest and fees that come with accumulating credit card debt.

Make this holiday season count, and make it about friends and family. Don’t let the stresses of holiday shopping get in the way.

Samer submitted this informative guest post to me and I thought it would be a really great article for my readers for this Holiday Season. If you are a writer or blogger and would like to submit a guest post on anything related to personal finance or saving money get in touch with me!