Tuesday, December 11, 2012

CHRISTMAS DOESN'T HAVE TO BREAK THE BANK - Make it a no-fuss season




 
Source: JOANNE RICHARD, Sun Media, 24 Hours
Section: News Page: 16
   The holiday season can wreak havoc on your bank account if you're not careful so, this Christmas, it's time to buff up your negotiating muscles, get savvy about deal spotting and practice your frugal intelligence.
    "It's about getting more for less, but being smart about it," says money maven Kelley Keehn.
    Don't equate frugality with cheapness or stinginess. Money matters and frugality's all about seeing value in keeping as much of your hard-earned cash as you can, and being creative while reducing spending, especially during the holiday season, says the Edmonton-based speaker and author of eight books.
    First of all, make it a no-fuss, no-muss season. Ask yourself and your family precisely what you gave and received from each other over the past few years. "If you can't recall the gift within moments, it just shows you that all the stress, fuss and expense was soon forgotten.
    "So should you really do the same this year? Or pare down your lists (and) help others in need to put Christmas in context," says Keehn, of kelleykeehn.com. 
 
Read the full article here.