As much as we might like to believe otherwise, the holidays are not just about spending time with family, cooking lavish meals and taking lovely vacations. They are also about shopping and money. During the holidays, people spend more money than at any other time of the year. Many people focus on how much they’re spending, but fail to recognize that the way they spend can make a big difference in the total cost of the holiday season. With the gifts, flights and events which accompany the festivities, you need to be financially prepared, and think about options that reflect the season’s unique spending requirements.
With holiday credit cards, you can ease the pressure of the season’s total costs. Rather than sacrificing the gifts and vacation you want, you can expand your spending over time, and ease the burden of holiday spending. Some people may be hesitant to take this approach. However, spreading the total costs of the holidays over a few months doesn’t mean you put off what you owe. It just means that you basically finance a very large purchase.
Additionally, many holiday cards come with great introductory rates and low or 0 percent APR introductory periods. If you work within these time boundaries, financing your holiday expenses could cost you nothing in interest. Think about how long you want to take to pay for your holiday purchases, and find a card that provides that option.
Using a separate card during the holiday season is a great way to keep track of your total expenses and manage your seasonal budget. With a holiday card, you can keep track of the total you spend on gifts, flights and vacations. To ensure that your holiday spending stays on track, set limits for yourself and budget accordingly. By using a holiday credit card, budgeting becomes much easier to manage.
Look for a card that offers rebates or discounts for the stores where you plan to do the bulk of your gift shopping. If there are particular stores that can accommodate some of the people on your gift list, or people who will get the most of your financial attention, such as children, a card that offers cash back or rebates at particular stores can save you money in the long run. Holiday credit cards are often offered through larger, entertainment-based stores, which is great if your friends and family enjoy books, music and movies. Parents will be pleased to know that a number of toy stores also operate in conjunction with credit lenders, so you can earn cash back and rebate rewards while fulfilling your children’s holiday wishes.
If you plan on traveling for the holidays, be sure to find a card that offers travel insurance. These cards can protect against everything from stolen luggage, to cancelled flights, to possible rental car accidents. When visiting family or just getting out of town for the new year, you have to keep in mind that the holiday season is the most traveled time of year, and accidents can happen. So be prepared, and let a holiday credit card give you piece of mind while you focus on enjoying yourself.
Travel insurance isn’t the only protection a holiday credit card has to offer. Sadly, the holiday season is when many people are victims of financial crime. Shopping with cash is just unsafe, and cash doesn’t have any guarantees. By using holiday credit cards that offer fraud and theft protection, you can ensure that your spending is protected and you won’t be left financially vulnerable.
Think about how you plan to budget for your holiday spending and what type of holiday credit card might suit your needs. By wisely financing the most spending intensive time of the year, you can save money, protect yourself and earn rewards!
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