Week of 11/14/2007

Holiday Travel Tip

Let's face it. The holiday season means travel plans for many people. Some MUST travel; other just WANT to travel. And this year air travel especially promises to be more expensive than ever. If you haven't already made your airline reservations, you will no doubt be paying a heavy premium if you can even find a ticket.

We ran across a new web site that helps people save money on airfare BEFORE AND AFTER they buy a ticket. Yapta.com (which stands for "Your Amazing Personal Travel Assistant") tracks airfares for you on any number of flights you might be considering. According to them, airfares can fluctuate by as much as 400%. They notify you when there has been a price change. If you've already bought your ticket (directly from the airline), they will track it to see if the price on the same ticket drops which may entitle you to a voucher or a refund.

With Yapta.com you may not have to break the budget after all.

Week of 11/21/2007

'Tis The (Thanksgiving) Season

The signs of Christmas have been with us since the beginning of October. For 1/4 of the year we are reminded to buy, buy, buy when we should be thinking first of all about all that we have to be thankful for, most of which is FREE -- family, friends, freedoms and a thousand other things that we take for granted during the better part of a year. Is it asking too much to devote a week to just being thankful? Forget about Black Friday and Cyber Monday. Sit down and write a note or send an email to everyone is your life who has given it meaning. Tell them, "Thanks." Donate a little something to your local foodbank so others will have a meal to be thankful for. Unplug the Christmas tree for one week. Guaranteed, you won't miss it.

Week of 11/28/2007

5 Holiday Shopping Tips

The average American spends a little over $900 on gifts, food, greeting cards and decorations for the holidays. Unfortunately, most of the expense goes on a credit card, and a majority are still trying to pay it off 6 months later. Here are some tips to help you avoid that predicament.

1. Set a spending budget, and then try to come in under-budget.

2. Make a list of everything you will be buying based on your budget, and sitck to it. If you find your list is greater than your budget, start trimming. By the same token, if you don't spend all of your budget, put the savings into a Christmas Club account for the following year.

3. Pay cash for everything (unless you are able to pay off the entire credit card balance before the end of the billing period). If you already have a balance that you can't pay off, don't dig yourself deeper in debt. Find a no-cost way to celebrate.

4. Consider starting a Secret Santa tradition to cut the cost of gift-giving on adults. Put names in a hat and have each person draw one. This works well for family or at the office.

5. Shop early. Last minute shopping tends to ruin the best planned budget.

For more holiday shopping tips, visit MySavingPlace.com .

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