Does it seem like every December 24^th you are still at the stores looking for the perfect gift for Aunt Ethel? And undoubtedly, if you can actually find it, the price is a lot more than you were planning to spend.

Waiting to shop at the last minute is just asking for extra stress and an opportunity to spend more money than what you had budgeted. To avoid this from happening, you need to make a plan.

Do what Santa does: make a list and check it twice. 

This way you can be sure that you haven't neglected someone, and also that you aren't buying extra gifts “just in case.”Keep your list handy—add it to your phone, or keep it in your car so that you have it on hand when you're shopping in a store or online.

If you're planning to make presents, be sure to give yourself adequate time to buy any supplies you need as well as time to be able to create the gifts. 

Decide how much money you would like to spend on gifts this year. Ideally you should give yourself several months, so by spending the money over that time you won't feel a big crunch at the end of the year. 

If you are shopping online, use a prepaid card with a set amount to avoid overspending. 

If you are in a store, only bring a limited amount of cash.

A little time spent on planning your gift buying, can help you avoid blowing your budget, and lessen your holiday stress.

With an increase in COVID-19 cases leading into the holiday season, and health experts recommending a virtual Thanksgiving, many of us are wondering what our national day of thanks will look like this year.

There’s often so much going on, so many people to please, and lots of dishes to cook and messes to clean up, that it’s easy to get caught up in the hustle and bustle of the holiday season and forget to stop and enjoy the reason we celebrate in the first place.

So, maybe it’s best to stay home, stay safe and reflect on what really matters. Forget the fancy outfits, intricate dishes and the decorations. Instead, cook your favorites, enjoy the members of your household, and relax. You deserve it!

Whatever you eat, whoever you’re with, what are you thankful for this year?

Happy Thanksgiving!

The holiday season is a time of excess—too much food, too much celebration… and for some people, too much spending. Avoid being too deeply in debt in January by following a few helpful credit card tips now!

• Avoid signing up for new store cards. The sales clerk may tempt you with: “if you sign up for our credit card, I can give you a 20% discount on your purchases today.” Don't do it. You may wind up buying more than you had planned to, and those credit inquiries can hurt your credit score.
• Don't bring all your credit cards with you. The risk of credit card theft and loss is higher during the holidays.
• Keep your credit card balances well below your credit limit. You run the risk of going over your credit limit once finance charges are added. The higher your credit card balance, the lower your credit score.
• Make a shopping list and a spending budget. And stick to it. It's easy to be sidetracked during holiday shopping, and forget that Old Man Winter may bring higher heating bills, or a snowstorm that prevents you from getting a full paycheck.
• Remember-- If you don't have the cash to shop now, you probably can't afford to make purchases on credit. Consider handmade gifts, thrift store shopping, or re-gifting.
• Pay your balances in full in January. You'll save money on interest charges if you pay the full balance when you get your first bill.

A little planning can help you keep that debt under control. Happy holidays!

Observed annually on November 11, Veteran’s Day is a time to show appreciation to members of the United States military, both past and present. You can celebrate Veterans this year by doing the following:

Volunteer at a veteran organization. There are several nonprofit organizations across the country that serve those who served us, such as the United Service Organizations (USO), Wounded Warrior Project (WWP), Homes for Our Troops (HFOT), and Operation Gratitude. Volunteer opportunities have changed due to COVID-19, however, there are likely still ways that you can get involved!

Celebrate the veterans in your life. If you have any veterans in your life, make the day all about them! Take them out to dinner or cook them a special meal, ask them about their time in the service, and spend the day doing activities that they enjoy.

Participate in a fundraising event. Often, veterans’ organizations host fundraisers, such as runs or car washes, in honor of Veterans Day. Check in with the organizations we mentioned above, as well as any local groups in your area, to find out how you can be of service.

Donate to a veteran charity. Honor those who served our country by donating to a veteran charity. Also check out businesses in your area that are running specials and donating a percentage of their proceeds on Veterans Day. 

Honor local veterans. Honoring local veterans is easier than you may think. When you see an active-duty member of the military, stop and thank them. You can also hang an American flag outside your home. In the past, you could have also visited veterans in a local senior living community, however, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, visits may be restricted in your area. Check out your local VA hospital to ask about ways you can help. 

November 11th is the day we honor those who have served and continue to serve our nation. Make it memorable for someone you know.

The holidays are fast approaching and many of us are excited to have something positive to focus on. However, this time of year can quickly become stressful as the cost of giving gifts racks up. Here are five steps to budget for holiday gifts so that you stay within a budget you are comfortable with:

Make your list—and check it twice! Create a list of all the people you want to give gifts to—from family to friends and maybe even your hair stylist or mail carrier. Write down a dollar amount next to each name, add up the total and adjust as you see fit. Then, stick to the budget!

Plan ahead. Once you have a budget in mind, brainstorm gift ideas for each person. 

Do your research. Research specific gift ideas to figure out which brand and/or version is best for the recipient. Then, look online to find out which retailer is offering the best deal on that specific product.

Avoid shopping sprees. Shopping in stores (or even online) without a well-planned, researched, and specific list is a recipe for overspending. If you do choose to shop in a store, leave only with what you planned to purchase. 

Shop early. Don’t wait until the last minute to do all of your shopping. Rushing around a store, desperate to check everything off your list, is a sure way to overspend—and to stress yourself out!

With careful planning and research, it is possible to bring smiles to all of your loved ones faces without breaking the bank!

This year has been far from typical, and it’s looking like Halloween 2020 is going to follow suit. But just because social distancing is the new norm, doesn’t mean you can’t still break out your most creative costumes and collect candy by the pillowcase. Although it will be different, this Halloween can still be fun!

Escape from reality and be the talk of your virtual Halloween party with one of these oh-so-2020 costumes:

• Tiger King  Reminisce on the early days of quarantine by dressing up as a character from Tiger King. Get the Joe Exotic look with a fake mullet, mustache, jeans and a flashy shirt or blazer. Or, channel Carol Baskin by dressing in animal prints and a flower crown.
• Burned-Out Work-From-Home Mom  This costume is easy to execute for the moms who are juggling work, household chores and homeschooling their kids while trying to hang on to their sanity. Pull your hair up in a messy bun, put on your favorite t-shirt and slip into your comfiest leggings, and voila! You have a relevant and super trendy costume!
• Astronaut  Relive this year’s historical Space-X launch by dressing up as a NASA astronaut—an easy costume to find online or to piece together with wardrobe staples and some creativity.
• A 2020 Rare Commodity  Poke fun at the toilet paper and cleaning product shortage of last spring by dressing as a roll of Charmin or your favorite scent of Bath & Body Works hand sanitizer.

Traditional door-to-door trick-or-treating may be off the table due to current COVID trends in your area. However, with careful planning, you can still collect sweet treats. Follow these tips to reduce your chances of contracting the virus:

• Incorporate a mask into your costume.
• Trick-or-treat with members of your household only.
• Wash hands (or use hand sanitizer) frequently.
• Avoid touching your face, and stay six feet apart from other groups.
• Wait to eat candy until you return home.

Safely pass out candy to neighborhood kids by:

• Creating a chute to send candy through.
• Leaving the bowl of candy out unattended.
• Leave individually wrapped goody bags in your driveway or on your front porch for kids to pick up.

Click here to check the Covid-19 risk levels in your area and to find more safe ways to celebrate Halloween 2020. Happy Haunting!