Christmas in July? ACCC Advises Only 125 Days Until the Holiday Season

American Consumer Credit Counseling offers holiday shopping tips for consumers.

Newton, MA (PRWEB) August 1, 2007 -- Shopping for holiday gifts is not something most people are doing or thinking about in the middle of summer, but planning ahead for holiday expenses is a smart financial move.

"Holiday related debt is often the wake up call that compels consumers to seek our services," said Steve Trumble, President of American Consumer Credit Counseling. "Starting holiday planning and shopping in the summer months can help avoid unwanted debt and the potential financial problems that may accompany it."

American Consumer Credit Counseling offers these tips to help consumers avoid holiday debt:

* Create a spending plan. Having more time to shop and plan doesn't necessarily mean consumers want to spend more money this year. Look at what was spent last year and figure out the total holiday shopping budget before taking the next step. If too much was spent last year, find places to trim the budget.

* Start saving. Once a spending plan is in place, it is important to open a holiday savings account. The advantage to a separate account for holiday spending is knowing exactly how much is needed based on the spending plan. Decide on an acceptable dollar amount that will enable minor savings every paycheck and watch it grow over the next few months.

* Do what Santa does. Plan out the list of gifts. Each time a purchas is made, cross the recipient off the list. For those that are really hard to buy for, consider a gift card from a store or restaurant that they like. Wait to buy gift cards until closer to the holidays with the money that has been saved in the holiday account. This will maximize the interest earned on the account.

* Research online options. Shopping via the Internet can save time and money, especially with gas prices remaining at all-time highs. Look for sites that offer free shipping and be sure to check out online-only specials.

About ACCC: American Consumer Credit Counseling (ACCC) is a non-profit 501 (c) (3) organization dedicated to empowering consumers to regain control of their lives through education, counseling and debt management. ACCC provides individuals with practical solutions for solving financial problems and recognizes that consumers' financial difficulties are often not the result of poor spending habits, but more frequently from extenuating circumstances beyond their control. As one of the nation's leading providers of financial education and credit counseling services, ACCC works with consumers to help them with the best plan of action to reduce their debt and regain financial stability. For more information or to access free financial education resources log on to www.consumercredit.com.

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