You are now leaving the Strong Valley Wealth & Pension, LLC ("Strong Valley") website. By clicking on the "Schwab Alliance Access" link below you will be entering the Charles Schwab & Co., Inc. (“Schwab”) Website. Schwab is a registered broker-dealer, and is not affiliated with Strong Valley or any advisor(s) whose name(s) appears on this Website. Strong Valley is/are independently owned and operated. Schwab neither endorses nor recommends Strong Valley. Regardless of any referral or recommendation, Schwab does not endorse or recommend the investment strategy of any advisor. Schwab has agreements with Strong Valley under which Schwab provides Strong Valley with services related to your account. Schwab does not review the Strong Valley website(s), and makes no representation regarding the content of the Website(s). The information contained in the Strong Valley website should not be considered to be either a recommendation by Schwab or a solicitation of any offer to purchase or sell any securities.
Making gift decisions while you’re shopping in a store can lead to overextending yourself. It’s called impulse buying, which often ends up costing money and spending time you just don’t have. This article gives you tips on how to take an organized approach to holiday shopping and actually enjoy it while staying within a reasonable budget.
If advertisements and commercials are beginning to feature scenes of happy families, clad in brightly colored sweaters, gathered by a fire, surrounded by an assortment of presents, then the countdown to the holidays has begun.
Although it may be a joyous time that reunites old friends and distant family members, one dilemma you may face is how can you avoid the pressure to overspend, yet still have the pleasure of buying presents for your family and friends?
The key strategy is to plan ahead. Begin by writing down the names of those you plan to buy for – at least one gift idea for each person on your list – including a general idea of where you might find his or her gift. If you don’t know what type of gift you would like to give, browse through mail order catalogs, TV advertisements, and newspaper flyers for some ideas. This could help you avoid the trap of making your decision while in the store – when impulse buying may cost you more than you wish to spend.
Setting a limit on the number – and cost – of the gifts you plan to buy can help you stay within your budget and allow you to purchase appropriate gifts for the special people in your life. Once you have your list, and estimate the cost of your proposed purchases, you can adjust it so the total expenditures fit into your holiday budget.
To prevent overextending yourself, keep the following principles in mind:
Taking an organized approach to holiday shopping can make the experience enjoyable for many reasons. First, you will be getting the most value for your dollar. Second, you will now have the time to really relax and enjoy the holidays, knowing your preparations are complete.
Notifications