Tis the Season...To Be Prepared

Christmas is arriving pretty quickly this year (something about how the days fall on the calendar which created fewer days between Thanksgiving and Christmas), and with Christmas comes gift giving, holiday gatherings, and festive events followed by preparing for the new year.  Some tips to survive Christmas this year...

• Don't go into debt to have a blow-out Christmas.  If necessary, create some low-cost holiday traditions, bake some cookies, go caroling with friends...happy Christmas memories are more important than consumer junk that is soon forgotten.
• If you are buying gifts, aim for "buy it for life" items that will last forever with an emphasis on gifts that will help people out in an emergency.
• If you will be traveling for Christmas, be sure to prepare ahead of time whether you will be traveling by car or plane.
• Of course you don't want to forget about your pets's safety during the holidays.
• And of course, your children's safety around the holidays should be paramount.
• Home safety--like avoiding fires and CO poisoning--is also important.
• If you will be hosting large parties for the holidays, it would be a great time to rotate your stockpiled food so you can replace it in the new year with fresh items.
• Finally, during your holiday down-time, be sure to get your finances in order so you will start off the year on a positive financial footing.