Initially, it felt like a personal failure to have wiped out my safety net.
Smart Holiday Spending: Managing Inflation,Marketing Tricks, and Embracing Meaningful Moments
Before you start shopping, decide exactly what you can afford to spend. Review your income, essential expenses like housing, food, and transportation, and savings goals. Any discretionary money left is your holiday spending cap.
Build your gift list to align with that bottom line, even if it means making it shorter. Don’t let marketing and emotions press you into overspending. Buy only what you can truly afford.
BREAKING THE CYCLE: Navigating Credit Card Debt, Financial Anxiety, and Childhood Trauma
Credit cards, initially a tool for convenience, often become a double-edged sword. According to recent studies, a significant majority carries revolving balances, paying substantial interest rates that can exacerbate financial strain.