Save now, splurge in a decade or so

Christmas club

If you want to avoid spending too much of your paycheck or racking up credit-card debt on Christmas gifts this year, you need to start planning now, personal finance experts say.

And they're right — careful financial planning really does pay off. Start saving now and you should have enough cash set aside for a joyous Christmas 2014.


Remote control: A carjacker in Visalia, Calif., was foiled when technicians at General Motors' OnStar service in Detroit issued a command that disabled the stolen Chevrolet Tahoe's gas pedal.

As he sat handcuffed in the back seat of a patrol car, the thief was heard to say, “Man, those SUVs sure do run out of gas fast.”


Just for her: The Arts Council of Snohomish County's Gal-apalooza wearable arts fair returns for its 12th year Saturday in downtown Everett. Its motto: “Everything for the Girl.”

But what about the boys? Don't worry about them. We're in the midst of a lengthy festival dedicated to men. It's called football season.