4 tips for debt-free Christmas shopping

Published 6:35 pm Wednesday, September 15, 2010

Holiday shopping may be a few months away, but some consumers are still paying for last year’s purchases with interest and other fees tacked on.

Mechel Glass, at Atlanta-based Consumer Credit Counseling Service, offered these tips:

Start shopping now. Many retailers offer early discounts or free shipping to encourage shopping before the December rush.

Earn extra money. If you can’t make room in your current budget for holiday spending, consider getting a part-time job, working overtime or selling new and gently used items of your own.

If you make a list in advance, you’ll be prepared to look for items on sale. Having a sense of your total shopping budget will also make it easier to set aside money out of each paycheck and cover the expense.

Shop online. Look for deals now.

The Associated Press