Heloise’s advice: Give gifts this season | Human interest
Dear readers: We’re always looking to save money, but the holiday season can be especially tough. We want the best for our families, but how can we give without breaking the bank?
We face a lot of pressure: TV commercials tell us to spend, to spend, to spend; children and adults want what they want; if someone gives you a gift, you feel obligated to return the favor.
Just hold the phone. Before you spend anything, sit down, take a close look at your finances, and set a budget. This will protect you from overspending. And consider starting a savings plan for the next year.
Giving a gift doesn’t automatically mean spending money, anyway. A set of homemade cookies makes a delicious, thoughtful, and inexpensive gift. Include the recipe.
In the office, a Secret Santa gift exchange works well – set a limit of, say, $ 20. You may have accumulated cash back points on your credit card; use them now.
And for children, your time may be the best gift you can give.
Closet culture
DEAR HELOISE: I record and post videos online, and found that the sound quality was better in my closet, and that I could get some privacy!
What is it about?
DEAR HELOISE: What is a credit report? Is it important to have good credit?
– Jamie M., 14, Dallas
Jamie, glad to know that you are thinking about your future financial health! Your credit report is like an important “bulletin”.
It tells about your history of borrowing and repaying money. A good credit report can get you better interest rates (banks charge you for a loan from them) when you’re ready to buy a house, car, or other large purchase.
Information on your credit report may include: your name, current and previous address, date of birth, and social security number.
Also, it lists all the credit accounts you have opened and their types: home loan (mortgage), installment loans and revolving credit (credit cards) and student loans, along with your payment history, how much you owe ( the balance) the credit limit, the name of the business to which you owe money and how long you have had credit. If you owe child support, this can also show up on a credit report.
It’s important to keep your credit report as clean as possible, to pay off debt on a timely basis, and to check your credit report for any errors.
PS Potential employers can also check your credit report, although this trend has fallen out of favor lately.
Héloïse classic clue – Wrap it up!
Dear readers: One of my favorite classic tips is cool again, because it’s durable! And that trick is: wrap little gifts in sheet music, old colorful road maps, old letters, and Sunday comics.
Reuse and reuse of these papers will save paper, money and trees!
Now it’s sticky
DEAR HELOISE: It’s important to let the eyelash glue (and all the adhesives, really) hit the air for a few seconds and get a little sticky. The viscosity improves, in my experience.
– Amy R. in Pennsylvania
Send clues to Heloise, PO Box 795001, San Antonio, TX 78279-5001 or by email Heloise@Heloise.com.