Beat holiday debt now
Monday, October 24, 2011 at 1:22PM 
I know it's only October, and some may argue it's too soon to think about holiday gifts. But if you're still paying off a credit card balance from last year's gift-buying frenzy, or wondering how on earth you'll spend wisely this year, you'll want to check out my stick-to-your-holiday-budget tips in the November issue of Redbook!
We decided to tackle the topic a month early this year because to avoid overspending your goal should be this: To knock out your entire gift list before Thanksgiving. Seriously!
This year's holiday spending surveys show that we'll all spend between $700 and $800 to play Santa—that's fairly level with what we dropped in 2010. And 81 percent of shoppers say they'll shop online this year, up from 54 percent last year, according to a survey by SymphonyIRI. That's good news. The Internet offers terrific deals, and shopping from the comfort of your own home can make you less likely to overspend.
Now, some not-so-great news (for our wallets, at least): Consumers plan to use holiday shopping sprees as an excuse to spend more on themselves this year—$130, to be exact, compared to $112 last year, according to the National Retail Federation. That's fine if you want to snag a deal on something you really need. But steer clear of unnecessary splurges if you want to start 2012 on the right track.
For more holiday budget tips, check out my latest in Redbook!
Have you started ticking gifts off your list yet?
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