How to get back on track when the holiday bills start pouring in.
Photo: http://commons.wikimedia.org
Here’s one sensible—and opportune—time to get a cash advance, specifically a few weeks after the rush of Christmas, parties, and giving gifts. Studies have shown that the most depressing time of year is the third week of January, when credit card bills outlining all the expenses we made during the holidays need to be paid. Since it is quite possible that all these will arrive at around the same time, it is understandable how most of us will feel harassed, guilty, and even helpless—especially if there just aren’t enough funds to pay off everything we signed for.
Did I Really Buy All That?
Most often, in a moment of generosity and nostalgia, we end up buying presents for family and friends that are way beyond the budget we set—if there was any to begin with. That, and the hypnotic effect of festive Christmas displays and accompanying music in every mall seem to come all together to convince even the most practical shopper to pick up a few extra things outside of one’s list. If you planned to give your best friend a pair of funky earrings, you probably heard a voice somewhere urging you to buy the matching necklace as well. A scarf for Uncle John? Get him two. Mom would love those brown pumps—why not get them in black as well? Christmas shopping is always a test of determination, and most of us fall victim to its power to prey on emotions. Sure, you get that warm, fuzzy feeling after giving the lovingly-wrapped gift to its recipient, but you’ll be bound to get the cold, hard facts once the credit card statement arrives.
What’s Done Is Done
There’s no way you can get those amounts erased—unless the store or the bank made a crucial error, or Uncle John prefers just one scarf, which is highly unlikely—so you really must pay for them. Now’s the time to get real and practical, and review your funds in detail. Of course, you could pay just the minimum amount, but who are you kidding? We all know better than to shell out our hard-earned cash for exorbitant credit card interest. Take stock of what you absolutely need to pay, and try your best to get rid those depressing balances and if you can’t get those paid off try a cash advance to get the limits down.
You’ve Got Cash
If you’ve done all you can, stretched everything far and wide and still can’t meet all your deadlines to pay during this period, fear not; simply get a payday loan. Before you get all tense over the idea of a loan, remember that a cash advance is a much simpler and more accessible process. Because they come in amounts ranging from $100 to $1,500, you can be sure that paying them off won’t be so difficult. Just choose the amount that will cover your immediate needs, the bills you must pay now, and you’ll get a realistic picture of how you can pay it back. Think of it as an emergency measure to cure something that aches right now, that will make you feel much better faster. Then you can work on doing things right next time Christmas comes around—or at least be assured that help will always be available.
Come to think of it – last week was pretty lousy. A cash advance could cover the shopping bill, and that is certainly one of the better uses for them, but best to do so if you have all of your other bills covered first. A properly planned budget is a great tool – and setting yourself a gift budget for the holidays is a step more people should take, regardless of how little they can actually spare.