Christmas classics' financial advice
Every holiday season, we revisit the prophetic words of Charles Dickens.
No, not the life lessons Ebenezer Scrooge learned from Jacob Marley, Tiny Tim and some time-traveling spirits in "A Christmas Carol." Instead, many of us find that the holidays offer the best of times and the worst of times.
But you won't have to struggle with a tale of two holiday financial disasters if you follow the advice of some celebrated Christmas characters.
We've taken a look at a dozen seasonal classics. Each embodies a valuable message about money to make the days merry and bright. Click ahead to share financial wisdom of the season.
Ol' St. Nick knows what he's doing. Making a list is crucial at holiday shopping time. Checking it twice is optional, but that's not a bad idea either. If you hit the stores without your Christmas list, you're likely to overspend. Savvy shoppers such as Kriss Kringle know that using a carefully crafted list saves time and money. By organizing your purchases, you'll eliminate multiple trips to the mall and reduce costly impulse buys.
Songwriter Irving Berlin penned the classic "White Christmas," among other standards. Regardless of your holiday locale's climate, the song always conjures visions of a perfect blanket of crystalline holiday snow. Or perhaps cold, icy snow covering your drafty house with its high heating bills. Heating and cooling account for 56% of the energy use in a typical U.S. home, according to the U.S. Department of Energy. Save money on home heating with insulation or by dialing back your home's water heater settings.
After a particularly sleepless night, Ebenezer Scrooge learned to keep Christmas in his heart year-round. Donating to charities is a very good idea, for your bank account as well as the nonprofits. Giving USA Foundation recommends a giving strategy that best fits your financial situation. If that means donating in March when you get a raise, the charity will gladly take your gift then. And you won't feel so financially strapped in December when you're spending on other gifts.
Snoopy was a key to the Peanuts gang's quest for a decent tree in "A Charlie Brown Christmas." Pets are a popular holiday gift, but Stephanie Shain of the Washington Humane Society advises against surprise pet presents. "There's a significant personal, emotional and financial cost to caring for a pet," Shain says.
Instead, put a homemade gift certificate for the adoption fee under the tree, then go with the recipient to the shelter to select the new, furry family member.
In "Elf," Santa-sack stowaway Buddy ended up at the North Pole, where he was raised by loving elves. Among the things he learned about elf culture -- other than the four food groups of candy, candy canes, candy corn and syrup -- is his uncanny knack for Christmas decorating. But you don't need to be as over the top as Buddy when it comes to decorating for the holidays. You can throw a party with elf flair even on a budget.
Simple pleasures count for a lot, especially during the holidays. Just ask the Grinch, who watched in amazement as Christmas in Whoville "came without ribbons! It came without tags! It came without packages, boxes or bags! . . . Maybe Christmas, he thought, doesn't come from a store. Maybe Christmas, perhaps, means a little bit more!" Yes, the changed Grinch, whose formerly small heart grew three sizes that day, can attest that you don't have to spend a lot to have a happy holiday
In "Jingle All the Way," Howard Langston spends the holiday season on a frustrating quest for a must-have toy, a Turbo Man action figure. Although he is ultimately successful, Howard's frantic search wrecks lots of department stores and decorations -- and almost destroys his family's holiday. Don't suffer the same fate.
Find out what's hot this holiday and devise a plan to get the gifts you want. But remember, kids are fickle. Make sure they really want that "it" toy before you exhaust yourself and your bank account attaining it.
The King knew what a "Blue Christmas" it is without loved ones around. You don't have to be in the same sad situation, though. Deb Mangas of Menno Travel Service in Goshen, Ind., says economical holiday travel is still possible. "You might have to fly on the holiday," she says. "But if you're flexible, there are some seats out there and some fairly good fares." Flights into and out of airports a bit farther from your home or destination also might save you some bucks
Mistakenly left "Home Alone" over the holidays, young Kevin McCallister creatively thwarts a pair of bungling burglars who repeatedly try to break into his family's home. If you don't have an 8-year-old to stand guard at your house while you're away for the holiday, don't worry. Some simple and cost-effective security measures, such as pruning shrubs underneath windows, upgrading locks or putting lights on timers, will help keep your house safe while you're away
As Scrooge's lone, overworked employee, Bob Cratchit put up with terrible working conditions before his boss wised up. Most of us aren't as loyal as Bob. If we find ourselves in a similarly unfulfilling job, we may start looking for a new one. Laura Morsch, a career adviser with CareerBuilder.com, says, "January and February are very big months for job searching on our site." Her advice: Don't spam dozens of employers with the same generic cover letter and résumé. Customize your approach for each position.
As the prematurely cynical young daughter of a single mom, Susan Walker initially refuses to believe that Macy's new store Santa is the real deal. But in "Miracle on 34th Street," Kriss Kringle convinces her in spectacular fashion. He delivers the only present Susan's ever wanted: a home for her new family. We all share Susan's dream of the perfect home, but it doesn't take a miracle to make it come true. All you need is some planning and preparation.
This isn't the loving grandmother you'll visit over the holidays. Nor is she the one you see by going over the river and through the woods. This is the poor grandma who got run over by a reindeer. The 1979 novelty song "Grandma Got Run Over by a Reindeer" pops up on the radio every holiday season. Whether you find the song amusing or annoying, Grandma's situation highlights the critical need for insurance -- medical, life and, for drivers as reckless as the song's reindeer, auto coverage
