|
Read News
|
Pocono News Section
Holiday Credit Advice
Holiday Credit Advice - Friday, November 14, 2008 at 5:25PM EST
Reported by: Laurie Monteforte
Friday, Nov 14, 2008 @ 05:25pm EST
STROUDSBURG - This year many people won't ask Santa to bring anything down their chimneys, they'll just wish they still have chimney's to call their own.
"I'm in one of those situations with the foreclosure on my home," said LInda Clements of Tobyhanna. She is like many people these days. The credit crisis made her Christmas look much more red than green.
"There's some things on my credit report I need to straighten out," she said. Clements checked out a credit counseling seminar in Stroudsburg this week. There she got some advice that will help her survive the holidays and the new year.
"You don't want to end up with that Holiday hangover in January," said Terri Stocki the Education Director for Consumer Credit Counseling Services of Northeast PA.
Stocki shared shopping advice that could help improve credit. She said, "Layaway is definitely better than using credit cards. At least it will be paid off when you take it out."
In addition to using layaway, she said don't fall for those store credit offers that give you discounts on your first order. And consider trimming that gift list. Some friends may even consider it a relief if you suggest stopping your annual exchange.
"Don't go out racking up a lot of credit card debt," said Stocki.
For good credit all year long she suggests some New Year's Resolutions. Order your credit report from all three reporting bureaus once a year. Keep your credit card balances low. And when that pre approved offer to consolidate your debt comes in the mail, throw it away.
"The only time it might be a good idea is if you know in your heart that you might have your debt paid off in that twelve months," she said.
It may be hard but getting out of debt is a great gift to yourself.
For more information on Consumer Credit Counseling visit
| | |
|
|
|