Money & Career
How to Set a Holiday Budget and Avoid Going Into Debt
The holidays rarely blow a budget in one big purchase. It happens through dozens of small ones. Here is how to set a limit, track it and start January debt-free.
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Tips from six recent guides
Pick one total holiday number based on cash you have or will earn before the bills arrive.
From: How to Set a Holiday Budget and Avoid Going Into DebtCheck tires, battery, wipers and fluids before the first storm, not during it.
From: Winter Driving Safety: How to Prepare Your Car and Drive on Snow and IceChoose your menu and check oven, refrigerator and serving-dish space about two weeks ahead.
From: Thanksgiving Dinner Timeline: A Stress-Free Plan From Two Weeks OutChoose your limits before you commit to holiday plans, and focus on what you can control.
From: How to Set Boundaries With Family During the HolidaysStart with a traditional cache rated 1 to 2 for both difficulty and terrain, then check the listing and recent logs.
From: Getting Started With Geocaching: Essential Tips for Your First AdventureStart with 140-pound cold-pressed paper, a few reliable brushes, and a small set of student-grade paints.
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Vertical Gardening With Exotic Climbing Plants: How to Grow a Tropical Climbing Garden
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IC stands for Informed Choices. IC Americas is an independent online magazine publishing practical, evergreen guides for readers in the United States.