Avoid debt on Black Friday and throughout the holiday season

Whether or not you are one of those people who lines up before dawn for Black Friday deals, you will probably find yourself out shopping at some point during the upcoming holiday season. The holidays are a fun and exciting time, and everyone loves to find that perfect, special gift for friends and loved ones. But how do you navigate the holiday shopping season without putting yourself in deep debt?

Debt management specialists and bankruptcy attorneys agree: the best way to control your spending and avoid incurring significant debts during the holiday season is to go in prepared. According to a recent study from Accenture, approximately 44 percent of Americans plan on shopping on Black Friday. If you are one of those people, make a plan as to what you want to buy or how much you want to spend. Stick with your plan, no matter how good the deals may seem. This will keep unnecessary and unplanned spending at bay, and protect you from going into deep debt.

While you are making that plan, says debt relief specialist Sara Gilbert, think twice about what you want to buy. “Sometimes it’s some big ticket items that are available on Black Friday at particularly good prices,” she said. “But are they things that you would be purchasing anyway? Are they things that may help you reach that personal or family goal?”

In addition, Gilbert says that you should continue to second-guess those purchases as you shop for others throughout the season. “There are things that don’t need to cost money,” she said. “Most of us have very fond holiday memories and they may not include gifts.”

Source: CBS 5, “Staying Out Of Debt This Holiday Season,” Travis Knudsen, Nov. 16, 2011