Don’t let holiday debt get your 2019 off on the wrong foot
A lot of Georgians enjoy the holidays but for others it can be a bit of a season of mixed emotions. For many, it’s an opportunity for people to have extra time to spend with family members that they might not get to see often or to attend fun holiday celebrations with friends, co-workers and family. For many though, there can be a substantial monetary cost to the holiday season. That cost goes beyond even the standard gift buying that Americans are unable to avoid. It includes things like planning and hosting parties or travelling great distances to visit loved ones. People already struggling to make ends meet often find themselves in an untenable situation and all of this added expense during the holidays can lead to significant holiday debt that can put a strain on their already difficult financial situation.
According to the The Motley Fool, nearly 50 percent of all people will find themselves in serious debt by January, nearly all of it related to holiday spending. 8 in 10 of those people will have driven up their debt load buying presents for friends and family. About 3 in 10 will have gone in debt to fund holiday travel and another 20 percent will have incurred new debt in order to fund events and celebrations during the holiday season.
Bloomberg, a major financial news outlet, states that the relatively healthy economy gives consumers the confidence to spend significant amounts this holiday season, especially compared to years past. Amazon has indicated that 2018’s Cyber Monday was the biggest shopping day ever for the company in its history and many other retailers are reporting extremely strong holiday spending during their Black Friday sales.
Mastercard has put out news that online shopping in the holiday season exceeded 2017 spending levels by 19 percent. Total shopping sales for the entire year of 2018 rose by more than five percent over 2017 levels, as reported by Mastercard.
As we celebrate a new year, don’t let the prospect of serious holiday debt drag you and your family down. With the average credit card interest rates exceeding 20% and rising, your financial future hangs in the balance with each passing day. Don’t let the scourge of credit card debt ruin your 2019. Come see the attorneys at Harmon and Gorove today for a free consultation and let us develop a plan that can help you get your finances back on track and secure a bright future for you and your family.