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November 28, 2004 04:40 AM

Give Gifts That Give Back


Excerpt: The holiday shopping season officially starts this week, but many halls are already decked and many consumers' budgets are already stretched. Here are some tips to help you give great gifts, make the most of the holidays and still feel good for the new year.


The holiday shopping season officially starts this week, but many halls are already decked and many consumers' budgets are already stretched.

Holiday spending is up almost 20 percent from the same time last year, reports Visa, and momentum is building.

This year will see more gift cards -- topping apparel for the first time ever, says Deloitte & Touche -- along with 33.7 percent more online shopping, more credit card promotions, and more worries. Money is the No. 1 concern for most American consumers around holiday time.

By the time the holidays are over, consumers typically have spent about 30 percent more than they intended.

"Many people are still paying off their credit cards from last Christmas," says Howard Dvorkin of the Consolidated Credit Counseling Services. "In the back of people's minds, they know their stress will be worse in January when they must face the stack of bills."

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Slick Tips for Holiday Shopping (November 28, 2004)
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Read all 21 posts in the same category of Spending:

Cell Phone Calls In Flight? - Dec 09, 2004
Holiday Tipping - Dec 09, 2004
Tunes Coming To Callers? - Dec 08, 2004
Electronic Ways to Pay Eclipse Checks in Number - Dec 07, 2004
The Trouble With Rebates - Dec 07, 2004
Customers Tire of Excuses for Rebates That Never Arrive - Dec 07, 2004
'Phishing' Attacks Surge In 2004 - Dec 06, 2004
Bush Signs Internet Tax, Special Ed Bills - Dec 05, 2004
The Wide World Of Online Shopping - Dec 04, 2004
Shopbots: Your Own Automated Shopping Assistant On The Web - Dec 04, 2004
Traveler: Know Your Options - Dec 04, 2004
Worried Merchants Throw Discounts at Shoppers - Dec 04, 2004
Regifting 101 - Dec 02, 2004
Health Costs Up 7.5% - Dec 02, 2004
5 Popular Holiday Shopping Scams - Nov 30, 2004
Slick Tips for Holiday Shopping - Nov 28, 2004
Tips For Stretching Your Holiday Budget - Nov 26, 2004
Meet The Bargain Hunters: Three Everyday Experts Share Their Tips - Nov 26, 2004
Smart Holiday Shopping - Nov 25, 2004
Some Shoppers Find Fewer Happy Returns - Nov 07, 2004