The holiday season is a time to be merry and bright! However, all the hustle and bustle of the season can also bring immense financial pressure. Between buying gifts for everyone on your list, traveling to visit family and friends, cooking and hosting, the expenses add up quickly.
Luckily, the season is also full of specials and deals, including those for your finances. There are a variety of ways that you can put your money to work for you through special promotions, unique loans, and more. In this article, we’ll highlight common financial moves you can make during the holidays to boost your budget.
Holiday Loans
The convenience of credit cards makes them one of the most common forms of payment today – especially around the holidays! However, it’s that same convenience that also makes it so easy to overspend if you’re not careful. If you want to avoid a hefty credit card bill in January, a Holiday Loan may be better suited to your spending needs.
Holiday Loans offer distinct benefits that make them a better option than traditional credit cards:
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Lower Interest Rates: One of the key differences between Holiday Loans and credit cards is their significantly lower interest rates. By spending less on interest payments, you’ll have more money to spend on holiday fun. With prices on the rise, every little bit helps make a big difference!
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Fixed Interest Rates: In addition to Holiday Loans typically having lower rates than traditional credit cards, their interest rates are also fixed. That means your rate won’t increase with the economy like most variable-rate credit cards. Fixed rates provide a simpler budgeting experience without any surprise rate hikes.
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Set Repayment Terms: With credit cards, you’re only required to make the minimum payment each month. You could wind up paying off this year’s holiday expenses for many more months or years to come! But a Holiday Loan functions like a car loan, where you’ll make set monthly payments at a fixed interest rate until your debt is paid off.
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Faster Payoff: The goal of the fixed repayment structure is to help you eliminate your balance quickly, typically in 12 months or less. This feature enables you to pay off your balance faster than with credit cards and avoid long-term debt.
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Easier Budgeting: One of the key differences between Holiday Loans and credit cards is that you receive a specific amount of money with a Holiday Loan. If preventing overspending is your goal, this feature makes budgeting much easier and keeps your spending in line.
Holiday Loans are the same as personal loans wrapped in a fancy box for the holidays. Even if a specific “holiday loan” isn’t available, a traditional personal loan will offer the same benefits and financial perks.
Redeem Credit Card Rewards
If you’ve been earning reward points throughout the year, the holiday season is the perfect time to redeem them. Imagine crossing family and friends off your gift list without spending a penny!
You might experience special promotions that offer bonus points for purchases over the holidays. Or some companies will increase the value of their reward points at their redemption sites or list special offers. Always check for holiday deals before redeeming your points.
Then, cash in your rewards for holiday budget boosters like:
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Cash Back: Get cash back deposited into your checking account or as a credit on your credit card statement and extend your holiday spending budget in a snap.
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Gift Cards: Most credit card companies allow you to redeem reward points for gift cards. This strategy can help you instantly cross people off your shopping list or boost your holiday budget.
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Valuable Items: Visit your rewards website to redeem points for hot-ticket items like headphones, smart devices, experiences, and more.
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Travel: Use your rewards to help you save on rental cars, flights, and more. Nothing beats traveling for free!
Skip-a-Pay Programs
Loan payments are likely some of your most significant monthly expenses. Imagine if you could skip a loan payment or two over the holidays. That would provide an immediate boost to your budget.
Skip-a-Pay programs are staples around the holidays, providing members a unique way to bolster their holiday funds. Usually, you can skip certain loan payments for a small fee or donation. That payment is added to the end of your loan term. While this strategy extends your loan term by one payment, it can provide significant funds for holiday shopping.
Example:
Imagine you and your spouse each have a car payment. Your payment is $500 monthly, and your spouse’s payment is $450. By skipping both your payments for a month, that’s $950 instantly back in your pocket for holiday fun!
Deferred Payments on Loans or Refinances
Another common offer around the holiday season is the opportunity to skip payments on new loans or refinances for 2-3 months, typically called 60-Day or 90-Day No-Pay promotions. While Skip-a-Pay is offered on your existing loans in good standing with an institution, these No-Pay promotions are offered when you take out a new loan or refinance an existing loan with a new lender.
No-Pay promotions are typically offered on new and refinanced auto loans. This deal is an excellent option if you plan to purchase a vehicle soon. However, they are especially beneficial to those who want to lower their existing loan payments by switching their car loans to the credit union. By refinancing, you’ll likely lower your car payments, reduce the total amount of interest paid over the life of your loan, and make no payments for 60 or 90 days – it’s a whirlwind of financial perks!
Debt Consolidation Loans
While the holidays are filled with financial deals, one of the best ways to free up money is to take simple steps before the holidays arrive. By consolidating your current outstanding credit card balances, you can free up significant cash by reducing your monthly interest payments.
Consolidating debt is easy. All your outstanding high-interest credit card balances will be grouped into a single personal loan. With set monthly payments, lower interest rates, and fixed rates, you’ll instantly reduce the amount of interest you pay monthly. That savings will help you eliminate debt quicker or pad your wallet for the upcoming holidays.
We’re Here to Help!
With so many financial tools available, you can take advantage of the holiday specials designed to help you save and make the most of your budget this season. Whether you want to finance your seasonal spending, earn more rewards, consolidate debt, or take a break from payments, we’re here to help you ease the financial stress of the season so you can stay holly jolly!
If you’d like to learn more about the Holiday Specials we’re offering this year, we’re ready to help! Please stop by the Credit Union or call 410-687-5240 to speak with a team member today. Happy Holidays!