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Media Info
 Jingle hells, silent debt fright and ways to avoid Christmas budget nightmares
17 December 2008
… the best news of all is that throughout Christmas debt counselling help is as far away as a telephone call
There is supposed to be a global financial meltdown but not in the minds of most South African consumers, theatres are full at around R200 a ticket, planes are jam-packed, national highways are busy and shoppers jam malls and roads.
The wise, however, will keep their budget under tight control and save some money for the big bad debt monster we've constantly been warned about. For those laid off in recent weeks whether car salesmen at McCarthy, platinum workers, gold miners, or millionaire investment bankers at RMB the debt crisis is a terrifying reality. In Durban this week, a thrifty bride was wheeled to church in a wheelbarrow instead of the usual costly limousine.
"We're staying open 24 hours a day through this season and all of next year," Andre Snyman, CEO of Consumer Assist, the largest debt counselling organisation in South Africa said. "We know that for many who have been laid off, or are battling to make ends meet this can be a very depressing and emotionally traumatic time. We urge people to seek debt counselling help before they get to a situation where creditors are beating down the door, summonsing them or removing cars or household goods, even the house.
"But Christmas is most of all a very special time for families and loved ones and there is no reason why Christmas on a budget can't be the best Christmas ever."
Consumer Assist ideas to make this a special Christmas on a budget:
- Buy a good plastic, wire or paper tree that can be used for many Christmases.
- Frame that beloved photograph of a family member, a holiday or a beautiful scene in an expensive frame bought from a store or a junk shop. a gift that brings pleasure to the recipient throughout the year.
- Buy a batch of great holiday reads from a second-hand bookstore, tie them in a bow and give them to a child or friend.
- Print a beautiful photograph or sketch off the internet and frame it.
- Use old newspapers or magazines for creative wrapping
- Make jams, Christmas puddings, pickles or preserves for Christmas gifts, wrap them in a lovely, inexpensive dishcloth.
- Bake a batch of biscuits and place them in a brown paper packet, with pictures pasted on it, or a drawing and a big bow.
- If you can sew, knit or crochet make something small, anything handmade in these days where few can sew, knit, crochet or do woodwork are highly prized.
- A hand-written card or letter is always highly valued - words written with love and care are of far greater value than an expensive gift.
- Have a picnic under a tree instead of a huge sit-down lunch - make it fun, take a ball and play soccer or cricket too.
- If you can only give your children small gifts, make the giving fun, plan a treasure hunt and have the small gifts in each place of the treasure hunt.
- Open a savings account for each family member with spare cash, encourage a culture of saving in your family and plan a competition for the year ahead to see who comes up with the most original savings ideas - the winner gets a prize the family agrees upon next Christmas.
- Or create Homemade Coupons, for example:
Give the gift of your time with some creative coupons that your friend or relative can "cash in" later.
For children to give to parents or grandparents:
-One car wash, One hour of weeding in the garden, one afternoon organising old photographs
For parents to give to kids:
-One afternoon at the beach, One trip to the museum, One hour of board games
For adults to give to each other:
-One backrub, a homemade dinner of your choice, or a game of tennis.
"The greatest gift of all at Christmas and every day of the year is quality time with those you love, no matter what the difficulties or challenges you face this year, Consumer Assist is here to help, we admire the courage it takes to step forward admit how difficult it is to make ends meet but start on the road to financial wellness. 2009 will be a challenging year, but it can be easier if we all live debt free lives beginning today, "Snyman said.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION www.consumerassist.co.za 0861 21 22 23 debt counselling call centre
Andre Snyman - CEO - Consumer Assist
aurelia.espag@consumerassist.co.za / 011 654 6018 (Languages: English, Afrikaans)
Source:Media Online
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