| Whether it's right before the holiday shopping | | | | looking for holiday help. You may just be the first |
| season starts in the fall, or sometime | | | | one to apply and beat the rush of college kids |
| mid-summer with plenty of time to spare, it's | | | | looking for seasonal work. This is a great way to |
| never too early to start saving for the holidays. | | | | earn some extra cash before December rolls |
| While many people enter into the "most | | | | around. |
| wonderful time of year" without a savings | | | | - Start to put aside money - If you're less |
| strategy in place, the best way to make sure | | | | concerned with earning some extra income and |
| there are no surprises shocking your budget is to | | | | more concerned with taking advantage of the |
| create a holiday savings plan well before | | | | money you've already made, consider saving with |
| December. | | | | a short term savings account as a way to grow |
| Here are some simple savings tips to help you | | | | your savings and enjoy a little extra money |
| stockpile a significant sum before ever hitting the | | | | before the holidays arrive. Why not open a |
| stores or decking the halls. | | | | money market account or CD account? These |
| - Skip the Starbucks - The bottom line to | | | | are both simple and convenient options that can |
| effectively saving money is to simply cut back on | | | | help you safely grow your money. And better |
| your regular expenditures. Whether that means | | | | yet, both are FDIC insured. Whether you are |
| skipping your daily caramel macchiato at | | | | starting to save six months or six years early for |
| Starbucks, or packing your lunch from now until | | | | your goal, you can choose your terms and decide |
| the holidays, small daily savings can really add up | | | | just how fast you'd like to increase your savings. |
| over the months. Take the coffee example for | | | | - Set up a separate savings account - However, if |
| instance. If you bypassed a four dollar cup of | | | | opening a CD or money market account doesn't |
| coffee five days a week, over the course of six | | | | seem like the right option for your holiday savings |
| months you could save approximately $480! Why | | | | needs, consider simply opening up a separate |
| not set aside that $20 a week and put it towards | | | | savings account dedicated to holiday gifts. |
| your holiday shopping list? You can purchase a lot | | | | Companies like Nationwide Bank offer traditional |
| of gifts for almost $500 worth of coffee money. | | | | online savings accounts to give customers the |
| - Skim a little off the top - Another great way to | | | | chance to earn as they save for the holidays. So, |
| save money is to skim a little off the top of each | | | | the money you saved by skipping Starbucks, |
| paycheck. The old adage, "Pay yourself first," has | | | | skimming a little off the top of each paycheck, |
| to do with this very idea of saving before you | | | | and earning income on the side can all easily be |
| spend. This way, you guarantee that you save | | | | put into an online savings account. This way, you'll |
| first and avoid getting to the end of the month | | | | earn valuable interest until you're ready to start |
| having already spent your savings. Try saving $50 | | | | holiday shopping. |
| per paycheck and within six months you will have | | | | Whether you're saving for Christmas, Chanukah |
| put away approximately $600 and will be more | | | | or Kwanza, there's no better time than the |
| than ready to hit the holiday sales. | | | | present to start saving for the holidays. And |
| - Search out a side job - Whether you have a skill | | | | because opening an account is so quick and easy, |
| that you're willing to put to good use, or you're | | | | you'll have more time to save money to put |
| investigating the possibility of a part-time job, side | | | | toward the wish list of items you will eventually |
| jobs are a great way to earn extra money for | | | | buy for your family and friends. From gifts for |
| holiday shopping. Are you Mr. (or Miss) fix-it? Why | | | | your kids to the cards you send to everyone in |
| not market your home improvement skills around | | | | your address book, the money you save ahead |
| your neighborhood? Do you love kids? Why not | | | | of time can help take the surprise out of the |
| promote your babysitting skills to your friends and | | | | stack of receipts that are sure to start piling up |
| family? Or, if you're more interested in working | | | | sooner or later. So, get a head start and begin |
| for a steady paycheck, check out retail stores | | | | saving today! |
| and restaurants in your area that will no doubt be | | | | |