Control Spending This Holiday Season, Avoid Financial Problems in 2018

Keith Jones, Tax Advisor

I know ladies who shop all night long and are so excited about the big sales that go on throughout the Thanksgiving holiday weekend.

They plan to hit stores for time-specific sales and map out routes to cut down on time wasted in traffic or looking for parking spots. To make the most of the big day, hardcore shoppers sort through advertisements and go online to compare prices Others get caught up in the moment and join the spending frenzy with no plans or shopping lists.

Plan holiday spending. Starting your holiday shopping and use forethought can help prevent piling up a lot of holiday debt. Know how much money you can reasonably afford to spend and limit spending to the cash you set aside for the season to avoid financial problems in 2018.

It is thought is what counts. Homemade gifts — whether food, clothing, or crafts — may be appreciated more than something purchased at the local big box store. Gifts of time for babysitting, car-washing or house-cleaning may also be well-received.

Use ads to plan your purchases. Compare offerings from different stores to find the best deals. Once you decide on an item, compare features, quality, prices, charges for installation, delivery, and service. The cost to use and maintain an item may make selecting a more expensive model the cheaper option.

Shop online and avoid all the chaos. Free shipping specials and the ability to locate the best price make online shopping very attractive for busy shoppers. Use a secure browser, shop with companies you know, and keep your passwords creative and private. Pay attention to shipping charges. Be sure to keep records of your purchases.

Wait for last-minute price cuts for items that are not in short supply. Retailers will roll out holiday items earlier than ever this year. Sales may also start earlier as retailers clear out merchandise. The best deals may come late in the season.

Examine factory seconds and irregulars carefully. These items have flaws or imperfections. Find the flaw and decide if it makes a difference.
Check classified ads for items. Buying person-to-person often saves money.

Expect to pay a fair and reasonable price for goods and services. Bargains that sound too good to be true are usually just that. Read labels, seals, tags, and instruction booklets, and ask questions.

Conserve gasoline. Avoid running from store to store. Instead, use the phone and Internet to find information. Particularly for gifts you need to send out of town, ordering the desired item for direct shipment to the recipient is easier and may be cheaper than paying to ship it yourself

Get the facts before you buy. Find out what is promised, who stands behind the promises and what you must do to benefit from any warranty. Return a purchase that is damaged, did not provide reasonable wear or otherwise failed to live up to the guarantee.

Overspending can ruin the holidays and the months that follow. Plan and stick to your plan. Spending only as much as you can afford will make the holidays better for you and your family — even if they do not receive everything they wanted.

Have a question? Contact Keith Jones. Your comments are always welcome!

Keith Jones CPA is trusted and reliable CPA who solves IRS problems from comfort of your home. I help people have a more positive experience with IRS and back taxes by getting tax relief with Offer in Compromise & Installment agreements.

Keith Jones CPA, TheCPATaxProblemSolver

One of the BEST Tax Relief Companies & Tax Professional that Advocates for YOU with Back Tax Filing!

Since 2005 Keith Jones has been the sole partner of Keith Jones CPA TheCPATaxProblemSolver.

His specialization is offering IRS tax debt relief, tax resolution & back tax filing to clients across this great country with an emphasis on clients in North Florida where he was born, raised, educated, and has lived his entire life.

With offices in Jacksonville, St Augustine, and Destin Florida, he provides tax planning, accounting, as well as tax preparation services to both individuals and businesses.

Specializing in payroll tax debt relief he runs a very successful practice area in which he is well versed and experienced.

Keith is a tax professional who has helped thousands of GOOD FOLKS solve their IRS tax problems restoring their financial freedom.

This he takes great pride in taking each case personally restores clients financial freedom, giving them peace of mind, a better night of sleep & often saving marriages keeping families together.

For most Americans, dealing with the IRS can be an incredibly overwhelming & high-pressure situation. It is not something they routinely deal with and do not know how to handle.

Keith is a tax professional who deals with these cases daily.

Keith has found that almost every single person he deals with is NOT a tax cheat or deadbeat, but someone who is not able to pay their tax debt due to a financial hardship, often which happened not of their own accord.

Usually, there is a sickness, tragic situation, job or business loss, or some other unfortunate circumstance leaving them scared and not knowing where to turn.

Keith takes this fear away immediately at sets clients at ease by educating them on tax debt relief programs available.

TheCPATaxProblemSolver understands your burden & strongly believes that being informed is one of the keys to successfully navigating the IRS tax relief programs to a fresh start restoring your financial freedom.

Keith was born and raised in the small coastal town of Port Saint Joe Florida and earned his Bachelor of Business Administration and majored in Accounting at Florida State University’s College of Business. He has been a licensed CPA in Florida since October of 1995.

In college and then while studying for his CPA he worked as an Auditor and as a Senior Tax Specialist with the Florida Department of Revenue.

After passing his CPA exam Keith served as Division Controller for the St. Joe Company where he was recognized nationally for his efforts by being inducted into the AICPA’s Business & Industry Hall of Fame.

Elected as a Regional Vice President by his peers for the Florida Institute of CPAs (FICPA).

Through the years, he has served the Accounting Profession and FICPA in many capacities, including as:

Past President of the Miracle Strip Chapter of FICPA
Past Regional Vice President of FICPA
Member of the Finance Committee for four years
Member of the Board of Governors for twelve years
Chairman of the FSU Accounting Conference where he was Chair of the Year
Trustee and Past Vice President of the FICPA Educational Foundation
Member of several committees

In his spare time, he enjoys the beach, walking, boating, and fishing as well as spending time with family.

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