Christmas on a budget

The holiday season is upon us and children are busy making those long and expensive wish lists.

Credit card companies across the land are rubbing their hands together knowing that emotions can sometimes override financial responsibility when it comes to gift giving.

While the holiday season brings good cheer, it almost always brings debt. There are the usual routines of making a budget and staying within in it, but financial advisor Alynn Godfroy has a unique idea to keep you off Santa’s naughty financial list.

Godfroy, a partner with Godfroy Financial in Tecumseh, encourages people to buy sentimental gifts. For example, she found a website (chatbooks.com) that allowed users to upload 60 pictures to create photo books.

Godfroy uploaded pictures of her new baby to make gifts for family and friends.

Everybody wants to spoil the people they love especially at the holidays, said Godfroy, but it’s imperative to be realistic.

Financial forecaster PWC is reporting that Canadian consumers are planning to spend the same or more than last year—an average of $1,507 each, which is slightly higher than their U.S. counterparts.

The company surveyed 1,000 Canadians.