-And on the thirteenth day of Xmas, the mailman gave to me, a credit card bill for free .

So Happy New Year! You thought that you recovered from your New Year’s hangover. Then you open your mail. Everything was good in December and then you decided that you would buy a few things. Besides they were not full price as they were from Xmas sales. You decided what better to treat your friends and family then to break in your new credit card?

After a few days of not having a plan and no budget, you decided no credit card should be left behind. Why not break them all in? Besides you needed the points! You felt that you were assisting the economy. These actions you felt would assist in improving your holiday spirit (and that of others)! Then you decided to buy a few things for yourself: a new HDTV and a Blu-Ray DVD player, that new copy of the Pink Floyd boxset. Hey and why not spruce up your car with ultimate decoration: a new car stereo?  What could it hurt? Your holly jolly feeling lasted at least 12 days. You would not put any thought to the bills until next year. No big deal!

The problem is now, the new year is here. Your Christmas spirit or your holly jolly feeling has been replaced by an excessive headache, shortness of breath and a case of indigestion.  And maybe a feeling of confusion. The reason? Your credit card bills came in the mail. The feeling of joy was gone in about three seconds of seeing your bills.

Right around this time you may be wondering if Santa Claus has something else in his magical sack that he might be dropping off to let you payoff these bills. No such luck. Right at this time you have also clued that you have completely maxed yourself out. And Santa would not be coming back to supply any holiday good will.

To assist you in alleviating your New Year’s headache, Credit Canada might be able to assist you in coming up with a solution.

Credit Canada can work with you in a free hour long counselling session or at one of our free seminars so you can learn about credit, your credit rating and how to make life more comfortable again.

Credit Canada can assist in making out a workable budget. As well with the help of our Monthly Budget Trackers,  eg. The Staying on Track book can help you account for where your money goes every month. As well we can work out how to budget your money better.

If the unsecured debt bills you have ( like credit cards, loans and overdrafts) turn out to be as unbearable as an ugly Christmas sweater, I would suggest giving us a call or sending us an email at infor@creditcanada.com. Or you can do an online assessment at creditcanada.com.

If you are feeling things are becoming unwieldy, feel free to contact us where and when you can and we can work with you to steer things in the right direction.

Regardless of what the state of things are in now, we can work with you to understand the bonuses and the pratfalls of credit and how to get your credit back on track again.

Maybe you are dealing with one hangover while reading this. Let us try to help you with the other.

It’s the New Year. But here’s a little post-script regarding the holidays that have just passed.

We see them Boxing Day morning: queues of bundled up souls braving sub-zero temperatures in front of stores and malls everywhere, awaiting the throwing open of the retail gates for “big savings” on all manner of goods.

Yes, Boxing Day Sales have become a tradition in Canada, where so-called killer deals are to be had on so many of life’s vitally important items – toaster ovens, towel sets, blue jeans, Barbie Dolls, DVDs, computer games, and on and on.

But wait. Did I say Boxing Day Sales? I might just as well have said Boxing Week Sales, for an event once celebrated for only one day after Christmas has now extended its reach right through to the New Year in many regions of the land. And who knows, perhaps soon we can all start looking forward to Boxing Month Sales.

Why not? After all, in a culture obsessed with acquiring things, things, and more things, there is so much to buy, and so little time to buy it.

Leave aside the fact that the ostensible peace and joy of Christmas is suddenly cut short by the hum and cluck of overheated cash registers amid frenzied tug-of-wars between raging grandmothers around bargain bins. Aren’t we all, as hard-spending consumers, doing the responsible thing by greasing the wheels of our retail sector and moving the national economy forward?

Looking north, George W. Bush would understand. “Go shopping,” he once advised America in a time of national confusion.

In all seriousness folks, I think it’s time we took stock of what Christmas is really all about. I ask, what has the spirit of the season come to when we plan our giving after the fact? Can we not give our consumerism a rest, if only for a few days, once old St. Nick has come and gone?

Furthermore, just exactly what is it we hope to save here? Are we making sacrifices in relation to what we really want to purchase by going for the sorry leftovers of the pre-Christmas rush? And honestly, do we think for a moment that retailers don’t see us coming; that they merely start slashing prices randomly after the big day in hopes of luring us to their stores?

You better believe there are plenty of savvy marketing strategists out there who have made plans well ahead of time for all the “outrageously low prices.”

Perhaps we all ought to take a little history lesson here.

Boxing Day finds its historical roots in the soil of charity, not acquisitiveness. In feudal times and through the middle ages, lords would bestow gifts of food and goods to loyal, hardworking servants on this day. As well, it was a day for the distribution of alms from church collection boxes to poor parishioners.

Such traditions evolved into the Christmas baskets that some employers nowadays distribute to employees during the holiday season.

Imagine that, a Boxing Day Kindness, rather than a Boxing Day Sale.

Now that, to me, seems in keeping with the spirit of the season.

I found it rather coincidental that on the day I decided to start shopping (Black Friday), my Moneysense magazine came in the mail with a startling declaration.

The editorial ,”Overtaking America”, stated that in the Credit Suisse 2011 Global Wealth Report that we are currently wealthier than the Americans. Apparently, our net worth median income per adult is $89,072; for Americans the amount was just $53,000.

In the bad news department, our household debt ratio is the highest of the G7 countries (including THE USA) except for the U.K.

On Black Friday, people were definitely showing their wealth off. Cash registers were ringing and sales were everywhere. I felt like I was in a scene from Jingle All the way. (Anyways it was pretty crazy and I made the best efforts to get out of everyone’s way).

The frenzy has begun; the starting pistol of holiday shopping has begun and lots of people are off to the races. The rules are simple everyone gets a gift and ugly sweaters might be allowed.

I thought I should share some tips with you to allow you to enjoy your holiday season:

1)Have you worked out a budget of what you need to spend at Christmas?

It is always best to try to do a rough workout or list of these costs as early as possible and flesh out what expenses you will have to cover during that time period including food and gift costs.

With these amounts, you can start squirreling money away between that time period and Christmas for this purpose and check out things off your list as you move along.

The sooner you work out your budget, hopefully the sooner you can recalculate your budget.

As well, with some food items buy them by a certain date so you are not left surprised when they are sold out.

2)Are you using the best digital shopping applications to help you zero in the gifts that you need?

A lot of shopping mall developers have phone applications (in various platforms)  or email alerts to inform you what stores have things on sale and when.

When you want to save money shopping online you can use shopping applications eg. price comparison websites. They can save you a lot of time to find out what quantity stores of what you need when you have no time. A lot of these websites like Red -flagdeals.com, Wishabi or Pricebot partner with retailers so you can filter the information you need on retailer inventory, manufacturer, price etc. As well with these sites it is good to compare sites to make sure you are getting the best deal and see what is in your desired price range.

Iphones have a variety of applications that do the price shopping and legwork for you.
As well with programs like Giftplan which allow you to keep an inventory of information including what gifts you may have purchased for friends and family in the past (including pricing). It can be used for almost anything including Christmas and people’s birthdays.  Android and Blackberry platform phones have similar applications.

3)Have you written down or typed out exactly who you are buying for? Do you really need to buy gifts for everybody and everyone?

Buying for everyone can certainly be expensive and frustrating especially when you leave things to the last minute.

If you have a special talent it may be time to utilize it for purposes of Christmas giving. Showing off your creativity like baking, embroidering, knitting, painting for example might allow you to do things in a fun and inexpensive way.

As well, maybe you might want to discuss with friends or families about buying gifts for the kids or doing a Kris Kringle.

A friend of mine has a brother who has five kids and took the chance to go the last minute shopping route. After paying $1,500 for gifts for his brother’s whole family (two years ago), he decided he might want to put his creative streak to work and make his own cards and gifts for friends and family members. When he thinks he cannot do it, he pulls out the credit card bill to remind him.

4)Have you confirmed shipping deadlines before Christmas ?

If absolutely, positively has to be there before Christmas it maybe best to review terms with canadapost.ca or the website of whatever courier you decide to use for shipping knowing these dates can save you a lot on shipping costs.

Hopefully I have given you some food for thought. I hope these options will allow you to have an enjoyable Christmas holiday and a richer and even more pleasant New Year!

For more shopping tips, please these links:

Victoria’s Secret big with Santa shoppers, http://www.torontosun.com/2011/12/10/victorias-secret-big-with-santa-shoppers

Super T.O. Christmas Shoppers Guide, http://www.torontosun.com/2011/12/10/super-to-christmas-shopper-guide

Christmas Battle Plan: Think Ahead, Shop Effectively, http://www.walletpop.ca/blog/2011/12/12/the-christmas-battle-plan-think-ahead-shop-effectively/

I would like to thank a colourful, wee elf named Undlin Neldth for arranging dinner last week between me and Father Christmas himself, St. Nicholas Claus (aka Santa).

Undlin, who is in charge of Santa’s publicity department, recommended me to his boss for an interview after surfing the Net and chancing upon a blog I wrote recently, which cast Santa in a good light as an adept giver of financial wisdom.

Said Undlin: “As you know Laurie, our CEO here at North Pole Inc. is a very busy man. He does not grant many interviews. Indeed, most bloggers and journalists must settle for interviews with Santa’s stand-ins – many of whom smell of gin and nicotine – and of course few media people are happy about that.

“In your case, though, Laurie, I will be glad to set up an interview, provided we have an understanding between us. You can talk to the chief about anything you like, except his weight and his penchant for judging the behaviour of children. Am I clear on this?”

“You’re clear,” I replied in my slippery way, and it seemed to comfort the tiny, pointy-eared publicist.

Days later Santa and I met at Odin’s Hut, a quaint Toronto eatery specializing in delicious Scandinavian food at very reasonable prices. To my surprise, Santa arrived by helicopter. He was lowered onto the restaurant’s roof by wire in the dark of night.

“Sorry about all this,” Santa said, his flaring mop-top and massive beard swirling as he struggled to free himself from a bulky leather harness. “I need to take special precautions meeting with select members of the press. Tempers are bound to flare when I show favour.”

He added: “You’re a lucky lady, you know. I’m a tough chestnut to crack – ho, ho, ho.”

On that lyrical note, I took stock of the celebrity saint. He was not attired in his usual red and white suit. Instead, he wore an oversized, navy Armani jacket, tan turtleneck, and black trousers with perfectly tailored cuffs over a shiny pair of Cole Haan brogues. Otherwise, he looked exactly like the image portrayed in those cheery Coca Cola posters from the 1930s – huge in the waist, rosy cheeked, and with an iron-cast squint that doubled as a smile behind dainty, wire-rimmed spectacles.

I took a shot at breaking the ice.

“You remind me of someone I greatly admire, the late Robertson Davies.”

Santa blinked deadpan. “Who’s Robertson Davies?”

The remark took me aback, then I saw a big smile take shape and heard the signature laugh again. “Ho, ho, ho – just kidding young lady. I’m quite familiar with the late, great Canadian novelist. Why, I must have delivered hundreds of thousands of his books as gifts over the years. His Deptford Trilogy was just wonderful.  I thank you for the compliment.”

Relieved that I was dealing with a literate, albeit mischievous, soul, I looked forward to the interview I was about to conduct. It unfolded in a quiet corner of Odin’s Hut where piles of food were delivered to our table over a period of a couple of hours.

I was sated after a delicious plate of poached cod in the form of Torsk. But Santa was ravenous, downing everything from Surslid (pickled herring) and Kjottboller (meatballs) to Gravet elg (sweet and salt-cured moose). Following the appetizers and main courses came Danish pastries – lots and lots of them.

“Got to bulk up for the gruelling work ahead in freezing temperatures,” Santa told me. “Most importantly, though, I love food as much as I love the Mrs. – maybe even more so at my age … ho, ho, ho.”

Suddenly, he stopped laughing, and paused to think. “That bit about the Mrs. is off the record. Am I clear on this?”

“You’re clear,” I said in my slippery way, and that seemed to comfort the porcine, white-haired legend.

So it was that between bites Santa engaged me in lively conversation. He enthralled me with stories about the daunting challenges he faces each Christmas.

“I deliver gifts to 388 million kids in 31 hours,” he said proudly
.
“Thirty-one hours?” I said. “How’s that possible on Christmas eve?”

“Well,” he said, “you have to take into account the different time zones and the rotation of the earth while moving east to west. I’m talking about moving fast, too, with a payload of 350,000 tons. Rudolph and his fellow reindeer haul butt pulling this weight at 650 miles per second in order for us to hit our mark of 822.6 visits per second.”

“Amazing,” I said.

“And get this,” he went on, leaning toward me for emphasis. “For each household I visit, I have about one one-thousandth of a second to park the sleigh, hop out, jump down the chimney, fill stockings, distribute gifts under the tree, eat whatever snacks I’ve been provided, get back up the chimney, hop back into the sleigh, and move on to the next house.”

“Wow,” I exclaimed. “That’s supernatural!”

“It ain’t no cake walk kid, ho, ho, ho. Of course, having mythical powers makes it all possible.”

Soon I steered the conversation to matters that interest us here at Credit Canada. Given all the knowledge and wisdom Santa has gathered over the years, I asked him what kind of advice he could provide to Canadians at large regarding personal money management come Christmas time.

“Well, you know, I don’t spend a great deal on gifts myself. Virtually all my outlays go to unionized elf and reindeer labour, and they go to building material, sleigh maintenance and what have you. I just take orders from people – parents mostly  – and of course I take guidelines from all the correspondence I receive, including more than a million letters and emails from kids across Canada each year,” Santa said.

“Concerning money matters, though, I see a lot in my travels. If there is one bit of advice I would offer all Canadians, it is this: don’t spend beyond your means at Christmas. Above all, don’t panic and rack up debt that you will later be sorry for. The spirit of the holidays is defined by giving, true, but giving is not restricted to material things.

“Giving of one’s heart and time are the best gifts anyone can receive.”

Santa went on to say that among the millions of families he observes each year who don’t have much Christmas coin, the happiest are those who prioritize spending on events and activities that bring people together.

“Sumptuous feasts, roasting marsh mellows or chestnuts ‘round a fireplace or bonfire, sleigh rides, caroling with friends, snowman building, bobbing for apples, getting out to free carnivals, events, and concerts – these are the kinds of things that make Christmas special, and they can be enjoyed without digging a deep debt hole,” Santa said.

He added there are endless economical ways for families to enjoy themselves at Christmas no matter what the location. In places like the City of Toronto, for example, there are more ways to get together and have fun than can be readily listed, he noted.

“During the holiday season, as I fly over cities, towns and communities across Canada, I see families enjoying an endless array of activities. Nowadays, joining in on the fun is as easy as visiting the Internet and Googling free, local holiday events and activities,” he explained.

“Such things should be kept in mind when planning for Christmas. And speaking of planning for the holidays – of which I am acutely aware – if you’re an individual or a family who has not prepared a Christmas budget in writing, then when I’m making my list and checking it twice, you can be sure I’ll put you in my ‘naughty’ category.”

The note about naughtiness reminded me of elf Undlin Neldth’s warning that some issues remained off limits for anyone interviewing Santa. As dinner drew to a close, I couldn’t curb the urge to test those limits.

“Santa,” I said, “I have just two more questions I’d like to ask: The first is, what are the criteria you use for judging the behaviour of children; and the second is, how much do you weigh?”

Santa’s eyes widened suddenly, then his brow furrowed, and his face took on an angry cast.

“No comment!” he snapped.

But just as quickly, he beamed a big fat smile and winked.

“Ho, ho, ho,” he bellowed.

Then I heard the whoop, whoop, whoop of an approaching helicopter.

I wanted to share with you Justin Hwang’s tips to help you prevent fraud this season.  Justin Hwang is Associate Vice President of Fraud Management at TD Canada Trust.

With the crowded shopping malls and long lines, some Canadians may be putting their personal information at risk if they let the chaos of the holiday season distract them while shopping.

Banks and credit card companies have security measures in place to help protect you against fraud but you are the first line of defense in protecting your hard-earned money.   According to recent research by TD Canada Trust, 79% of Canadians are quite concerned about becoming a victim of fraud*.

Here are some top tips I like to provide shoppers with to help prevent fraud this season:

• Protect your PIN – Never disclose your credit or debit card PIN (personal identification number) to anyone. No one, not even your bank, should ever ask for this information. When conducting a transaction at an ATM or making a purchase, always shield the keypad when you enter your PIN.

• Ideally always keep your credit card in sight – When paying with a debit or credit card, try to keep your card in sight at all times. It takes only seconds for your card to be copied.

• Be cautious online – Phishing refers to an online scam that seeks out personal financial information through emails that appear from a legitimate source or organization. Remember no one should ask you for your account numbers or passwords through email. If you receive a phishing e-mail, ignore it and then delete it.

• Only shop online with trusted brands - A website with an address that begins with “https://” usually indicates you’re connected to a secure website. Make sure any banking or online shopping sites you use are protected in this way. Keep your antivirus and internet security software up-to-date, and ensure you have an up-to-date firewall installed too.

• Monitor your account activity regularly – Be sure to keep track of all online purchases and read your credit card and bank statements carefully as soon as they arrive. If you notice a purchase you don’t recall making, call your bank as soon as possible to verify the transaction.

• Be proactive and stay alert – If you suspect you have been a victim of fraud when making a purchase at a store or using an ATM, cancel your transaction, obtain your card, and contact your financial institution immediately.

Justin Hwang is the Associate Vice President, Fraud Management at TD Canada Trust.

*The 2011 TD Canada Trust Fraud Prevention Month Poll results were collected through Environics’ national telephone omnibus between February 1 to 3, 2011. A total of 1,001 interviews were completed.

I have to say, I’m already feeling pretty joyous about the holiday season. There are real signs that many Canadians will not suffer from those post-Christmas-spending blues come 2012.

Ulcers resulting from debt created by the purchase of video games, iPads, fuzzy bears and the like will for many be a thing of the past. Expensive psychoanalysis for deepening depression about out-of-control credit card spending sprees also will be unnecessary.

Let’s celebrate the good news, which comes to us from a recent Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce (CIBC) poll. It states that for this holiday season, Canadians are at last starting to curtail credit card use and opting instead to pay cash for stuff.

It appears that in the face of unprecedented personal debt across the land, Canadians are finally heeding urgent calls from the likes of Bank of Canada Chairman Mark Carney to start getting our financial households in order to avoid big trouble.

Glory be, we’re ho ho holding on debt.

According to the CIBC poll, a majority of Canadians said they will pay for their purchases this season with cash or debit rather than load up their credit cards. More than a third of those polled said they will shop with their debit cards. Another 29 per cent said will pay by cash. Just 31 per cent said they intend to use credit cards.

At the same time, few plan to go spend crazy with the cash they dole out. Eighty-seven per cent of Canadians polled said their spending will be the same as, or less, than last year.

The reversion to cash spending is very good for Canadians in light of financial attitudes determined by poll findings. Nearly 30 per cent of respondents admitted they find it hard to stick to a savings plan during the holidays. But they said that this year they are more budget-conscious.

As Colette Delaney, a senior vice-president at CIBC, points out, “Keeping on top of holiday spending is critical to staying on track towards your financial goals and starting the new year with your savings plan in good shape.”

Meanwhile, there is even good news from the poll regarding those who plan to use credit cards this season. Three-quarters of respondents said they’ve struck a plan to quickly pay off all of their Christmas debt. Just 23 per cent said they’d clear their debts over time.

As I say, I’m feeling very merry about all this as Credit Canada’s leader of troops who fight the good fight against bad debt.

Permit me to get ahead of myself.

Happy New Year Canada!

After a decade of neglecting to visit family members strewn throughout western North America, my hardworking Toronto friend Bob decided to take a three-month sabbatical to make up for all the missing face time. He would visit his three siblings and a raft of nieces and nephews by spending a month in Alberta, a couple of weeks in Arizona, and the remainder of the time in California.

Bob’s timing was such that just as he was about to take to the air and road, his cell phone contract was ending, and he was looking at new mobile options. As his spending for the journey would be frugal, he asked his new cell service provider to please provide him with a plan that would keep his costs at a minimum while he roamed the west, much of the time behind the wheel of a rental car.  Sure, the service provider told him.

“Terrific,” Bob thought. “And I get a spanky new iPhone with the deal, too.” So he signed up for a long-term contract.

Then, about midway through his journey, Bob got the awful news. His cell phone roaming charges went through the roof, amounting to hundreds of dollars more than what he had anticipated. This he discovered while visiting his older sister Shot Gun Moe in the little whistle-stop town of Clarkdale, Arizona.

From here, and from various locations he had previously visited on the high prairie of Alberta, he had been excitedly using his cell to send photos and voice and text messages back to friends in Toronto, detailing his adventures, which in Arizona included watching sister Moe take after wild Javelina Hogs with a pump-action shotgun. As usual, in the dark of night, the smelly, grunting beasts (also known as Skunk Pigs) had attempted to raid the garden out back of his sister’s charming little house bordering the wide-open desert.

Actually, Bob and Moe were visiting the Grand Canyon, about two hours north of Clarkdale by car, when he got the bad news about the cell charges. To this day, if you listen closely, you can still hear his yells echoing throughout the canyon in response to the news (I ‘d repeat what he said here, but this blog is approved for all audiences).

Needless to say, by the time Bob left Arizona to visit more relatives in Los Angeles, he was seriously curtailing his cell phone use. In fact, he had almost limited his calls to emergencies only.

Had the mobile service provider lied to him? Well, technically, no. But they did fail to mention certain matters regarding roaming charges, so I suppose you might call their behaviour deception by omission. On the other hand, Bob’s a big boy, and he ought to have read the fine print, or at the very least asked specific questions about how and when all charges applied in his contract.

Truth is, while travelling, anyone can end up paying oodles with a mobile device in tow.

So, just what are roaming charges exactly? In simple terms, roaming means you’re outside Canada and your service provider’s network. When you use your mobile phone abroad, messages are routed through a partner service provider. Texting, sending or receiving pictures (or videos) and browsing the Internet all incur roaming charges. It is most important that you know what you are being charged for. Nowadays, it’s easy to be confused by offers that may automatically incur roaming charges. Ringtone subscriptions, IQ trivia questions, dating services, and more can lock you into message loops that result in recurring charges.

A common error among people caught up in these loops (often initiated through Internet apps with lots of mice type that goes unread) is that people simply delete text messages without taking the steps necessary to stop them completely (you may have to consult your pre-adolescent children for knowledgeable advice on these matters). Some of these text messages charge as much as $5.00 a piece, and can arrive on your cell almost daily.

Given the complex technical nature of today’s telecommunications networks, mistakes and glitches also are not uncommon. It is in fact possible to receive U.S. roaming charges while you’re still in Canada. Canadians close to the U.S. border who use wireless networks have received such charges, and it is a royal pain in the you-know-what for these people because – as all service providers will tell you – it’s the subscriber’s responsibility to discover glitches and find billing anomalies and dispute or report them.

Even flagging the trouble may not end it, with some subscribers having to report problems monthly to have charges reversed while the service provider refuses to renegotiate terms of a contract.

The key is, know exactly what you’re getting yourself into when you sign up with a mobile service. Keep regular tabs on your charges. And watch your own behaviour when using the technology.

Some other tips that may help you save money on the move include:

• Getting a monthly mobile service travel package before you set out on adventures or business abroad. You can reduce your roaming costs with a prepaid plan (Telus Mobility has tried to get rid of all roaming costs without offering travel packages, but Bell and Rogers have prepaid plans).

• Purchasing separate plans for voice and data.

Don’t do as Bob did and rely only on advice from mobile customer service representatives. Nose around on your own. Keep a sharp eye out. Above all, keep your ears tuned.

Sorry to bring this up but (achoo) cold, wind, sleet and snow will soon be upon us, and you know what that means – a rotund, white-bearded fellow in an outlandish red outfit will be crawling down chimneys to deliver gifts under evergreen trees in living rooms across the land.

The old boy never sleeps. Right now he and his army of little green-suited elves are hard at work at the North Pole, putting together lists, checking them twice, and touching base with authorities to be sure “no-fly” does not apply to anyone at Santa Enterprises Inc., particularly those within the Reindeer Division.

Contrary to popular belief, Santa is busy year-round preparing for the one day he actually gets out and about. He is forward thinking. A master planner. He has to be. He’s got billions of deliveries to make in just one night. Shouldn’t you, in your own small way, take a lesson from him as Christmas approaches?

Throw out traditional timetables. Start planning – and shopping – for Christmas right now, and you will be glad you did. There are good reasons why.

The luxury of more time provides an advantage for serious savings on anything and everything you might purchase. You can find just the right gift and just the right price.

Aside from avoiding seasonal mark ups, you can surf the Net for the best deals in your area and the global village, with plenty of lead-time for deliverables. What’s more, you’ve got space to go coupon crazy. Maybe start by visiting www.makeuseof.com/tag/top-10-sites-for-online-coupons-promotional-codes/.

Perhaps above all, early or even year-round Christmas shopping is good for the body and spirit. It could add years to your life, when you think about it.

For example, it’s been scientifically proven that flying into rages in traffic and the middle of department stores leads to all kinds of terrible things, possibly even heart-stopping apoplectic fits, not to mention divorce, delinquency among your kids, or at least miserable evenings at home where the air is thick enough to cut with a Ginzu knife.

But aside from all the reduced stress, planning ahead for Christmas makes you a better person. When the holiday season does at last arrive, you remain an island of calm amidst the frenzied seas around you. You do not drink heavily as an escape and make an ass of yourself at parties. Your mate, children, friends and associates marvel at your aplomb.

Your planning, like that of Santa’s, keeps you sane and in control. You are master of the holiday universe, and lord of the season.

Now, isn’t that a merry thought?

I’m finally friends with Jill, the navigator who gives directions to Never-Neverland addresses I call flea markets, antique stores or garage sales, where my husband instantly changes into a child again! I am done contemplating whether or not buying a GPS was worth it; it turned out that it was. I spent my last vacation going along with my husband as he hunted for one man’s trash and claimed it as his treasure. Each time he has kept a well practiced poker face (his excitement deeply buried inside him) as he meticulously checks collectible items, antiques or knick knacks. Once satisfied, he would then start his ‘haggling’ techniques. He rarely makes an offer; instead he asks what the best selling price would be for the item. He knows when to walk away if the selling price is higher than the figure he had in mind.  The one exception was when he found this antique walking cane with a silver handle. He really wanted it so he just bought it at a 5% discount so no one else will buy it just as soon as we left the booth.

As for me, I don’t particularly fancy going through old stuff that were maybe once owned by people who have passed away, and make them my own. My husband’s passion for antiques makes him happy so I patiently wait, browse, and wait some more. After all, he was right–we we’re on our v-a-c-a-t-i-o-n so we didn’t have to worry about time.

Actually, we chose a good week to be away.  The weather was hot as he  coolly played  the antiquing game and I had fun playing along with him. Each morning, armed with a hand sanitizer in one hand, Jill (remember, the GPS) in the other, off we went to our destination for the day.

After four mornings of short jaunts from one antique mall to the other, garage sales, antique shows and flea markets, we came home relaxed and happy. This vacation was one of those few times (yes few times only) that my husband had to put his foot down and ignore my ‘I want’…’I want…’ tirades. Well, who needed the Dominican Republic or Cuba’s last minute deals when we had the same sun, fun and resort accommodation in Collingwood, Ontario? We explored the lovely Georgian Bay area, played in the water and sunbathed in beautiful Wasaga and Sauble Beaches. The antiquing was a plus too.

Although my husband came home a bit  nostalgic, coming across an old washboard, old cooking stove, etc.,  he brought home an antique walking cane and a couple of pleasure moments figurines. What the heck, I also brought home a ‘unique’ Royal Doulton cup and saucer and a couple of knick knacks. Furthermore, we truly enjoyed the large fresh Ontario grown cherries and blue berries. We had so much fun for a fraction of the cost of an out-of-town travel.

I also noticed that the younger generation is into antiquing now too. Maybe because haggling for the best price before purchasing a ‘collectible’ item is fun, eco-friendly and ‘green’. So I made a deal with my husband – we can go antiquing together but he will not allow his obsession to become a hoarding habit.

Well thanks again Jill – you’re a pal. You took us to charming small towns and other places in Ontario we really enjoyed discovering.

I’ve said it many times before and I’ll say it again. Today’s Internet is a powerful, wonderful tool for money-related problem solving, including finding answers to the pressing question, what can a cash-strapped family do for a fun summer holiday?

Start by thinking cheap and free. Then get your Google in gear. Type in cheap fares, hotels, resorts, and holiday specials for any given location. Check out cheap and free events and activities for any given community. As well, take full advantage of your digital social network. Get the word out on Facebook and other sites that you’re interested in economical holiday options and opportunities.

At the same time, bring your imagination out into the sun. For instance, think locally. What cheap and free adventures might be found in your city, town, and region? Are interesting landscapes and attractions close at hand, waiting to be discovered or for that matter revisited? Just remember, mother nature herself does not charge fees.

If like me you’re a Torontonian, you might remind yourself that Ontario has more lakes than any other region on Earth – a couple of hundred thousand of them in fact, set amid verdant surroundings. Camping and canoeing anyone? A day of swimming can be a delight. A hike in the wilderness can be an adventure. A bon fire alone can make for a great evening. Simple pleasures can make for a summer of joy.

How about pooling resources amongst your circle of family and friends, including social network contacts? Anybody got a cottage? Never mind that, get enough friends and family together and you can rent a cottage for a song. Bring your air mattresses, your tents. Double up on beds and bunks. Being resourceful can be fun. Also, bringing groups together makes for great savings on faraway trips. Google told me so.

Now, if you’re really behind the eight ball money wise this summer, you will be forced to think locally about your holidays. For Torontonians in these circumstances, check out the following:

 • For an overview of free summer events and activities in Toronto, go to http://www.toronto.com/article/616601

 • For savings of 50 to 90 per cent on popular events In Toronto, sign up at www.groupon.com/Toronto

 • For great deals on restaurants, spas, events and more, check out www.livingsocial.com

 Now, go ahead and have your day in the sun.