Penn State Ag Sciences Newsline -- December 11, 2007

Credit-free strategies can help you avoid Christmas overspending (:45)

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Suggested Intro:

'TIS THE SEASON TO SPEND MONEY. BUT AN UNRULY CREDIT-CARD SPREE CAN WRECK YOUR BUDGET FOR MONTHS - OR WORSE. SO A CONSUMER SPECIALIST IN PENN STATE'S COLLEGE OF AGRICULTURAL SCIENCES HAS A SIMPLE SUGGESTION FOR COOLING OFF HOT PLASTIC. MORE FROM GARY ABDULLAH:

Story:

(:17) THE CONVENIENCE OF CREDIT CARDS MAKES HOLIDAY OVERSPENDING A REAL HAZARD, SO PUTTING CARDS AWAY AND DOING ALL OF YOUR SHOPPING WITH CASH CAN SALVAGE YOUR BUDGET. PENN STATE EXTENSION CONSUMER SCIENTIST CATHY BOWEN SAYS LIMITING YOURSELF TO CASH TRANSACTIONS IS A SMART MOVE WHEN YOU'RE COPING WITH THE PRESSURES OF CHRISTMAS SHOPPING:

Bowen Actuality:
(:18) "WE'RE AT THE POINT RIGHT NOW, WE HAVE BED BUGS PROBABLY IN EVERY STATE AND PROBABLY IN MOST PARTS OF PENNSYLVANIA: PHILLY, AND HERE IN STATE COLLEGE, AND PITTSBURGH AND ERIE AND SCRANTON-- THE MORE POPULATED AREAS. PROBABLY SOME OF THE MORE RURAL AREAS, NOT YET, BUT IT'S ONLY A MATTER OF TIME. SO YOU HAVE TO TAKE IT UPON YOURSELF TO LOOK FOR BEDBUGS WHEN YOU CHECK INTO YOUR ROOM."

(:13) BOWEN SAYS THE RISK OF LOSS OR THEFT OF CASH IS REAL, BUT CAN BE OFFSET BY YOUR POTENTIAL SAVINGS. THE KEY, SHE SAYS, IS KNOWING YOURSELF: IF YOU CAN'T RESIST A BARGAIN, PUT THE CARDS AWAY. FROM PENN STATE, I'M GARY ABDULLAH.

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Learn more:

Financial and Consumer Literacy: Credit Matters

"'Tis the Season to Go Shopping" (from the College of Agricultural Sciences news archives)

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