CCCS Offers 4 Ps For Safe, Responsible Holiday Shopping.

Feature Editors/Business Editors

SAN ANTONIO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Nov. 27, 2002

Day after Thanksgiving shopping is a tradition for many consumers.

However, many consumers carry the tradition too far and charge purchases without a plan as to how they will pay them off. And that is where the trouble begins.

"Using credit cards for holiday purchases is a smart way to shop as long as consumers are not adding to existing debt burdens," said Roland Chupik, president, Consumer Credit Counseling Service (CCCS) of Greater San Antonio. "Have a plan in place, before you hit the stores, for how holiday charges will be paid when the bills arrive in January," continued Chupik.

CCCS says feel free to take those credit cards to purchase and keep these four tips in mind when shopping with credit.

-- Plan. Gather everyone who will be buying together and come up with the amount of money you can afford to spend on holiday related items. Start your shopping with the amount of money you have budgeted for gifts and other purchases written down in a checkbook register.

-- Purchase. Write down each purchase just as you would if you had written a check and subtract the charges from the budget amount. Make sure all shoppers write down their purchases in the register.

-- Protect. Be certain that you keep track of all receipts, especially those that have your entire credit card number printed on the receipt. In addition, keep your credit card in view at all times. Any transaction where your card is given to a salesperson should take place within your view. Online shoppers, make sure the Web site is secure.

-- Period. Like the punctuation mark that ends a sentence, when you have charged your budgeted money, or if you have bought a gift for everyone on your list, stop shopping.

By following these simple steps, consumers can safely and responsibly charge their holiday purchases without fear of overspending.

Consumer Credit Counseling Service (CCCS) of Greater San Antonio Inc. is San Antonio's oldest non-profit, community service organization that provides professional financial guidance, counseling, community-wide educational programs and debt management assistance to consumers. The agency offers comprehensive bilingual budget/credit counseling, a debt management program and a wide range of educational activities, many of which are free to the community. The CCCS telephone number is 210/979-4300, and the Internet address is www.cccssa.org. Call or come by for a confidential, financial assessment.