Budget Time: Managing Your Money During the Next Thirty Days

This time of year brings out a lot of good articles regarding saving money.  I found this one in the Wall Street Journal.  7 Smart Holiday Moves for the Holiday  This article amplifies what I have  suggested for the last year in various articles.  The main word to keep in mind is BUDGET.  How much can you afford, and not to be burdened by guilt because you did not spend enough money on someones gift.  Even though Black Friday  has passed, there are still a lot of good deals out there if you start early and look for them.  For example, today, I decided to invest in LED Christmas lights.  They use far less energy than normal lights.  I didn’t want to replace all of my lights at once because of the cost, so I bought 4 boxes.  Not only will this save money on electricity, but the exchanging of my normal lights got me a 30% discount at Home Depot.  So, I saved money on the purchase, bought within my budget, and will save money on electricity for the next 30 days.

The same can be done for small and medium businesses.  Plan and buy smart.  Your bottom line will surprise you, not to mention your lower credit card bill in January.