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SMALL BUSINESS
By Kelli B. Grant,
Senior Consumer Reporter, SmartMoney.com
Senior Consumer Reporter, SmartMoney.com
It may be the season of giving, but shoppers are watching every penny.
This holiday season, consumers will spend an average $683 -- 3.2% less than last year -- on gifts, decorations, parties, greeting cards and other expenses, according to the National Retail Federation. "No one can afford to be frivolous this season," says Gail Cunningham, a spokeswoman for the National Foundation for Credit Counseling.
But there's no need to put the "Bah, humbug!" on celebrations, either. This year, trim your tab using these five strategies:
Deal of the Day
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Hold on to your landline without the cost of a long-distance plan.
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With credit card rates high, retailers push layaway. Five factors to consider.
- Are Credit Card Perks Really Worth It?
Here are six common benefits and list the savings -- and the catch.
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