When the holiday season ends, many families may face the repercussions of having over-extended their budgets for holiday gifts, travel or entertainment. For consumers who lost control or who exercised too little control of their finances in 1998, now is the time to make some New Year's financial resolutions. The BBB system assists close to 20 million consumers each year, with reports on businesses , consumer education literature , general counseling and complaint resolution . Tips to Take Charge of Finances Be an informed investor.
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Formalize a savings plan. The United States is becoming known for its negative savings rate. Decide how much you need to bolster your financial cushion, and develop a plan to achieve your savings goal. Check with the BBB for specific tips on finding a reliable one. Monitor your debt load.