{"id":29095,"date":"2017-12-18T14:50:22","date_gmt":"2017-12-18T14:50:22","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/marinecorpstimes\/uncategorized\/2017\/12\/18\/last-minute-holiday-horror-stories-think-before-you-spend\/"},"modified":"2026-08-08T02:44:06","modified_gmt":"2026-08-08T02:44:06","slug":"last-minute-holiday-horror-stories-think-before-you-spend","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/marinecorpstimes\/pay-benefits\/mil-money\/2017\/12\/18\/last-minute-holiday-horror-stories-think-before-you-spend\/","title":{"rendered":"Last-minute holiday horror stories? Think before you spend"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Sometimes, the holidays sneak up on us.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The stress can snowball as we try to buy the perfect gift as we scramble to create the glowing holiday environment, along with the requisite holiday food.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you find yourself with just a few days to go before your celebrations with family and friends, step back and think before you start running up those credit card bills. You may be tempted to spend more money on more gifts out of expediency, and in the glow \u2014 and stress \u2014 of holiday shopping.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Some points to consider: If that family member or friend really cares about you, would they want you to go into debt to buy them a present? Is there something that would make them happy that doesn\u2019t cost a lot? What gifts have you received that stood out, despite a low price tag?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

And, most of all, do you remember how you felt in January, the credit card bills from the 2016 holidays came due?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Here are a few ideas that can work for last-minute, but meaningful, gifts:<\/p>\n\n\n\n