12 easy steps to use eBay and pay down holiday credit card debt

By Jim Sloan

Our family loves the holidays, but every year after the tinsel and pine needles have been vacuumed up, we find ourselves with a couple of small problems: Too much credit card debt and a couple of heart-felt gifts we really don't want and can't return.

The answer for us has been pretty simple: eBay. By selling some of our unwanted stuff--sometimes it's Christmas gifts and sometimes it's just items we find in the garage when we put the decorations away--we're able to put a dent in that debt, even when we've used zero percent credit cards.

If this sounds like something you'd like to try, here's a 12-step program to help you use eBay to whittle down that credit card debt:

1. Start small. If you're new to eBay, begin by selling something that's easy to price, easy to photograph and easy to ship. This way you can practice setting up an auction, monitoring your sale and making sure you get good feedback from your first buyer right off the bat. This small transaction will also give you an idea about how costs and commissions work on eBay.

2. Sell something new. New goods are easier to price and sell than used goods. If your Aunt Florence gives you linen napkins every year and you're starting to

By Priscilla McEver

Now that you've graduated from school, you may find yourself acquiring not only a diploma, but also heaps of debt and a whole new set of responsibilities. Credit card payments, car insurance, utility bills and maybe even student loans that were once covered by your parents are now resting squarely on your shoulders. You have a lot of choices to make and perhaps not a lot of money to make them hastily.

So, if you've decided to use a debit card to track most of your spending, you know there is nothing more infuriating than getting hit with an overdraft fee. And now you may be asking yourself, "Should I sign up for overdraft protection?"

Why overdraft protection?

Here's help to decide if enrolling in overdraft protection is right for you. Overdraft protection may be a good option for you if:

• You have a lot of traffic in your account. If multiple checks or several automatic payments go through your account each month, overdraft protection can provide you with an extra layer of safety to ensure that everything clears your account. Now that you're on your own or starting over, you may notice that everything seems to be due all at once: high-interest credit card debt, compounded by your student loan payments, utilities, cell phone bill, and rent payments. If you're feeling unsure about making withdrawals from your account because of

By MoneyBlueBook

This is a guest post from Jesse Mecham, founder of You Need a Budget

It's almost that time of year again. I'm not talking about gingerbread houses, cocoa, and caroling; I'm talking about shopping, impulse-buying, digging ourselves into more credit card debt, and raiding our savings accounts.

We undoubtedly lose a bit of sanity, self-control, or both when it comes to holiday spending. For most Americans, the nature of the season already implies we'll part with our money quicker than Santa can shoot up a chimney. The key, however, is not to spend it out of desperation, impulse shopping, or simply because you don't have a plan.

Plan spending ahead of time

Your biggest safe-guard against excess or unplanned holiday spending is (are you ready for this?) making a plan.

This means you actually create a budget...and stick to it. Decide how much you're willing to spend and then decide what you're going to buy from there. The more items you decide on ahead of time, the better. This saves you from making a decision in the heat of the moment, surrounded by all those shiny, new things, and potentially can keep you from overshooting your budget.

This will take some sleuthing on your part, but the research will pay off and keep money in your pocket. Once your list is made up and in your hand, it'll be so much easier to avoid those impulse buys.

Work to build up your

By Sierra Black

Everyone needs a little extra cash sometimes. Whether your car breaks down, your cousin unexpectedly announces wedding plans, or your best suit get splashed with grape juice the day before a job interview, you're bound to find yourself getting hit with a financial curve ball from time to time.

When that happens, it can be tempting to borrow the money you need. It's best to avoid any new debt if possible, even when you're dealing with an emergency.

In some cases this applies especially if you're dealing with an emergency. If your family has experienced a job loss or a major health problem, there could be long-lasting impacts on your income and living expenses. Now is not the time to destabilize your financial situation even further with a new debt to pay off.

Borrowing money means paying interest and fees on the money you need, and it saddles with you a new monthly expense. Worse, borrowing when you're already strapped for cash can trap you in a cycle of debt.

Problems with quick cash

Most of the regular sources of quick cash come with built-in problems. Let's take a quick look at a few:

• Borrowing from your retirement funds. Not only will you pay interest on a 401(k) loan, you'll lose the opportunity to earn money on that investment during the time you're repaying the loan. That will cost you big when it comes time to retire. Additionally, many 401(k) loans require you to

By Megg Mueller

When it comes to saving money, everyone has their own, tried-and-true tactics. I clip coupons for the grocery store and compare them against my shopping list and against the grocery store sales flyers from my local paper. Maybe you keep your thermostat tightly regulated, doling out paper fans and sweaters to your family as the season's change. Whatever your personal money saving tips are, I bet there's a few you might not have thought of that just might save you a bit more each month.

1. Talk is not always cheap. Many people initially get locked into a cell phone contract, and then never look at their plan again except to pay the bill. But every few months, you should evaluate your usage. Are you texting more, and talking less? Have your monthly call minutes gone up due to that new boyfriend who isn't with the same carrier? Options such as unlimited text messaging, or family share plans can often save you money in the long run.

Your life changes, and so should your cell phone plan. Most carriers today allow you to change your plan at any time during your contract period. However, the catch is that you'll likely have to start a whole new contract, which extends your time with that carrier, so make sure to find out the details of your plan before switching.

2. Information is power. Most people know that a budget is a good

By MoneyBlueBook

This is a guest post from Marc Pearlman.

Back in the early to mid-1990s I made my living by sitting in front of computer monitor with green and red glowing pixels that flashed stock and commodity prices. I was an off-the-floor stock and commodity trader, and in my world, green and red meant everything. Green meant I was making money, and red meant I would be drawing out of my savings to pay for monthly expenses.

Fortunately for me, I was given some sage advice from a wealthy mentor of mine who was about 25 years my senior and knew of an obstacle that I was likely to encounter. I still remember his wise words: "Kid, make sure you put money into an account you can draw from when times are lean--and expect some lean times. It's part of the game."

Even though I heeded his advice, there was one thing I didn't account for: the feeling I'd have when trekking to the bank to withdraw those savings. While I had been diligently depositing money in my high yield savings account specifically to be drawn on when needed, the mental anguish of seeing my balance decrease--sometimes month after month--was one of the biggest challenges I had to overcome as a trader.

From Retirement Saving to Retirement Spending: Getting Past the Anxiety

Fast-forward 16 years: now I manage other people's money for a living. I'm on the phone with a client in his mid-60s who recently retired. He asks me if taking $10,000 out of