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Smart Celebrations: How to Stretch Your Holiday Budget Without Sacrificing Joy

  The holiday season often brings cheer, but it can also strain wallets. With rising costs and endless temptations, keeping spending under control requires a thoughtful approach. Here are some practical strategies to help you celebrate without financial stress: Set a clear budget : Decide how much you can afford before shopping, and stick to it. Prioritize experiences over things : Shared activities like baking, movie nights, or volunteering can be more memorable than expensive gifts. Shop smart : Compare prices online, take advantage of seasonal sales, and avoid last-minute splurges. Give creatively : Handmade gifts, personalized notes, or “time vouchers” (like babysitting or cooking a meal) often mean more than store-bought items. Limit impulse buys : Make a list before hitting the stores—or browsing online—and resist adding extras. Plan ahead for next year : Start a small savings fund in January to ease the burden when the holidays roll around again. By focusing on tho...

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Wall Street Ends Week With Small Gain, But Big Loss


The US stock indexes closed slightly higher on Friday, but it was not enough to prevent the S&P 500 and Nasdaq Composite from having their worst weekly performance in months. The uncertainty over interest rate cuts has been cited as a major factor in the decline.

The economic data releases offered contrasting views on the state of the US economy: a robust jobs report from the Labor Department, which showed US employers hired more workers than expected in December, and a weak services sector survey from the ISM (,Institute for Supply Management) which showed activity in the services sector fell in December.

Some individual stocks had notable movements on Friday, such as Peloton (up on a TikTok deal) and Palantir (down on a Jefferies report).


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