Don't go down in debt: familiar with the pitch, "bad credit? no problem?" If so, follow these rules this spending season

Men's Fitness, Dec, 2003 by Robert McGarvey

GIFTS ARE THINGS we give when we're in trouble--a book because you haven't called our pops for two months; flowers for your girl after you pulled her hair in bed (hey, you saw it in a blue film!); or sexy skivvies for you mistress because, well, that's what you do for mistresses. But since society tells us we must spend our cash during the holiday season, what is most often an unpleasant chore ends up becoming a devastating credit problem--one that will haunt you much longer than that time you tried to spank her bare bottom. With a trout!

MAKE A LIST "Write out whom you plan to give to and how much you will spend," says Howard Dvorkin, president of Consolidated Credit Counseling Services in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. "Then stick to it. Otherwise, you'll find yourself stuck with tremendous bills."

BRING CASH When your wallet's empty, you'll know it's time to stop buying stuff.

PICK A CARD Take only one credit card to the mall--and not a department-store one, since it's likely to have a much higher interest rate.

USE GRANDMA'S TRICK You will really save by doing your shopping after the holidays, when everything's 50% off. Of course, you'll have to pretend your gifts were "lost in the mail."

RECYCLE There's nothing wrong with repackaging someone else's gift to you and giving it to the next person on your list. Everyone does it. Just make sure the next person on your list wasn't the one who gave you the gift.