November 2019 | Volume 7, Issue 2

Photo: Bob Ricca/Unsplash

Holiday shopping

Plan ahead, stick to a budget for Christmas gift giving

The biggest shopping days of the holiday season are ahead: Black Friday, Small Business Saturday and Cyber Monday. Even Thanksgiving.

With all the incentives, advertisements, giveaways, sales and aggressive marketing techniques, it is hard to pass up all the good deals out there. However, those bargains can grow into a mountain of debt if you are not careful, according to the Michigan State University Extension.

Approach your gift giving with a plan and shop smart this holiday season. The MSU Extension suggests that you take steps now to avoid money problems later. Sit down and think about some important questions:

Who are all the people you would like to buy presents for this holiday season? Write them down.
Are there other significant events occurring prior to, during or shortly after the holidays? Write those down.
Decide on an average amount you would like to spend on each gift. Then, multiply the amount times the number of gifts you want to buy.
You may need to make adjustments. Do you need to decrease the average spent on each gift to meet your budget?
Consider alternative gift-giving ideas that are inexpensive or free; or do a gift exchange. Remember, it’s the thought that counts.
Once you have a budget you can afford or an approach you can live with, stick to that.

And next year, think about starting earlier. By doing that, you might be able to do more.

What do others spend for Christmas? Well, a just-released holiday shopping survey of 10,000 people by Coleman Parkes Research for Accenture shows that Americans expect to spend $637 on average this year. In Detroit, the average is $654.

CNBC: How to buy holiday gifts without going broke

55 Inexpensive Holiday Gift Ideas

Photo: Pixabay

Heating with Natural Gas

MPSC says compare prices, suppliers; monitor bills

Seventy-six percent of Michigan households heat with natural gas.

To help Michigan residents and businesses make informed decisions in evaluating current natural gas rates or for choosing a provider, the Michigan Public Service Commission (MPSC) offers CompareMIGas, a price comparison tool. The website offers rates from the MPSC-regulated DTE Energy, Consumers Energy, SEMCO Energy and Michigan Gas Utilities in addition to those from alternative gas suppliers.

As of September, 363,690 customers had taken part in the Gas Customer Choice Program, the MPSC reported.

So, regularly monitor your energy bills and be sure to shop around if you're considering purchasing your natural gas through an alternate gas supplier.

The MPSC's annual Winter Energy Appraisal shows that natural gas use is likely to increase this winter, while propane and electricity use are expected to decline.

CompareMIGas

Natural Gas Choice Tip Sheet

Photo: rawpixel/Unsplash

Get help when you need it most

emPower works with you along with the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) and utility and fuel providers across Michigan to help your household become more self-sufficient and to assist you in paying heat and energy bills.

emPower is working hard to provide assistance throughout Michigan for 2019-2020.

To discover success and gain emPower’s help through our Self-Sufficiency Services, please follow these steps:

Go to helpforheat.com and visit the Apply page
Submit application and support documents to MDHHS through MI Bridges for State Emergency Relief (SER)
Choose TrueNorth Community Services as your referral partner on the application
Get SER approval from MDHHS
emPower will contact you so you can more fully engage and work toward self-sufficiency

emPower: Apply for Assistance

emPower's Self-Sufficiency Services

Energy Efficiency

What is energy efficiency? It's the energy you don't use or waste, according to the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy.

U.S. Census Bureau: Fun Facts About Thanksgiving from Turkey, Texas, to Pilgrim, Michigan

Photo Illustration: Biljana Jovanovic/Pixabay

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