Course Will Target Financial Stress

A course to teach consumers how to survive the holidays without financial stress will meet Tuesday evening.

Offered by the Consumer Credit Counseling Service of Los Angeles, the course will cover ways to avoid using credit over the holidays, to cut costs on gifts and to establish a budget that takes into account not only gifts, but decorations, entertainment and travel, said Jennifer Root, spokeswoman for the nonprofit service.

The dangers of holiday consumer traps--such as deferred credit card payments, offers to skip a credit card payment or offers to cut prices by 10% when consumers open a new account--will also be addressed.

“When you skip a payment, you end up paying more interest in the long run,” Root cautioned.

Advice on creating a gift pool and saving for next year’s holiday will also be given.

The free workshop will be held from 6:30 to 7:45 p.m. Tuesday at 1605 E. Palmdale Blvd., Suite E, Palmdale. Advance registration is required.

Those interested in attending can sign up by calling (800) 750-2227 or on the Internet at www.ccsla.org.