(EMAILWIRE.COM, November 25, 2002 ) Shoppers do it every year... spend more money than they have during the holidays, then regret the extra expense come January. All those bills are no way to start a new year in an already sluggish economy. Overcome by the spirit of the season, people start buying without a budget or spending plan. But do all the expensive gifts really make the holidays more special?

In a recent study by the GE Center for Financial Learning, 62 percent of those surveyed, overspend their holiday budget. Yet, 93 percent say receiving expensive gifts does not make the holidays more special.

Dr. Kathleen Gurney, a pioneer in the field of money psychology says the holidays are an emotional time when many people feel pressured to spend too much. Dr Gurney offers a free, on-line tool called the MoneyMax Profile to help people understand how and why they spend, then take control over their finances, available at www.financiallearning.com.

The GE Center for Financial Learning is an objective, non-product oriented site created as a resource for learning about personal finance and improving financial literacy.

For more information point your browser to www.financiallearning.com

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Produced for the GE Center for Financial Learning

CONTACT:
Tom Topinka, 804-662-2444
thomas.topinka@gecapital.com
or
Meggan Lennon, 212-931-6136
mlennon@peppercom.com

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Contact Information:
GE Center for Financial Learning
Joseph Nchor
Tel:
Email us


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