Crown Proposes a Holiday Shopping Plan To Have a 'Holly, Jolly Christmas'... -- KNOXVILLE, Tenn., Nov. 29, 2014 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- KNOXVILLE, Tenn., Nov. 29, 2014 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- As Burl Ives "Holly, Jolly Christmas" echoes through the malls of America, it's time to make a Holiday Shopping plan so that "Americans working to celebrate arguably the most holy of holidays with such voluminous spending won't find themselves praying for help once the credit card bills come due," wrote Crown CEO Chuck Bentley in a national column. Christmas and the winter holidays of Kwanza and Hanukah last year accounted for nearly 20 percent of total annual retail sales for retailers, as people spent an average of $730 on gifts, food and all the tools necessary to deck the halls in style. "And not just because I run a non-profit dedicated to helping people manage their finances and eliminate their debt, let me be the Scrooge who says such spending beyond the boundaries of a budget creates crushing stress," noted Bentley. Shoppers should: Budget For The Season: Step one is create a budget. Annual entertainment costs should be no more than 4 to 6 percent of your net spendable income. Make a list and check it twice: Resist spontaneous shopping by being purposeful about what you buy, taking time to check for sales. Shop with Cash: Research shows that people spend 12 to 18 percent more when they shop with credit cards. Re-Gift When it works: Comedic television has had a field day with people "caught" re-gifting, but sometimes you may already have the perfect present. Make it yourself: Many of us have a talent in sewing, cooking, or crafts such as woodworking. Letting people know that you care about them with a gift you created is all the more meaningful. Consider Gifts that Nurture People's Goals and Talents: Most of us have all the stuff we'll ever need. Arranging for a class or a subscription to tools that can equip a loved one to develop their unique talents can provide a lifetime of enjoyment. Gift's like Crown Connect allow for a year-round learning experience or consider some career planning through tools like Career Direct. Empower someone to look to his or her future. Chuck Bentley is CEO of Crown and author of "The Worst Financial Mistakes in the Bible And How You Can Avoid Them." Follow him, @chuckbentley. Learn more at www.crown.org For interviews: e-mail: media@crown.org RELATED LINKS http://www.crown.org