SmartyPig

Shoppers splurged more this season than they did prior to the recession, exceeding even the most optimistic 2010 forecasts. Consumers spent record amounts the 50 days prior to Christmas and continue to shop the post-holiday sales; even record East Coast blizzards aren’t keeping them away. Americans are feeling more at ease than they have in three years, so they spent and spent and spent. Problem is, many had not saved for this type of spree and instead racked up credit card debt. And as the spending tapers, all Americans need to start to save for next year’s holiday season so they can get what they want without the problems from using plastic.

SmartyPig user Glenda Tweeted yesterday about the creation of her 2011 holiday savings goal, vowing to never have a holiday debt hangover again. You can do it too! A small monthly deposit and SmartyPig’s competitive interest rate will lead you to reaching your goals systematically. And when it comes time to cash out next December, choose from our long list of retailers and receive up to 14% cash back to buy your holiday gifts, give the gift cards as presents, or put that cash on the SmartyPig Cash Rewards prepaid card and earn cash back and great deals wherever and whenever.

Join Glenda in creating your first SmartyPig goal of 2011 and begin saving for next year’s gifts so you too can safely splurge!

Wishing you successful saving.

Sarah Foss, SmartyPig’s Media Mad Woman
SFoss@SmartyPig.com

Congratulations! On January 1 you’re getting a “raise!” In 2011 Social Security withholding is dropping from 6.2 to 4.2 percent. This means if you make less than $106,800 a year, you’ll see a bump in your take home pay. There is no better use for this reprieve of paying someone else’s retirement than to fund your own savings goals. You can grow your money fast without missing a cent of something you didn’t have last year.

If an individual making $40,000 a year invests their 2 percent increase twice a month into a SmartyPig savings goal, they will see more than $1,500 in two years. That’s $1,500 they never had. And you weren’t seeing it before, so how can you miss it?

So quick, before you think of a million uses for your added income, create a new SmartyPig goal and put it to work. And if you’re still not fully convinced, take a financial tip from writer Ron Lieber when he writes: “SmartyPig is custom-made for this sort of save-to-splurge scheme.”

Wishing you successful saving.

Sarah Foss, SmartyPig’s Media Mad Woman
SFoss@SmartyPig.com

Thoughtful, personal gifts are the most gratifying to give and receive. And gifts that help a recipient’s financial situation in the long run are even better. Candice Lee Jones at Kiplinger.com wrote in an article this week these gifts are best because they “eliminate some of the recipient’s recurring expenses or boost their earning power.” Not only will they remember your sentiment, they’ll prosper from it.

Jones suggests gifting an investment or savings account this holiday season. The cost is up to you and you can tailor the gift to their needs. Contribute to your friend’s and family member’s SmartyPig goal. Or if they don’t have a SmartyPig account yet, help them get started with a gift card. You’ll give them the gift of savings, while they earn a competitive interest rate and get up to 14% cash back when they reach their goal.

No matter how you gift it, SmartyPig gives your presents earning power!

Wishing you successful saving.

Sarah Foss, SmartyPig’s Media Mad Woman
SFoss@SmartyPig.com

We had over 400 entries into our $100 (3 $100 winners) Twitter and Facebook contest! We asked, “In US dollars, what is the size of the tax-cut deal being sent today to the President from congress?” The answer: $858 Billion according to the Washington Post.

We used some holiday firepower to pick the winners (randomized to the top 20 people):

Congrats to Shaun Whelden, @leslieberg, and @sheeponahill!

Top 20: platinumforest, glenndale@, autumnmist@, BurgBarbL, amrichte, Jaunice B, StephAlaniz, rickreid, christiereid, JaciMaranell, Shaun Whelden, joelbrewer, roadrunner@, letsgolakers086, ALindema, barbaradickson@, msmerrymary3, leslieberg, rglov, sheeponahill