BMW of North America, whose manufacturing operations are headquartered in Greer, will give $1 million to the American Red Cross for disaster relief in the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy. 

“This donation will help the Red Cross give aid to the many who are in need in the affected areas,” said Ludwig Willisch, CEO and President, BMW of North America.  “We support those who are working so hard on the recovery effort and we are encouraging our employees across North America to volunteer their time and money to the work underway.  Our dealers already are active in their communities and we thank them for stepping up to meet the needs in their local areas.”

Ann Wright, Chief Executive Officer for the American Red Cross Western Carolinas said,  “We are so grateful for the generous donation of all those who are contributing to the Red Cross disaster relief effort, but we are especially grateful to BMW of North America for their corporate gift of $1 million. The need is great, the suffering is immense, but this gift will go a long way toward purchasing the life-saving supplies the victims of Hurricane Sandy need in order to recover from damage caused by Hurricane Sandy.”

The American Red Cross has deployed 12 mobile kitchens capable of making 198,000 meals a day and shipped more than 852,000 ready-to-eat meals to the affected areas. Almost 215,000 meals have been served so far.  Some 6,800 people spent Thursday night in almost 100 Red Cross shelters in New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, Rhode Island, Maryland, West Virginia and Ohio. More than 3,800 Red Cross disaster workers are deployed to this recovery effort.

It's been said it's far better to have a neighbor who's near, than a brother who's far away, but in the wake of Hurricane Sandy, Americans across the nation have proven to be the best neighbors and the strongest of families.

This past weekend, AOL and Patch employees took an opportunity to pitch in, packing two tractor trailers worth of food, water and supplies in Dulles, Virginia, and Baltimore. The donations are headed to Hurricane Sandy ravaged areas in New Jersey and Long Island.

How can Patch readers in South Carolina join relief efforts? Click here to donate: https://donate.networkforgood.org/aol

"When a catastrophe of this size hits, we all feel it, both the hundreds of us who live in the impacted towns, and our colleagues who are watching and wishing they could help more. So for us AOLers and Patchers, it feels like a relief and a privilege to get to help out in such a big, immediate way," said Patch Chief Content Officer Rachel Fishman Feddersen.

The AOL trucks will arrive in New Jersey on Monday and Long Island the next day. The deliveries will include many of the essentials residents most need, such as bottled water, blankets, batteries, canned soup, disposable diapers, baby formula and more.

The trucks are rolling as residents in areas such as the Jersey Shore, Staten Island and Long Island are still coping with the aftermath of the hurricane. Hundreds of thousands are still without power, the area transit systems are crippled, and gas lines can go on for miles, as motorists desperately try to fill their cars and residents look to fill gas cans in order to keep generators humming in near-freezing temperatures.

South Carolina readers join us in the relief efforts. To Donate to Hurricane Sandy Disaster relief, click here: https://donate.networkforgood.org/aol

In yet another nation-defining election, South Carolina voters are running to the polls in droves.

And it's not even Election Day.

As of 4:30 p.m. today, more than 375,000 absentee votes have been cast in the state, according to the S.C. Election Commission.

In 2008, more than 340,000 absentee ballots were cast. Absentee votes made up nearly 18 percent of all votes cast.

Here are how many absentee votes were cast in the previous seven elections, according to the election commission.

Here is a county-by-county report on absentee ballots cast as of 4:30 p.m.

Two of South Carolina's legendary coaches are returning to the gridiron for a special game next year.

Former Clemson head coach Danny Ford and South Carolina State's Willie Jeffries will lead teams in the South Carolina College All Star Bowl on March 23, 2013.

The game will be played at 3 p.m. that day at North Greenville University's Younts Stadium.

Ford will coach the Upper State Team and Jeffries will lead the Lower State Team.

Ford and Jeffries were in Greenville Monday morning for the announcement of the game.

Former NFL Coach Sam Wyche will serve as the game's commissioner.

“This game is going to give an opportunity to a lot of players, to get one more look, a month prior to the NFL draft,” Wyche said. “It's a chance

The game's timing will be especially important for players injured before the end of the season, Wyche said.

“You get a lot of players rehabbing at the end of the season, they're not able to perform, they're finishing a long year,” he said. “This gives them a chance to be fresh, and for (scouts) to check them out right before the draft.”

More than 100 athletes will be invited to play in the game, Wyche said.

The players making up the two teams will consist of seniors from South Carolina colleges as well as South Carolina natives who played for out-of-state schools.

“The only requirement that we have is that you played high school ball in South Carolina, or you played college ball in South Carolina,” Wyche said. “So you may have played at Riverside High School, then played for Michigan — you're still eligible.”

Dozens of scouts will attend the game, he said.

“We'll have coaches and scouts from the Canadian Football League, the National Football League and the Arena Football League,” Wyche said.

“What a pleasure it is for us to get back on the gridiron,” Jeffries said. “This is absolutely wonderful. There's going to be some great players in this game. There will not be a loser in this football game. Both the Low Country and the Upstate will be winners, because it's a great affair. Everyone will enjoy it.”

Jeffries said the game will unite a lot of players who played together earlier in their careers.

“Yes, we both want to win but I think both sides will be winners,” he said.

Ford agreed with Jeffries — in theory.

“He said there will be no losers, and he's correct, but I can assure you, the next day, they'll say somebody lost,” Ford said. “We're going to have some fun.”

He said the game is a chance for South Carolina's best players to show their stuff.

“They'll have one more chance to play their last game,” Ford said. “They will either be finishing their career in the state of South Carolina, or they'll have an opportunity to show out and get somebody to see them, and be a future pro player, by going to this game.”

Ford and Jeffries will have held from a number of former SC football stars and NFL pros, including Woody Dantzler, George Rogers Brandon Bennett and Patrick Sapp.

“This is a great opportunity for a lot of us ex-pro guys to get out there and showcase our talents as coaches,” Sapp said.

During the game, the South Carolina Football Hall of Fame will induct its first class.

The game will serve as a fundraiser for Meals on Wheels programs statewide, Wyche said.

“This year, Pickens County Meals of Wheels is kind of the lead dog on this,” he said. “It is a tremendous organization, and like all charities they need help. This will benefit them in a big way.”

The game will be televised live on WMYA-40 in the Upstate, with Clemson and University of South Carolina broadcasters Will Merritt and Todd Ellis providing commentary.

“South Carolina puts more professionals into the NFL than just about every other state in the country,” Wyche said. “We are highlighting some of the best in this game.”

For more information about the game as it's announced, check back with Patch or visit www.sccollegeallstarbowl.com.

Do you know where to go to vote on Election Day 2012?

How about everyone on the ballot?

If not, you can use the handy Google Voter Info embed above to find the location of your designated polling place. Simply enter the address where you're registered to vote.

For details and articles about candidates in Mauldin, check out Mauldin Patch's Election Guide.

President Barack Obama's final campaign speech ended with the story of Edith Childs, a Greenwood, S.C., resident who inspired a popular campaign slogan that has followed Obama for nearly five years.

Childs was one of just 20 or so folks at a 2007 Obama rally in rural South Carolina. When the crowd seemed less than enthused to meet then-U.S. Senator Barack Obama, Childs yelled out "Fired Up! Ready to Go!"

Since then, the chant has become a staple at Obama rallies all across the country, and it has fueled somewhat a small celebrity for Childs, who has been using the chant since her days as a NAACP civil rights worker.

"She became a celebrity. She was written up in the Wall Street Journal," Obama told the crowd.

She's also traveled to the White House and in Charlotte at the Democratic National Convention this fall, she was a celebrity. She cast the state party's electoral votes for Obama on the second-to-last night of the convention, an honor usually reserved for Democratic Party officials.

Obama told a similar story about Childs at the close of his 2008 campaign.

Obama said he invited Childs to Iowa for the final rally to "get the band back together" but Childs said she preferred to spend the final days of the election in North Carolina. South Carolina is not considered a battleground state, but neighboring North Carolina has better — albeit long-shot odds — of falling into Obama's column.

“I’m still fired up, but I’ve got work to do,” she told the President.

Tearing up at times during what he said was his final campaign rally, Obama said Childs's spirit is inspiring.

“One voice can change a room. And if it can change a room, it can change a city. And if it can change a city, it can change a state. And if it can change a state, it can change a nation — and if it can change a nation, it can change the world.”

8:15 a.m.: SC Influential Conservatives Say Romney Won Ground Game

Former Gov. Mitt Romney won the South Carolina ground game on the way to the presidency, said participants in our final Red Palmetto survey of nearly 100 influential conservatives across South Carolina.

Of the 30 conservatives who responded to our final poll, 63.3 percent said Romney "by a wide margin" had the best ground game. And 46.7 percent said Romney had the better media/advertising effort in the state.

But convincing undecideds, which lis a goal of large advertising buys and compelling efforts on the ground, is not an important piece of winning South Carolina's electoral votes.

Instead, 80 percent of participants said getting the GOP base out to the polls was the more-important than convincing undecideds.

ORIGINAL POST

Today marks the end of one of the most topsy-turvy presidential campaigns in memory. From the start, Mitt Romney was the presumed Republican frontrunner to challenge incumbent Barack Obama. That is precisely the match-up we ended up with, but it was a very circuitous journey.

At one point or another, almost every one of Romney’s opponents in the Republican primary spent time at the top of the polls. Had Romney’s rivals coalesced around one candidate, it’s possible he could have been beaten. But they didn’t and he wasn’t.

Romney began the primary season by finishing in a virtual tie in Iowa with Rick Santorum, winning comfortably in New Hampshire and then getting trounced by New Gingrich here in South Carolina. At that point, the race for the nomination was up for grabs. But Romney used his superior organization and deep pockets to outlast Santorum and secure the nomination. Once Romney locked up the race, it snapped South Carolina’s streak of picking the eventual GOP nominee every election year since 1976.

Romney’s race with Obama has been tight from the start. Obama surged after the conventions and appeared to be in command of the race. But an inexplicably lackluster performance in the first debate allowed Romney to surge. According to the polls, Romney has for brief periods held an edge in the nation’s popular vote, but Obama has maintained his lead in Electoral College totals throughout the race. In recent weeks, Obama regained his footing and his held a small but steady lead over Romney.

Most non-partisan observers—which are admittedly hard to find—are projecting an Obama victory today. The Real Clear Politics Poll of Polls predicts a final Electoral College tally of 303 to 235, with Obama narrowly defeating Romney in the popular vote.

Despite South Carolina not being in play in the Presidential race, the state is where Obama received a major boost in 2008 when Greenwood’s Edith Childs got him “Fired Up and Ready to Go.”

House Races

In South Carolina, the six incumbent Congressmen are up for re-election. None of them are expected to have much trouble winning. In the Grand Strand, voters will select a representative for the newly-formed 7^th District.

House 1 – Incumbent Tim Scott (R) faces Bobbie Rose (D).

House 2 – Incumbent Joe Wilson (R) is unopposed.

House 3 – Incumbent Jeff Duncan (R) faces Brian Doyle (D).

House 4 – Incumbent Trey Gowdy (R) faces Deb Morrow (D).

House 5 – Incumbent Mick Mulvaney (R) faces Joyce Knott (D).

House 6 – Incumbent Jim Clyburn (D) faces Nammu Muhammad (G).

House 7 – (New District) Tom Rice (R) faces Gloria Tinubu (D).

Constitutional Amendment

The state has a Constitutional Amendment being considered. Read it HERE.

A “Yes” vote would allow the governor and lieutenant governor to run on the same ballot starting in 2018.

A “No” vote would maintain the status quo.

Haley Endorsements

Gov. Nikki Haley, aside from endorsing Mitt Romney, has also promoted several state candidates.

• Political newcomer Tony Barwick for Senate District 35 in Sumter County
• 20-year incumbent Larry Martin in Senate District 2.
• Along the coast, the governor is supporting Georgetown County Solicitor Greg Hembree against Democrat Butch Johnson in House District 28.
• The Movement Fund, a 527 created to help raise money for candidates who support Haley’s “conservative reform agenda”, has contributed money for advertisements backing DeeDee Vaughters in her Senate 26 race against nine-term Democrat Nikki Setzler. The fund has also helped pay for mailers in the Senate 23 race where petition candidate Katrina Shealy is facing Haley nemesis Jake Knotts.
• In the primary season, Haley endorsed Lee Bright in Senate District 10 and Tom Rice for the new Congressional seat in the Grand Strand area. Both men won.

Keep up with all of Patch's coverage of South Carolina politics by following us on Facebook HERE and Twitter HERE.

Today is Election Day. Mauldin voters face a slew of choices. Here’s a look at what to expect:

Note sure where to vote? See the attached pdf.

In line at the polls? Send us a picture HERE! Like Mauldin Patch on Facebook and follow us on Twitter to keep abreast of what's going on all throughout the day and night.

When you’re done voting, leave it right here throughout the day as Patch will provide minute-by-minute updates for the races that matter to you.

Track State and Federal races HERE.

7:58 a.m. Polls have been open for about an hour.

Polls opened in Greenville County at 7 a.m.

Local Elections

State Senate

Senate District 7

Republican Jane Kizer is challenging Karl Allen for District 7 seat. The seat is traditionally Democratic and Allen may have seen his best challenge fall by the wayside when Ennis Fant failed to qualify.

Senate District 8

The primary battle for Senate District 8 was one of the most hotly contested in the state. Ross Turner and Joe Swann both finished ahead of incumbent David Thomas to force a run-off, which Turner narrowly won. After Democrat Jeff Dishner was bounced from the ballot, Turner is running unopposed in the general election.

State House

House District 28

Republican Eric Beddingfield is running unopposed.

Greenville County Sheriff

Read a candidate profile of Sheriff Steve Loftis, who is facing a write-in challenge from Dexter Reaves.

Greenville County School Board

A county school board candidate makes a passionate plea. Meanwhile local Area 27 incumbent Crystal Ball O'Connor is running unopposed.

Greenville County Council

Read profiles of County Council candidates Butch Kirven and Elizabeth Seman.

Greenville County Clerk of Court

Republican Paul Wickensimer is running unopposed.

Greenville County Coroner

Republican Parks Evans is running unopposed.

Greenville County Soil and Water Commission

Non-partisan candidate Eddie Nabers is running unopposed.

Greenville Register of Deeds

Republican Tim Nanney is running unopposed.

The following information consists of the most noteworthy incidents reported to the Mauldin Police Department from Nov. 2-5:

• Assault and battery 2nd degree — Marsh Creek Drive and Sea Oats Inlet
• Assault and battery 3rd degree — 540 Wentworth Street
• Motor vehicle theft — 717 North Main Street
• Motor vehicle theft — 707 Lamboil Street
• Vandalism of property — 627 North Main Street
• Malicious damage to personal property — 540 Wentworth Street
• Vandalism of property — 299 Miller Road, Apt. 98
• Vandalism of property — 312 Surrywood Drive
• Simple possession of marijuana — 208 BiLo Blvd.
• Simple possession of marijuana — 126 West Butler Road
• Possession of drug paraphernalia — North Main Street/Owens Lane
• Criminal domestic violence/simple assault — 330 Miller Road, Apt. 103
• Criminal domestic violence — 299 Miller Road, Apt. 98

For more area crime reports, CLICK HERE.

Mitt Romney won South Carolina’s nine electoral votes on Tuesday, defeating Democrat Barack Obama.

Despite the fact that hundreds are still waiting to vote in Richland County, which has been beset by delays all day, South Carolina has been called by NBC, ABC and NPR.

As results come in on South Carolina's seven congressional seats and the amendment to put the governor and lieutenant governor on the same ballot, follow those results here.

In the 2008 presidential election, the state voted for the Republican candidate, and since the 1990s has voted for the overall winner of the presidential race three out of five times.

Romney and Obama did not campaign aggressively in South Carolina. The state has typically been a Republican stronghold in four decades of presidential elections. 

The state Senate District 7 seat will stay in Democratic hands, as Karl Allen beat Republican Jane Kizer soundly.

In unofficial results late Tuesday night, Allen beat Kizer with more than 64 percent of the vote, gaining 21,882 votes to Kizer's 11,501 votes, with 155 of the county's 160 precincts reporting. 

Allen, a Greenville attorney, fills the vacant seat previously held by long-time holder, Democrat Ralph Anderson.

The redrawn SC-7 district includes a northern portion of Greenville and loops around the west end of downtown and ultimately includes the area west of Main Street/Route 276 in Mauldin.

Allen is a senior partner at Karl B. Allen Law Firm, LLC, in Greenville. A graduate of the University of South Carolina in Criminal Justice and the University of South Carolina School of Law, he presently serves in the House of Representatives for District 25, a position he’s held since he was elected in 2000. He is also a member of the NAACP, NABCJ and Rainbow Push.

As an attorney, Allen is a member of the American Bar Association, South Carolina Trial Lawyers Association and Greenville County Bar and is licensed to practice in all state and federal courts. In 1992, he became licensed to practice in the 4th Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals and the United States Supreme Court.

President Barack Obama and Vice-President Joe Biden were re-elected Tuesday night, defeating Republican challenger Mitt Romney and his vice-presidential running mate Rep. Paul Ryan.

NBC News called the presidential election for Obama around 11:15 EST. The president sent a message on Twitter at 10:14 saying simply,"This happened because of you. Thank you."

The Obama campaign won the most expensive presidential race ever, with both parties raising about $2.6 billion. The race was filled with negative campaigning on both sides, from President Obama attacking Romney’s business experience with Bain Capital to Romney lambasting Obama’s handling of the economy.

The race tightened during the final months of the campaign, with gaffes and surges from both candidates. After a weak performance after the Republican Convention, Romney surged following Obama’s listless performance after the first presidential debate. Nevertheless, the president cemented a lead in battleground states heading into Tuesday’s election.

Obama’s loss of South Carolina's nine electoral votes wasn't surprising, given Republican domination in recent presidential elections.

Barack Obama was re-elected to a second term as 44th President of the United States on Tuesday. Obama defeated former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney by 332-206 in the Electoral College and by 1.7 million total votes, 56.7 to 55.

Obama captured every state he won in 2008 except for Indiana and North Carolina. South Carolina easily went to Romney, one of the first states to go into his column.

                                   ----------

All six of South Carolina's Congressmen won re-election. Tim Scott (R-1), Jeff Duncan (R-3), Trey Gowdy (R-4) all won with 60 percent (or more) of the vote. Joe Wilson (R-2) and James Clyburn (D-6) ran unopposed. Mick Mulvaney (R-2) won his race over Joyce Knott 55-45 percent.

The first occupant of the seat for House District 7 will be Tom Rice (R), who defeated Gloria Tinubu by a count of 55-45 percent.

                                  -----------

The statewide ballot initiative to amend the constitution was on its way to passing. Starting in 2018 the Governor and Lieutenent will run on the same ticket. With seven counties yet to report, the "Yes" vote led 55.69 percent to 44.31.

                                 -----------

Gov. Nikki Haley had endorsed five candidates in this cycle and went 3-2. In Senate 23, Katrina Shealy was about to defeat incumbent Jake Knotts. And in Senate 2 in Pickens County Larry Martin defeated Rex Rice. In Senate 28, Greg Hembree beat his opponent by more than thity percentage points.

Toney Barwick in Senate 35 and DeeDee Vaughters in Senate 26 did not fare as well. Both lost by double digits.

Haley's biggest enorsement was, of course, Mitt Romney.

U.S. Rep. Trey Gowdy handily won re-election to Congress on Tuesday night with nearly 65 percent of the vote.

Based on unofficial vote tallies, the freshman Republican congressman received 171,505 votes to 89,094 votes for Democrat Deb Morrow, and 3,341 votes for Jeff Sumerel

It was a night for incumbents. All six of South Carolina's Congressmen won re-election. Tim Scott (R-1), Jeff Duncan (R-3), and Gowdy all won with 60 percent (or more) of the vote. Joe Wilson (R-2) and James Clyburn (D-6) ran unopposed. Mick Mulvaney (R-2) won his race over Joyce Knott 55-45 percent.

The first occupant of the seat for the new House District 7 will be Tom Rice (R), who defeated Gloria Tinubu by a margin of 55-45 percent.

Gowdy was first elected in 2010 to represent South Carolina’s 4th Congressional District, which covers most of Greenville and Spartanburg counties. He was part of the first wave of “Tea Party” candidates to win federal office.

Since arriving in the House, Gowdy has quickly established himself as one of the most conservative members in the entire body. He achieved national prominence in the summer of 2011 when he and several other freshman congressman refused to lower their demands during the debt ceiling fight. Gowdy returned to the spotlight in 2012 as one of the lead questioners in the House Oversight Committee’s investigation of the Fast and Furious scandal.

For more on state and federal races, including vote counts, CLICK HERE. 

Two Greenville County Sheriff's deputies are back on the job after Sheriff Steve Loftis cleared them for a shooting last month in Conestee that injured a man.

Following an internal investigation into the shooting, deputies Brian Lovelace and Michael Downey were permitted to return to duty on Oct. 22, Loftis announced Tuesday.

The incident happened last month after the GCSO received a disturbance and loud music call in the area of 6th St., in Conestee. Within ten minutes deputies Lovelace and Deputy Downey were in the area and located a large crowd gathered near a bonfire at 712 6th Street, according to a summary of the incident.

While both deputies were speaking with several individuals about the complaint, 33-year old Michael Duane Henderson retrieved a handgun from a vehicle, the report said. Lovelace and Downey ordered Henderson to drop the gun multiple times. Henderson did not comply with commands and turned toward the deputies while still in possession of the gun "placing the deputies’ lives in danger," the report said.

Lovelace and Downey fired their service weapons striking Henderson in the abdomen and shoulder. Henderson was transported to Greenville Memorial Hospital to be treated for his injuries. 

As part of Patch's continuing effort to provide our readers with consistent coverage of crime in your area, we're happy to provide you with the Greenville County Sheriff's Office's daily activity report. 

A number of incidents were reported in the area between Nov. 5-6. They include:

• Autobreaking, 1011 Harness Trace — Simpsonville
• Unlawful use of 911, 3905 Augusta Road — Mauldin area
• Assault and battery, 105 Stratford Road — Mauldin area
• Autobreaking, 15 Kershaw Court — Five Forks area
• Shoplifting, 129 West Butler Road — Mauldin
• Grand Larceny, 119 Woodruff Road — Mauldin area
• Shoplifting, 1520 South Pleasantburg Drive — Mauldin area

To view the entire activity report, see the attached PDF.

Former governor and Republican nominee for president Mitt Romney lost the race for the White House by a landslide — based on electoral votes.

But in the popular vote, President Barack Obama narrowly won, 50-48, according to the latest figures. And Romney dominated nearly every Southern state, including South Carolina, where the GOP took more than 54 percent of the vote.

The heaviest Republican voting for president took place in Pickens, Oconee, Lexington and Anderson counties, where 65 percent of more of the votes were cast for Romney.

The only large counties that supported Obama were Richland, Charleston, Sumter and Orangeburg counties.

See how your county voted below.

A South Carolina man is raising the money to buy his prosthetic legs by selling a sweet treat.

Faced with a $120,000 cost to purchase prosthetic limbs and having been denied coverage by insurance, 20-year-old Joey Funderburk of Hickory Grove is selling doughnuts to raise the money, according to ABC News.

Funderburk, who was adopted at age 6 from a Romanian orphanage, was born with a birth defect that left him with only about a foot of leg. Until he was 18 years old, Greenville's Shriners Hospital had been able to sponsor his prosthetic limbs, which typically last anywhere from three to five years. But now an adult, and having grown taller, his legs just don't fit properly anymore.

So far he's raised about $7,500, the article said.

Read more of his story.

Visit his website to donate.

The holidays are just around the corner and for many consumers, end of year expenses can derail even the best financial plans. “Understanding the potential hazards can help you avoid them,” said Brent Bishop, community development officer for CredAbility. “A few proactive steps can make the difference between a happy holiday season and one that you could be paying for well into 2012 and beyond.”

CredAbility cautions consumers about five things that can set them back financially this holiday season:

Overspending on holiday gifts

Holiday shoppers will spend an average of $749.51 on holiday gifts and seasonal merchandise this year, according to the National Retail Federation (NRF). And while most consumers report planning to spend less than they did last year, it is easy to get carried away when shopping for family and friends, and some will find themselves paying for gifts long after the holidays are over. CredAbility recommends making a list of people you want to buy gifts for and creating a budget that will allow you to make your purchases without overspending.

Opening new credit cards

The lure of a discount on your first purchase or a free gift might be appealing, but CredAbility recommends that consumers resist the urge to sign up for store credit cards. Besides having typically higher interest rates, opening up new lines of credit can have a negative impact on your credit score.

The lure of “the deal”

Retailers know that they will have to incent consumers to shop this holiday season, and while technology, consumer electronics and toys are all expected to be hot sellers, buyers need to be cautious not to let a “deal” cloud their holiday shopping plans. If you budget to spend $50 on your sister, don’t be tempted to buy that $100 item just because it is 30 percent off. Also beware of add-ons, such as warranty or replacement plans, “must have” accessories, or special financing options—these can all quickly add to the cost of your holiday gifts.

Shopping for yourself

While holiday sales can be a great time to make some planned purchases for yourself, be careful not to overextend your budget. The NRF reports that consumers will spend an average of nearly $140 on items for themselves this holiday season. Taking advantage of discounts on apparel, electronics, home goods and other items makes sense if you have it in your budget, but if you have to charge these items and pay for them over time, you will eliminate most of your savings.

Travel

While spending time with family is an important part of the holidays, consumers need to consider any planned travel when developing their holiday budget. Planned holiday expenses can put a strain on even the strongest of family budgets. Consumers should also consider the impact of unplanned expenses of things like car and home repairs, medical emergencies, and the loss of a job or a reduction in wages. A little preparation for those things you can plan will go a long way toward having a stress free holiday season and will help you start the New Year on solid financial ground.

About CredAbility

CredAbility is one of the leading nonprofit credit counseling and education agencies in the United States, serving clients in all 50 states plus the District of Columbia, Guam, Puerto Rico and the US Virgin Islands, in both English and Spanish. In addition, we provide in-person counseling through our branch network in five states across the Southeast.

Founded in 1964, CredAbility is a family of Consumer Credit Counseling Service agencies that includes CCCS of Greater Atlanta, CCCS of Central Florida and the Florida Gulf Coast, CCCS of Palm Beach County and the Treasure Coast, CCCS of East Tennessee, CCCS of Central Mississippi and CCCS of Upstate South Carolina.

The nonprofit agency is accredited by the Council on Accreditation and is a member of the Better Business Bureau and the National Foundation for Credit Counseling (NFCC). Governed by a community-based board of directors, CredAbility is funded by creditors, clients, individual donors and grants from foundations, businesses and government agencies. Service is provided 24/7 by phone at 800.251.2227 and online at www.CredAbility.org