Contact: Carmen Ramos Chandler ,
818/677-2130
carmen.chandler@csun.edu

Professor Offers Tips to Young Holiday Shoppers

Martin, coordinator of the university's Consumer Affairs program and director of the CSUN Consumer Resource Center, advises young people to think before they spend.

"For a lot of young people, including many of our students, they've never really had access to a lot of money before, at least the amount on their credit card limit," Martin says. "Now they have their first credit card, and during the holidays they have a tendency to overdo it."

Martin suggests that young people, whether in high school or in college, give themselves a realistic holiday budget, and stick to it. He also suggest that when they go shopping, they take a list and not deviate from what's written down.

"When they're buying for their girlfriend or boyfriend - of the moment - they really need to consider how much they actually want to spend on one person," Martin says.

Instead of buying expensive trinkets, he suggests giving gifts oriented to doing things together, such as a gift certificate to a restaurant or coupons for the movies.

"They're nice and practical, and not too expensive," he said.

The holidays, Martin said, are also a time when children want to do something special for their parents.

"I suggest they go for something a little more sentimental, like writing down in a diary format or letter their appreciation for all that their parents have done for them - sort of a 'thank you for providing me guidance in getting me where I am today,'" Martin said. "I can assure you that [gift] will not be put in the back of some closet and will always be remembered."

Martin says if young people do use their credit cards, they should pay them back as quickly as possible, and certainly more than the minimum requirement.

"They need to make sure they don't get into the habit of paying back the minimum," he says. "If they do, they will almost double the purchase price, and a $1,000 in holiday purchases may turn into $1,800 in payments."

For more information about youth credit lines or holiday shopping tips, call the CSUN Consumer Resource Center at 818/677-4726.