With people out of work or just trying to manage the rising cost of living in a shaky economy, Christmas spending is expected to take a hit. A recent Gallup poll found a record-high 35 percent of Americans say they will spend less on Christmas gifts this year than what they spent in 2007. You can already hear the whining, "What about the kids? Do we tell them Santa's broke this year?" Jeff Harring, vice president of financial planning with Raymond James, cautions his clients against emotional spending this time of year. It's like a "lack of dieting or spending in...
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