8 Hidden Holiday Costs to Watch Out For
Do you feel like there's a hole in the bottom of your wallet? Here's where your money's going—and how you can hold on to it.
By Corrie Pikul and Nathalie Gorman
Original Content | November 18, 2011 
Photo: Thinkstock
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You don't have to be a seasoned holiday traveler to know that the risk of flight delays in the winter is high. Getting stuck listening to piped-in Christmas music is frustrating on any number of levels—and that frustration is particularly dangerous to your wallet. Why? Well, first you think it's just going to be an hour until you board, so you buy some candy as a treat. Then they add another two hours, and you decide that the magazines you bought before the flight aren't going to keep you entertained through the wait, so you pick up a couple more. Between hours two and three, you get a burger and fries at the nearest restaurant. On the way back, you grab a bag of caramel corn and a banana for later, just in case—oh, and a visit to Starbucks couldn't hurt, right? When you finally get on the plane, laden with half-eaten snacks, you settle into your seat, think about the evening, and ask yourself: "I spent WHAT???" All those stores lining the terminal corridor are there to tempt you into parting with your cash, so before you hand over your credit card, make a plan to keep starvation and boredom at bay. Say the delay is three hours: You'll have some dinner and grab an apple for later, and then you'll go to the gate and read what you have before you buy anything more. |
