Holidays - With Personal Finance?

As we approach the holiday season, I wish you and your family all the best.  Enjoy your Thanksgiving Turkey, Enjoy your Holiday ham.  Overload yourself with stuffing, potatoes, and your favorite pies.  And then – Ask every member of your family, “So Sis, Bro, Dad, Uncle – How ya doin’ financially?”

According to new data from the American Mortgage Bankers Association, about one in 7 American Households are behind on payments or already in foreclosure.  Why should you wait to find out which of your relatives might be in financial trouble?  What could you do to help?  Perhaps nothing, but perhaps a lot.  Just talking about our challenges helps all of us explore solutions.  You would never avoid pushing your friends or relatives to pursue help for marital troubles or substance abuse; yet we continually insist that “money talk” is off limits.  Many crazy things happen at holiday parties; but avoiding personal finance issues is the craziest.

Here are this season’s most likely to be asked questions:

1. What about this weather we’ve been having?
2. So, How have you been feeling, still avoiding the H1N1?
3. Can you believe the Bengals are actually winning and How about them Bearcats?

I challenge you to Go Crazy this Holiday season and ask someone,

 “How’s your financial health?”  ,  “Locked in a good mortgage rate lately?”,

“How’s your credit card balance these days?”

Imagine the fun you’ll have!  OK, maybe it won’t be a fun conversation; but it could help the whole family start to address issues and find help before it’s too late.  For this Holiday season, let’s all pledge to have a “money talk” in addition to the weather, health, sports, etc.