Make the Most of Your Money with H&R Block’s Emerald Advance {$300 H&R Block Gift Card Giveaway!}

With the holiday season edging closer and closer, it can be heartwarming to think of the upcoming gatherings that we might be spending with family, friends and loved ones. There's just something about coming together around the table and biting into a piece of turkey or a sugar cookie or taking a sip of apple cider or eggnog that inspires happiness.

But I don't think it's a stretch to say that while some people see the greatest parts of the upcoming season, others look at the holidays and see a mountain of expenses.

Gifts for family, gifts for friends, holiday attire, home repairs, appliances stretched to their limits, gifts for teachers, car repairs, travel costs... sometimes a bit of extra money can be the difference between a joyous holiday season and one that is filled with stress.

Which is exactly why H&R Block offers their Emerald Advance line of credit, available just in time to make holidays merry for everyone!

A year-round line of credit, an H&R Block Emerald Advance offers the ability to repeatedly borrow and repay money, up to a maximum credit limit determined by the bank (up to $1,000). You don't already need to be an H&R Block client to apply, simply make an appointment and arrive with an unexpired government-issued photo ID and your most recent pay stub (no W2 form required).

Once approved, the Emerald Advance is a line of credit you can draw from as you need it. You can use it year-round for unexpected expenses and other short-term credit needs. It's that easy! Find out much more and call to make an appointment today — H&R Block will begin accepting applications in offices November 25th.

What would you do with a little extra money this holiday season?

We all do our best to make each holiday season as financially easy as possible, but it doesn't hurt to hear a few more tips, right?

Set a budget first.
Instead of starting with a long list of family and friends to shop for, mark down necessities such as meal planning, flights or gas money, stamps for holiday cards and more. Then divvy up your budget and go from there!

Stick to that budget.
Seems like the obvious next step, right? Once you have money allotted to each area and gift, that's where it goes. If you can't afford a fancy sweater for your Aunt Judy, maybe that means you wait for a sale or find her a great bath set instead. Also realize that you don't have to buy something for everyone and there are plenty of handmade, DIY or intangible gifts (babysitting, snow shoveling, etc) that will be cherished just as much.

Pay cash.
We've all heard this one when it comes to saving money, but have you tried it? There's something about going to the store and sliding that piece of plastic that makes it immensely easier to spend money than if you have to watch the actual number of bills in your wallet get smaller and smaller.

Know your prices.
We're entering into the time of year where SALE is plastered on just about everything we see. But does that automatically mean that you're getting a bargain? Not necessarily. Be smart about the prices for the certain toys or electronics on your list and you'll be able to recognize when a sale is actually saving you money and when it is just enticing people to make a purchase.

Remember the true meaning of the season.
No matter which holiday you celebrate, don't forget that spending time with your family is the most important thing. Show them how much you care by making a donation to a charity in their name instead of giving them something they don't need or might not want. The result is that you'll spend less money, eliminate time spent shopping, get a tax deduction for it, and will have helped out a cause that truly needed it.

Whatever is coming your way this holiday season (planned or unplanned), don't let money troubles stand in the way. H&R Block's Emerald Advance just might be what you need to help cover holiday shopping, travel costs, meal planning or any unexpected expenses that come along throughout the year. Being able to draw from a line of credit year-round allows more time for celebrating and less time for worrying!

Remember, the application process starts on November 25th, so to learn more to decide if Emerald Advance is right for you or to make an appointment in order to apply, visit the H&R Block website today. You can also connect with them on Facebook and Twitter and join in the Emerald Advance discussion using the #HRBlockEA hashtag.

Plus, thanks to their generosity, one person will soon be prepared for even more great help from this knowledgeable company, because...

One lucky person will win a $300 H&R Block gift card!

Entry-Form

H&R Block has asked me to help promote the Emerald Advance Line of Credit. The prize was provided and may be shipped to the winner by H&R Block, but all opinions expressed in the post are my own and not those of H&R Block. Entrants must be 18 or older and located in the US only. Winner to be chosen at random.