It's Official; People Make Ill-Advised Money Decisions During The Holidays

It's Christmas in July! Retailer and small business celebrations range from simply having sales to decorating storefronts with Christmas trees and reindeer -- and sometimes even snorkeling Santas. Financial risk management firms and certified financial accountants, on the other hand, celebrate Christmas in July by sharing the bizarre, and sometimes even downright twisted, money decisions people all over the world make on Christmas.



'Tis The Season... To File Your Tax Return?



Apparently, some people suck all of the joy out of the season by taking the opportunity and the paid time off of work to file their tax returns, according to The Guardian. "On Christmas Day last year 1,548 people filed their tax return online -– a 40% increase from 2011," The Guardian continues. (Thankfully, these people only make up a small portion of the population. By comparison, there were 144,103,375 returns filed in the U.S. alone in 2012.)



Are Booby Traps A Sound Investment? These Vacationers Think So!



Sometimes even adults aren't very good at separating fact from fiction. Tax accountants reveal that some vacationers spend shocking amounts of money to literally booby trap their home while they are away for Christmas. "Typical precautions include positioning cardboard cut-outs or dummies behind netted curtains, icing steps and greasing doorknobs," The Guardian writes.



Christmas Spending Makes People Desperate



Only a quarter of American households use a financial planner, according to tax services companies. Another one million Americans will hire an accountant for help with taxes as well as some know-how about other top accounting tips and tricks. They may desperately need it, too. According to The Guardian, taking out loans shortly before Christmas is incredibly common. Moreover, people are most likely to take out loans that are immediate and have high interest rates, such as payday loans.



Should you booby trap your home while your away on Christmas vacation? Certified financial accountants can help you answer some of the toughest money questions, and before the true Christmas and holiday season rolls around.