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With the holiday season approaching and many families already feeling the effects of the government shutdown, SNAP benefits delays, and other federal cuts, financial experts say now is the time to plan ahead.

What they're saying:

Personal finance expert Kimberly Palmer of NerdWallet joined FOX 5 to share practical ways to navigate holiday expenses without added debt or guilt.

"The most important thing you can do is to plan ahead," Palmer said. "If you have an estimate for what you might want to spend this holiday season, it’s really helpful to start planning and setting that money aside as soon as possible."

Palmer says that while it can be tempting to rely on credit cards, starting the new year with interest and unpaid bills can make financial recovery difficult. She re

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