Q: Our summer spending ran over budget between a family trip and back-to-school shopping, and about $3,800 of it is still on our credit card. With the holidays coming, we’d planned to get through the season and deal with the balance in January, when things settle down. Our mortgage is also up for renewal then, so perhaps refinancing could help. Still, I get a knot in my stomach when I think about adding more to the card and possibly facing a higher mortgage payment. With two kids, a tight monthly budget, and no real extra cash, I’d rather go into the holidays with a plan than simply cross my fingers. When’s the best time to tackle this? ~Clara Read More