Financial experts say many consumers feel stressed during holiday shopping season

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – A survey from Experian said many shoppers feel financial strain before hitting the stores for Black Friday.

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Thirty-three percent of consumers report feeling stressed just thinking about holiday shopping, and 63% admit they tend to overspend during the holiday season.

Rod Griffin, Senior Director of Public Education and Advocacy for Experian, explained that the pressure to make loved ones happy often drives this financial anxiety.

“It is a stressful time of the year. We want to make people happy. We want to buy gifts and the things that our friends and family and loved ones would like to receive, and we put pressure on ourselves to do that,” Griffin said.

A separate study by NerdWallet sheds light on how consumers are financing their holiday spending:

• 74% of shoppers rely on credit cards for holiday gifts

• 28% dip into their savings

• 16% turn to buy now, pay later (BNPL) services. While these methods provide temporary financial relief, they can lead to post-holiday financial headaches if not managed wisely.

To avoid falling into financial distress, Griffin advises shoppers to be proactive about holiday spending by setting a budget.

“Have a budget. It seems like a struggle word, but if you know where your money is going and where it is coming from, you’re in control of your money instead of it being in control of you.”

Griffin also encouraged openness with loved ones about financial constraints.

“Talk to each other,” Griffin said. “We’re all feeling that hit in our wallet. Things are more expensive, and money may be a bit tighter. And so, if you talk to your friends and family and say, ‘Hey, look, I’m a bit restricted this year,’ you’ll probably find they’re feeling the same way.”

For those committed to generous gifting, Griffin recommends taking advantage of holiday sales and credit card promotions with low interest rates to stretch your budget further.