Nearly six in 10 Americans feel pressured to overspend during the holidays. Here’s how to celebrate on a budget.

The holiday season has now begun in earnest. Many consumers have difficulty creating shopping lists. But if it’s becoming more and more stressful with each passing day, you’re not alone.

According to a recent survey from CouponFollow, nearly 60% of Americans say they feel pressured to spend more than they think they should on holiday gear. It’s easy to see why. The holidays only come around once a year, so you don’t want to feel like you’re letting your kids or friends down by skimping on certain purchases. At the same time you don’t I want to end the holidays with a mountain of credit card debt.

Not only are credit card balances expensive to pay off, having too high a balance can damage your credit score. Either way, racking up a mountain of credit card debt is not a good way to start the new year.

If you’re feeling pressured to overspend during the holidays, consider these shopping tips:

1. Set your priorities

Maybe your kids really want a blast Christmas dinner outside the house this year, complete with extra lights, new electronics, and indulgent desserts from their favorite bakery. That’s understandable. Kids are kids, and holidays are special.

But if you can’t wield them all, figure out which items make the most sense. Your child might be willing to give up extra holiday decorations if it means adding an item to the top of their wish list. If you can’t choose a dessert spread, ask your child to pick and choose their favorite items from their favorite bakery.

2. Exchange gifts for experiences

You might want to check every item off your child’s gift list. But if that’s not possible, think about what you can do as a family to help everyone enjoy the festivities of December.

Use only two gifts per child rather than five or six. Then, take those hundreds of dollars you’re saving and use some of them to plan a family outing, like tickets to a play at the local theater or ice skating.

3. If all else fails, go home

It’s also important to receive fewer gifts from your loved ones. It’s another thing to skip gifts for certain people altogether because they don’t fit your budget.

If so, opt for a homemade gift, which can be expensive. method Less than store-bought items. For example, a batch of home-baked cookies can be of great help to your aunt or grandmother if money is tight.

Another option? Go to your local dollar store and buy an inexpensive picture frame. Then search your library to find some great family photos and place them in those frames. This is a very affordable gift with a lot of heart.

If you’re feeling pressured to overspend this holiday season, try not to give in. You don’t want to start the new year in a financially difficult situation. Making a few adjustments can help you celebrate the holidays without going into debt.

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