With just nine days until Christmas, many shoppers are no doubt feeling "the urge to splurge" and that can be the source of a lot of stress.
But before you put your credit cards into overdrive, here's some advice for a for a debt-free holiday.
With about a week to go to Christmas a certain panic can set in among shoppers. And with that panic,it's easy to spend too much
"It is easy to overspend for sure. Next year I'll do my Christmas shopping in August," one harried shopper said.
Another said "If you can't afford it, don't buy it!" That's great advice but it's hard to follow. Some people believe organization is the answer
"I am a list writer so I try to stick to my list," another shopper said.
That definitely works. Still, Scott Hannah with the Credit Counselling Society of B.C. says the pressure of the holiday season and the rush to buy can get some of us into financial trouble.
"We would recommend that you don't spend more than what you can comfortably pay off over the next three months," he said.
The key phrase is "comfortably pay off." If it's going to be tough to do you've already spent too much. But here are some tips so you won't be paying those bills until April:
If you are using a credit card for your spending use only one card. That way it's easier to keep track of your overall spending by checking your account online.
If you think you've already overspent, there is still time to do something about it.
Take some gifts back for a refund and cut back in other areas of holiday spending.
And if you are feeling pressure to spend, spend, spend, there's a final thought that may make your holidays happier.
"It's not about how much you spend on those you love at Christmas time, it's how much time you spend on those you care about. There's a big difference -- it's not about the gift, it's about spending time with people," Hannah said.
And that puts the whole holiday season into perspective, whether you've got money worries or not.
With a report from CTV British Columbia's Chris Olsen
