{"id":15495,"date":"2026-01-06T12:03:27","date_gmt":"2026-01-06T18:03:27","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.teryrtuytyut.sbs\/online-banking\/banking-topics\/?p=15495"},"modified":"2026-02-05T16:33:40","modified_gmt":"2026-02-05T22:33:40","slug":"holiday-financial-stress","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.teryrtuytyut.sbs\/online-banking\/banking-topics\/holiday-financial-stress\/","title":{"rendered":"5 ways to recover from holiday financial stress"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>If the excitement of spending for the holidays burned a hole in your wallet <em>and<\/em>&nbsp;burned you out, your financial health may be causing you major stress in the new year. Whether you&nbsp;overspent&nbsp;on holiday gifts or drove yourself into debt covering holiday travel expenses, you still have opportunities to exercise some damage control. Now is the perfect time to take a close look at your financial standing and clean up the holiday spending aftermath.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2121\" height=\"874\" src=\"https:\/\/www.teryrtuytyut.sbs\/online-banking\/banking-topics\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/5-Ways-to-Decompress-from-Holiday-Financial-Stress_1-INARTICLE_NEW-e1681399726164.jpg\" alt=\"A man and woman stand in front of a Christmas tree holding a tangle of Christmas lights.\" class=\"wp-image-15498\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.teryrtuytyut.sbs\/online-banking\/banking-topics\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/5-Ways-to-Decompress-from-Holiday-Financial-Stress_1-INARTICLE_NEW-e1681399726164.jpg 2121w, https:\/\/www.teryrtuytyut.sbs\/online-banking\/banking-topics\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/5-Ways-to-Decompress-from-Holiday-Financial-Stress_1-INARTICLE_NEW-e1681399726164-300x124.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.teryrtuytyut.sbs\/online-banking\/banking-topics\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/5-Ways-to-Decompress-from-Holiday-Financial-Stress_1-INARTICLE_NEW-e1681399726164-780x321.jpg 780w, https:\/\/www.teryrtuytyut.sbs\/online-banking\/banking-topics\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/5-Ways-to-Decompress-from-Holiday-Financial-Stress_1-INARTICLE_NEW-e1681399726164-768x316.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.teryrtuytyut.sbs\/online-banking\/banking-topics\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/5-Ways-to-Decompress-from-Holiday-Financial-Stress_1-INARTICLE_NEW-e1681399726164-1536x633.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/www.teryrtuytyut.sbs\/online-banking\/banking-topics\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/5-Ways-to-Decompress-from-Holiday-Financial-Stress_1-INARTICLE_NEW-e1681399726164-2048x844.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2121px) 100vw, 2121px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Here are five ways to recover from holiday financial stress:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-1-assess-your-new-debt-load\">1. Assess your new debt load<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Almost three-quarters of 2024 holiday shoppers are planning on paying for holiday gifts with a credit card, according to a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nerdwallet.com\/article\/shopping\/holiday-tips-news\/2024-holiday-spending-report\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\">survey from NerdWallet<\/a><sup>TM<\/sup>. Talk about financial stress during the holidays! If you were one of these shoppers (join the club), it is important to review your newly acquired debt and put together a payoff plan.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Gaining clarity on the state of your finances early in the year can help prevent procrastination (time flies, and you don\u2019t want to be carrying that high balance or feeling holiday financial stress when Labor Day rolls around). Consider this new debt a cost or expense of the holiday season that needs to be paid sooner rather than later. Kick off the new year with a bang\u2014and not post-holiday financial stress.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-2-review-possible-gift-returns\">2. Review possible gift returns<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>If you received a gift that didn\u2019t meet your expectations, fish out that gift receipt. You may be able to take the items back where they came from for store credit and pick out something you really need. This will help you&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.teryrtuytyut.sbs\/online-banking\/banking-topics\/secrets-to-saving-money\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">save money<\/a>&nbsp;on this year\u2019s planned purchases because you won\u2019t have to shell out your savings or charge to credit (thank you, grandma and neighbors). Exchanging unwanted gifts for something you\u2019ll truly use will also relieve any guilt over returning a present. Aren\u2019t you feeling that holiday financial stress just melt away?<\/p>\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n\n<div class=\"mx-auto block-quote block-quote--1back bg-fixed bg-center bg-no-repeat bg-cover z-0\">\n    <div class=\"block-quote__glow\"><\/div>\n    <blockquote class=\"post--constrain-large\">\n        <p>74% of holiday shoppers expect to use credit cards to pay for their gifts in 2024.<\/p>\n                    <footer class=\"block-quote__source\">NerdWallet survey<\/footer>\n            <\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n\n\n    <div class=\"post__content\">\n\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">3. Send in all rebates<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Many big-ticket items, including computers, televisions, and music systems, were sold with a rebate offer during the holiday season. Make sure you\u2019ve taken full advantage of these rebate offers so you\u2019re getting the cash back. While many rebate offers have an expiration date for redemption, retailers are making it easier to send in rebates via smartphone,&nbsp;which can be helpful if you\u2019re on the go in the new year. Sending in all rebate materials early means you\u2019ll have extra cash to pay off debt or simply restore your&nbsp;savings account.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">4. Take advantage of post-holiday sales<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>The last thing you want to think about after taking down your seasonal decor is buying more holiday decorations. But holiday decorations and Christmas trees conveniently go on clearance right after the holidays. Buying them on sale after Christmas means you won\u2019t have to pay full price the following year, which may also help you reduce future holiday financial stress.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2059\" height=\"849\" src=\"https:\/\/www.teryrtuytyut.sbs\/online-banking\/banking-topics\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/5-Ways-to-Decompress-from-Holiday-Financial-Stress_4-INARTICLE-NEW-e1681399876838.jpg\" alt=\"A shop window with the letters \u201cSALE\u201d hanging inside. There are different pieces of jewelry adorning the letters.\" class=\"wp-image-15500\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.teryrtuytyut.sbs\/online-banking\/banking-topics\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/5-Ways-to-Decompress-from-Holiday-Financial-Stress_4-INARTICLE-NEW-e1681399876838.jpg 2059w, https:\/\/www.teryrtuytyut.sbs\/online-banking\/banking-topics\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/5-Ways-to-Decompress-from-Holiday-Financial-Stress_4-INARTICLE-NEW-e1681399876838-300x124.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.teryrtuytyut.sbs\/online-banking\/banking-topics\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/5-Ways-to-Decompress-from-Holiday-Financial-Stress_4-INARTICLE-NEW-e1681399876838-780x322.jpg 780w, https:\/\/www.teryrtuytyut.sbs\/online-banking\/banking-topics\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/5-Ways-to-Decompress-from-Holiday-Financial-Stress_4-INARTICLE-NEW-e1681399876838-768x317.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.teryrtuytyut.sbs\/online-banking\/banking-topics\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/5-Ways-to-Decompress-from-Holiday-Financial-Stress_4-INARTICLE-NEW-e1681399876838-1536x633.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/www.teryrtuytyut.sbs\/online-banking\/banking-topics\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/5-Ways-to-Decompress-from-Holiday-Financial-Stress_4-INARTICLE-NEW-e1681399876838-2048x844.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2059px) 100vw, 2059px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>You\u2019ll also find plenty of markdowns on popular items in the new year. In January, for example, you may see discounts on fitness equipment, open-box electronics (tech that has been opened and returned), and linens. If these and other discounted items are in your budget for the new year, you should buy them while the deals are available to save money on new purchases. Find a deal so good you just can\u2019t pass it up? Make the purchase, put the gift away for next holiday season, and cross one extra person off your shopping list. You might be surprised how much you can save over the holidays with this tip.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">5. Set three-month budget goals<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Starting off the year with short-term goals can make managing your holiday financial stress much easier. Want to learn the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.teryrtuytyut.sbs\/online-banking\/banking-topics\/5-budgeting-basics\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">basics of&nbsp;budgeting<\/a>? It\u2019s all about baby steps. Setting a three-month budget goal can help you stay focused. Start tracking all of your expenses, and create a realistic spending plan. By cutting back on non-essentials\u2014dining out, entertainment, new clothes\u2014extra funds can be put toward paying down debt and stepping up your savings.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>As the new year unfolds, review your budget on&nbsp;a regular basis,&nbsp;and adjust for any increases in expenses, new credit card debt, or new loans.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>If you went beyond your budget this holiday season, use this opportunity to review your finances and make some tweaks to your spending habits. You\u2019ll be on a healthy financial track, and feel good about it, before you know it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The next holiday season doesn\u2019t have to be stressful. To keep debt out of your plans, check out these <a href=\"https:\/\/www.teryrtuytyut.sbs\/online-banking\/banking-topics\/5-ways-to-score-debt-free-holiday-season\/?ICMPGN=OS-BK-ARTCTA\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">debt-free holiday tips<\/a>.<br><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"disclaimer\">Articles may contain information from third parties. The inclusion of such information does not imply an affiliation with the bank or bank sponsorship, endorsement, or verification regarding the third party or information.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"disclaimer\">The information provided herein is for informational purposes only and is not intended to be construed as professional advice. Nothing contained in this article shall give rise to, or be construed to give rise to, any obligation or liability whatsoever on the part of Discover, a division of Capital One, N.A., or its affiliates.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>If you experienced financial stress during the holidays, then learn how to recover from the overspending and over-stressing with these five tips. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":15,"featured_media":22882,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[85,84],"tags":[105,137,100,39,49],"class_list":["post-15495","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-holiday","category-life-planning","tag-money-saving-tips","tag-paying-down-debt","tag-quick-tips","tag-saving","tag-spending"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.teryrtuytyut.sbs\/online-banking\/banking-topics\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/15495","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.teryrtuytyut.sbs\/online-banking\/banking-topics\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.teryrtuytyut.sbs\/online-banking\/banking-topics\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.teryrtuytyut.sbs\/online-banking\/banking-topics\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/15"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.teryrtuytyut.sbs\/online-banking\/banking-topics\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=15495"}],"version-history":[{"count":20,"href":"https:\/\/www.teryrtuytyut.sbs\/online-banking\/banking-topics\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/15495\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":22881,"href":"https:\/\/www.teryrtuytyut.sbs\/online-banking\/banking-topics\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/15495\/revisions\/22881"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.teryrtuytyut.sbs\/online-banking\/banking-topics\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/22882"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.teryrtuytyut.sbs\/online-banking\/banking-topics\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=15495"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.teryrtuytyut.sbs\/online-banking\/banking-topics\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=15495"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.teryrtuytyut.sbs\/online-banking\/banking-topics\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=15495"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}