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Posted: 2024-11-26 15:30:00

We're a few days away from some of the biggest holiday deals of the season -- but stressing about finding the perfect gift might make you anxious and more likely to overspend.

There's a name for this phenomenon: gift guilt. It's a feeling Shang Saavedra, a money coach, CNET Money expert and founder of Save My Cents knows well. 

"You are not alone in feeling overwhelmed when it comes to gifting," Saavedra said.

If you know your friends, family or coworkers are shopping for you this holiday season, you may feel the pressure to keep up with them. But acting on this urge can be dangerous to your finances.

"I have seen people spend hundreds or even thousands of dollars during the winter holidays on celebrations, travel and gifting, but then face an insurmountable credit card bill in January," Saavedra said. 

With inflation still above the Fed's 2% goal and many shoppers making tradeoffs to afford the holidays, your budget might be strained. Turning to a credit card or pulling from your savings may feel like the simplest fix, but Shang has some other suggestions to help you enjoy the holidays without slipping into debt.

Read more: Don't Fall Into the Same Debt Trap This Holiday Season. 3 Tips to Break Free

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