Core Insights - Holiday spending often leads to debt, stress, and regret for many Americans, driven by easy access to credit, social pressures, aggressive marketing, and impulse buying [1][2] Spending Habits - A survey by AICPA revealed that 39% of respondents regretted overspending during the holidays, yet 79% still plan to use credit cards, with 52% not expecting to pay off their balances [6][5] - Only 25% of Americans create a holiday budget, and those who do often do not stick to it [7] Marketing Influence - Advertising creates a sense of duty or guilt, leading individuals to overspend to demonstrate love through expensive gifts [3][6] - The pervasive nature of marketing, including social media and commercials, contributes to the pressure to keep up with others [3] Recommendations for Budgeting - Experts suggest planning early, making a gift list, and tracking spending to avoid impulse purchases [8][9] - The AICPA recommends setting an affordable budget for each person on the gift list and sticking to it [8] Couples' Gifting Strategies - Couples are encouraged to agree on a spending budget and consider non-monetary gifts to avoid the pressure of outdoing each other [10][11]