ORLANDO, Fla. – The holidays can bring out the generosity in all of us and sometimes, a little too much.
The National Retail Federation expects holiday spending to hit a record $900 per person this year. Research shows the “thrill of the deal” can lead to emotional spending and regret. From “buy now, pay later” plans that can hurt your credit to “limited-time offers” that are hard to resist. How do you shop smarter, not spend harder?
Flash sales. Half off. Alerts in your inbox! It’s easy to get swept up in the holiday hype and even easier to spend more than you planned.
And it’s not just what we buy — it’s why. Retailers have learned to tap into our brains. When we see signs like “only a few left” or “50 percent off,” our brains release dopamine the feel-good chemical.
It’s called the scarcity effect and it’s why “limited-time” deals feel so hard to resist.
Another trend making it easier to overspend. Buy now, pay later. Apps that split your payments may seem smart, but miss one and your credit score could take a hit. NPR reports that fico will start including buy-now-pay-later activity in credit scores next year.
So how do you keep your holiday spirit without breaking the bank? Apps like PocketGuard and Monarch Money let you set limits, track spending in real time, and get alerts before you blow your budget. Automated saving apps like Qapital even round up your purchases to build savings while you spend. So, each time you buy a coffee, 50 cents will move into savings. And here’s one simple rule that costs nothing: if you’re tempted by a deal, wait 24 hours. That urge to buy often fades and your bank account will thank you.
The National Retail Federation expects total holiday sales to reach more than 960 billion dollars this year — a new record. And while we’re all spending more, consumer analysts say the best gift you can give yourself is a fresh start, check your credit report, review your statements, and see where your money’s really going before the new year.
Contributors to this news report include: Marsha Lewis, Producer; Bob Walko, Editor.