bodyType

customContents

entityId

entityUuid

articlePageQuery

filter

article

articleBaseAdvertisingInfoArticle

articleListArticle

articleSeoArticle

hooksArticleAcknowledgementGateOverlayArticle

hooksTrackPageViewArticle

hooksContentInterestArticle

articleLinkingDataContent

hooksAmpRedirectArticle

articleSchemaContent

liveArticle

advertZone

sentiment

contentLock

topics

types

sections

paywallTypes

createdDate

publishedDate

urlAlias

moreOnThisArticles

sponsorType

commentCount

authorLocations

authors

corrections

displaySlideShow

multimediaEmbed

printHeadline

seriesContainer

articleSpeeches

socialHeadline

headline

images

flag

firstTopic

glossary

flattenTypeIds

image

relatedLinks

relatedNewsletters

__typename

sponsor

pdfFiles

seriesReverseOrder

series

disableOffPlatformContent

published

updatedDate

summary

subHeadline

body

keywords

readingTime

customTimezone

liveContents

Associated Press

Are you feeling overwhelmed by the pressure to spend money on gifts, parties and travel this holiday season?
If you are feeling financially strained, know that you are not the only one feeling that way, says Lindsay Bryan-Podvin, a social worker and therapist based in the US state of Michigan who has certifications in financial therapy and the trauma of money.
To avoid putting additional pressure on your finances, use the holidays as a time to be extra mindful of how you spend. Remember that spending money is not the only way to show your love to your friends and family.
“We add on all of the years of nostalgia and pressure that we put on the holidays to meet some sort of picture-perfect version,” Bryan-Podvin says.

From setting a budget to creating your own traditions, here are expert recommendations to avoid financial stress this holiday season.
Start with a budget
What is marketed as “the most wonderful time of the year” can quickly become stressful, says Jennifer Seitz, director of education at family finance app Greenlight, based in Atlanta, Georgia. Setting a budget can help you avoid overspending on gifts, decorations or any other holiday expenses.
“Be sure to include your travel, your shipping, your seasonal tipping, knowing what you plan to spend in each category and then having a cap in place can make it easier to avoid debt in January,” Seitz says.
While having a budget is the first step, sticking to it is equally essential.
Bryan-Podvin also recommends that you include your regular debt payments in your holiday budget to avoid falling behind or acquiring more debt.
Shop for the best deals and give the gift of help
When you are doing your holiday gift shopping, look for sales, coupons or other holiday discounts so you can reduce your overall costs, says Trae Bodge, a New York-based shopping expert.

“I’m always looking for maybe a coupon code so I can save a certain percentage off, or I can earn cash back, or I can get a free shipping offer. I really believe in those tools and use them every single time I shop,” Bodge says.
On her website, True Trae, Bodge also recommends memberships, subscriptions or experiences as welcome gift ideas. These may include annual passes to zoos, museums or parks; subscriptions to favourite periodicals or apps; or gifts of learning, from virtual cooking classes to paragliding.
Another option, she says, is to make something. If you like to bake, whip up some cookies or muffins and package them in a gift box.
Or consider the gift of help. If you are physically able but know someone who is not, offer help in clearing a storage closet, say, or assembling furniture.

Decide what matters most to you
The holidays are the season of giving, but spending too much money and energy can have adverse effects on your mental health. Deciding what you care about most can help you avoid financial stress.
Write down your holiday expenses: travel, celebrations, gifts and more, Bryan-Podvin recommends. Then ask yourself if buying or taking part in all of those activities and costs feels good.
“That helps you prioritise what things are most important to you this holiday season,” Bryan-Podvin says.
While many people equate how much they spend on gifts or how many events they attend with how much they care for their loved ones, that is not the best way to approach the holiday season if you are financially strained.
Do not be afraid to say no
Between work parties, family functions and gatherings with friends, the holiday season can quickly become overwhelming both emotionally and financially. If you are feeling stressed, do not be afraid to place a boundary and say no to an event or a gift exchange.
“Most people who you say a boundary to are going to understand and [some] are going to be relieved,” Bryan-Podvin says.
Being open about your money can be difficult, but sharing if you are struggling with debt or other financial issues can help family and friends understand that they should prioritise low-cost gifts or activities.
Create your own traditions

In recent years, Seitz has noticed a shift away from spending money on goods and more of a focus on creating experiences with family.
“I think it’s really important for families to create alternative forms of joy that aren’t necessarily tied to buying. Kids often remember those memories and those traditions, most of all,” Seitz says.
New ways of celebrating do not have to incur a greater expense – they can be as simple as organising a pancake-making morning with the entire family, playing a new board game or doing a home-made gift exchange.
Like what you read? Follow SCMP Lifestyle on Facebook, X and Instagram. You can also sign up for our eNewsletter here.


How to avoid financial stress this holiday season? Expert tips, from budgeting to saying no

Ex-NBA star in Singapore for brain cancer treatment exudes hope – ‘let’s be positive’

Listening to music can lower dementia risk by nearly 40%, new study says

How hiking 5,700km solo across America put life into perspective for young consultant

Wellness

The holidays may be “the most wonderful time of the year”, but they are fraught with financial pressure for many. A therapist, a financial app boss and a shopping expert share why spending on gifts is not the only way to show love to your relatives and friends. Photo: Shutterstock

Financial therapist Lindsay Bryan-Podvin. Photo: Instagram/mindmoneybalance

New York-based shopping expert Trae Bodge. Photo: truetrae.com

For those who like to bake, Bodge recommends whipping up some cookies or muffins and packaging them in a gift box. Photo: Shutterstock

Creating experiences, rather than buying gifts, can be a great, less expensive way to show family members you love them. Photo: Shutterstock

Why humming can reduce stress and how to practise a yogic breathing technique at home

Yoga instructor Samrat Dasgupta demonstrates Bhramari pranayama – or humming bee breath – at the Prana Yoga studio in Hong Kong. Photo: Edmond So

Gunjan Trivedi is the co-founder of Wellness Space, in Ahmedabad in India’s Gujarat state. Photo: Gunjan Trivedi

Yoga instructor Samrat Dasgupta and his student Annabella Wong practise Bhramari pranayama at the Prana Yoga studio in Wan Chai. Photo: Edmond So

Yoga teacher Victor Chau demonstrates the practice of Bhramari pranayama, which, he says, “always gives me the giggles”. Photo: instagram.com/victorchauyoga

“A soft, smooth sound is usually most effective,” Dasgupta says. Photo: Edmond So

What is stress? New mother finds out the hard way as experts advise on managing it

Asha plays with her child. The high-flying marketing executive started off knowing all about positive stress, but a battle with cancer, a new baby and an alcoholic husband saw her have to learn new ways to overcome her mental tension. Photo: Asha

Diego Busiol is a psychoanalyst in Hong Kong. Photo: diegobusiol.com

Stress is not inherently bad – it can be a catalyst for growth, learning and creation. Photo: Shutterstock

Part of the language of stress includes the activation of cortisol, adrenaline and sympathetic arousal. Photo: Shutterstock

Michael Beckham is a clinical psychologist in Hong Kong. Photo: Michael Beckham

Stress affects people differently. Positive stress can fuel growth, but misaligned stress immobilises. For Asha, running was once her outlet to cope with stress. Photo: Shutterstock

How to make 2026 the best year of your life? YouTuber Ali Abdaal says he has the answers

Ali Abdaal, a former doctor who is now a digital creator, entrepreneur and YouTube star, sits at a cafe in Causeway Bay. Abdaal will speak at the Hong Kong Jockey Club Amphitheatre on December 8 to explain how to make 2026 “the best year of your life”. Photo: Nora Tam

Abdaal is a Hong Kong-based British content creator and entrepreneur who has nearly 6.5 million subscribers on YouTube and 1.1 million followers on Instagram. Photo: Nora Tam

Abdaal says that the principles of productivity can be applied to relationships. Photo: Nora Tam

Swollen, puffy face? You might have ‘moon face’. Experts explain, share how to reduce it

“Moon face” or “cortisol face”, a condition in which the face appears swollen and puffy, is a health concern that has been popping up online. Photo: Instagram/mamamiaaus

The most common cause of moon face is long-term use of corticosteroid medications. Photo: Shutterstock

Lifestyle

Health & Wellness

Health

Family & Relationships

From budgeting to giving experiences, a therapist, finance app boss and retail guru share how to enjoy the holidays without racking up debt


From budgeting to giving experiences, a therapist, finance app boss and retail guru share how to enjoy the holidays without racking up debt.


Mental health

Christmas

How to avoid financial stress this holiday season? Expert tips, from budgeting to saying no

.css-1c6uqr6{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;overflow-wrap:break-word;}From budgeting to giving experiences, a therapist, finance app boss and retail guru share how to enjoy the holidays without racking up debt

Start with a budget

From budgeting to giving experiences, a therapist, finance app boss and retail guru share how to enjoy the holidays without racking up debt