Holidays | Credit Card Topics

38% of Americans Expect to Carry Holiday Shopping Credit Card Debt into the New Year

By: Ashley Fricker, 11/17/2023

Of the survey participants who expect to carry card debt, 78% said they hope to pay their balances off in one to three months or less. We know credit card debt is already at an all-time high, with balances reaching $1.08 trillion in the third quarter of 2023, according to the Federal Reserve Bank of New York. And with the holiday shopping season upon us, balances are expected to grow even higher in Q4. We commissioned a survey of more than 1,000 people to see whether they plan... read more »

58% of Parents Admit to Spending More on One Kid Than Their Other Children

By: Ashley Fricker, 10/27/2023

CardRates.com’s annual holiday survey also finds that only 1 in 5 consumers say they do not have a holiday budget this year. GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Oct. 27, 2023 – CardRates.com, a website that educates consumers about the benefits and perils of credit cards, released the results of its Q4 2023 holiday survey. In addition to surprising holiday shopping and budgeting trends, the survey found that 58% of Americans admit to spending more of their budget on one of their kids than on... read more »

3 Tips to Avoid Holiday-Shopping Credit Score Damage

By: John Ulzheimer, 10/26/2023

We’re about to enter the busiest shopping season of the year. And while most consumers probably aren’t laser-focused on their credit scores during the holiday season, it’s never a good idea to entirely turn your back on them while you’re enjoying the fall weather, eggnog, and time off from work. Keep in mind that your upcoming shopping activities will impact your credit scores, so it’s not a bad idea to go over some tips to protect your credit scores from taking an... read more »

How to Achieve Your Financial New Year’s Resolutions

By: Marcie Geffner, 1/6/2023

Increase savings. Pay off credit cards. Build an emergency fund. When Bank of America surveyed more than 2,000 people about their financial New Year's resolutions for 2023, these three goals topped the list. And it’s no wonder. With inflation and holiday shopping top of mind when the survey was conducted in October 2022, consumers may have focused on these goals to position themselves for greater financial security in 2023 and beyond. If your financial New Year's resolutions... read more »

7 Surprising Christmas Spending and Debt Statistics

By: Marcie Geffner, 12/6/2022

Christmas is an exceptionally popular holiday. A 25-year Gallup poll found that more than 90% of US adults surveyed participate in this annual December celebration. The near-universal enjoyment of Christmas includes people of all types, regardless of gender, age, income, and educational background. Christmas is so beloved it even crosses the political divide between Republicans and Democrats, Gallup found. For many, Christmas remains primarily a religious holiday. For... read more »

8 Best Credit Cards For Christmas Shopping (2023)

By: Ashley Fricker, 11/25/2023

The best credit cards for Christmas shopping can help you get all the items your loved ones want while taking advantage of several card perks that make those items more affordable. Whether you’re enjoying a long period of interest-free financing, extended warranties, cash back, or low interest rates, you can sit back on Christmas morning knowing that your reputation as the best gift-giver is secure — and so are your finances. We’ve broken down the key perks you should look... read more »

11 Credit Card Perks For Holiday Shoppers (Dec. 2023)

By: Andrea Woroch, 11/28/2023

The holidays are a joyous time, but also an expensive one — and it appears consumers aren’t pulling back on gifts or other seasonal splurges this year. In fact, consumer spending is expected to hit record levels this coming winter as more than 36% of holiday shoppers surveyed say they plan to spend more this year. Though a well-thought-out budget and dedicated savings plan can keep financial stress at bay, using a few shopping and savings tools can ease the budgeting burden of... read more »

6 Credit Strategies to Help You Financially Prepare for the Holidays (2023)

By: Andrea Woroch, 11/28/2023

Although we just welcomed fall, it’s time to start planning for the winter holidays. But, if thoughts of holiday shopping make you sweat and feel anxious, you’re not alone. According to a survey from the investment firm Principal Financial Group, 52% of people feel financially stressed from holiday spending. The holiday season is an expensive time of year thanks to everything from buying gifts for family, friends, and co-workers to spending on decorations, travel, and playing host... read more »

The Anxiety and Depression Association of America (ADAA) on Healthy Ways to Cope with the Added Financial Stress of the Holiday Season

By: Matt Walker, 10/19/2020

During the holiday season, spending money on travel, gifts, and food for a large family gathering puts an added burden on budgets and can send stress levels soaring. The Anxiety and Depression Association of America provides resources — such as blog posts, webinars, podcasts, articles, and more — to help Americans deal with these times of increased stress. ADAA member and psychiatrist Dr. Richa Bhatia said people can resort to negative coping mechanisms around the... read more »

2018 Holiday Gift Shopping Survey

By: Brittney Mayer, 12/14/2018

The holiday shopping season is in full swing, and retailers are already enjoying a record-setting shopping year thanks to big bucks spent during Thanksgiving sales. But consumers are hardly done shopping. In fact, according to CardRates.com's 2018 Holiday Gift Shopping Survey, nearly 80% of shoppers still have to purchase at least some of their gifts — and 1 in 4 consumers said they still have to do all of their holiday gift buying in December. Survey Highlights With so much... read more »

4 Best Credit Cards for Jewelry Purchases (Dec. 2023)

By: Toby Sembower, 11/28/2023

Shopping for the right piece of jewelry — be it a diamond engagement ring or simple pearl necklace — can be daunting enough. Besides the high cost that may take years to save for, the quality measurements used by jewelers can seem arbitrary and overly complicated. Adding to the complication is how to pay for the purchase. While your first inclination might be to write a big check or even hit the ATM for some big bills, those are actually the last options you should consider.... read more »

5 Credit Card Travel Secrets from the Airfarewatchdog

By: CardRates.com Staff, 5/24/2018

Thinking about buying some plane tickets and taking a trip some exotic locale? Or maybe you just want to fly across state to visit some family? Wherever your destination, we assume you want to save as much money on travel as possible. That's where your credit card comes in. To entice their customers to spend more, many credit card issuers offer their customers convenient ways to cut back their travel costs through incentives, reward programs and other perks. I spoke with... read more »

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All articles tagged Holidays (12)