On Nov. 1, I walked into Target and the first things I saw were Christmas decorations, and the first thing I heard was Christmas music playing, starting the pressure to make purchases for the holidays. The holidays are supposed to bring laughter, joy, and happiness throughout the community, but many Americans, including me, feel they start too early.
When the holidays start so soon, it increases the likelihood of feeling “burnout,” while also overshadowing other important holidays. Some believe celebrating the holidays longer improves moods and increases anticipation, but really, it promotes retail pressure and negatively impacts people who struggle with finances and budgeting.
Sadly, a prominent part of our society is in holiday debt, with some consumers still paying off debts from previous holidays. According to a new survey from LendingTree, “this increased pressure led to 36% of American consumers taking on holiday debt,” and according to Matt Schulz, chief credit analyst at LendingTree, “44% of the people who took on debt expected to acquire those balances, a sign that this holiday season is still financially challenging for many people.”
This increased harmful promoting and spending feeds into unrealistic consumerism, with people neglecting essential needs. Additionally, starting the Christmas celebrations before Thanksgiving overshadows the importance of family time and the traditions surrounding it. According to PYMNTS.com and First United Bank, “approximately 65% to 71% of Americans live paycheck to paycheck.” So it’s common sense to notice how economically unhealthy it is to have overlapping holidays. What happened to the simple spending of boxed mashed potatoes and canned gravy in November? Now, people are buying overpriced Christmas Starbucks cups that are resold for $100+ and listening to the same overplayed Mariah Carey song before the Christmas season has even begun.
