FRESNO, Calif. (KFSN) — Whether you’re shopping in-store or online, impulse buys are the most common way consumers overextend their finances.

“Today, we’re inundated with offers,” says Experian Senior Director of Consumer Education and Advocacy, Rod Griffin. “When you’re in the store, you see those discounts.”

Griffin says the financial burden of holiday shopping can be seen well into the new year.

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Feeling the financial pressure? Set expectations early with family and friends.

“We’re all feeling the pinch,” Griffin said. “Everyone told us inflation is affecting them and they’re thinking about it. Costs are higher in a lot of cases.”

Overspending may be common, but some are worse off than others.

“You can find yourself with debt that you’re still repaying next year for this year’s holiday gift,s and that’s what we want to avoid,” Griffin said.

“Buy Now Pay Later” can be a great tool if you use it well, but it can also result in unexpected debt.

“It’s easy to swipe that card and not think about it when you make an impulse buy,” Griffin said. “BNPL can be a great tool, or it can get you in trouble because there’s something we call ‘debt stacking.'”

This is when you have multiple payments on multiple items from different stores.

“It doesn’t seem like much in the moment,” Griffin said. “It’s after the spending during the holidays and they pass, you realize how much you actually spend.”

Another way to make sure you’re in control of your money is to shop with an itemized spending plan and stay strict about it.

“If it’s not on the list, it gives you a little more willpower to say ‘No, I can’t do it. It’s not in the plan.'”

AI can help you comparison shop online and in-store.

“Sixty-one percent of people told us they’re open to using AI for their holiday shopping,” Griffin said. “Eighty-six of those who did say it actually made their holiday shopping easier and faster, and they’re using it for a number of reasons. One is to help find the best prices for things they’re looking for.”

If using credit for holiday shopping, look for a card with cash back rewards, points, miles or store-specific discounts.

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