The sounds of swiping cards at Christmas is music to retailers' ears. And shoppers are happy to overindulge in more than just desserts this time of year.
"I wait until the last minute when I shop every year, and usually when I'm shopping for other people, I end up shopping for myself only", says Chasidy Perkins, shopper.
It's retail therapy at it's finest, complete with catchy holiday tunes in the background, and bargains as far as the eye can see. But experts say it can leave you feeling empty, and they don't just mean your wallet.
"It's like if you've ever been to Las Vegas and seen the casinos, and hear the slot machines going. So this entices you, and encourages you to get into the holiday spirit and spend, spend, spend", explains counselor, Nikki McEachern Nazworth.
Store manager, Ashleie Kingery, follows trends, not just in fashion, but in spending as well.
"I see a lot of people go over their budgets. They'll tell me at the beginning, I want to spend this much amount and they end up spending like $600. And we drastically see an increase, especially the two weeks before Christmas. I mean we're almost triple the amount of foot traffic that we see", says Kingery.
While Kingery observes plastic-pulling patrons, she's also seen how some maintain a budget and their happiness.
"There's a lot of people that use an envelope system or have a certain budget list with each name and the amount you want to spend on each person", Kingery tells us.
Next time you consider charging for some cheer, experts suggest thinking carefully if your purchase will keep you happy even after the holidays.
"I wait until the last minute when I shop every year, and usually when I'm shopping for other people, I end up shopping for myself only", says Chasidy Perkins, shopper.
It's retail therapy at it's finest, complete with catchy holiday tunes in the background, and bargains as far as the eye can see. But experts say it can leave you feeling empty, and they don't just mean your wallet.
"It's like if you've ever been to Las Vegas and seen the casinos, and hear the slot machines going. So this entices you, and encourages you to get into the holiday spirit and spend, spend, spend", explains counselor, Nikki McEachern Nazworth.
Store manager, Ashleie Kingery, follows trends, not just in fashion, but in spending as well.
"I see a lot of people go over their budgets. They'll tell me at the beginning, I want to spend this much amount and they end up spending like $600. And we drastically see an increase, especially the two weeks before Christmas. I mean we're almost triple the amount of foot traffic that we see", says Kingery.
While Kingery observes plastic-pulling patrons, she's also seen how some maintain a budget and their happiness.
"There's a lot of people that use an envelope system or have a certain budget list with each name and the amount you want to spend on each person", Kingery tells us.
Next time you consider charging for some cheer, experts suggest thinking carefully if your purchase will keep you happy even after the holidays.
