Adults Are Bracing for the Financial Hangover After the Holidays

Holiday shopping season is in full swing, which means festive lights, cheerful music… and the quiet dread of opening your credit card app in January.

A new survey of 2,000 adults who celebrate winter holidays suggests that while December is all joy and generosity, 2026 is lurking with a bill. About 35% of shoppers plan to use a credit card for holiday purchases, which is fine in theory… until reality taps you on the shoulder with interest rates.

Only 17% say they always pay their card off in full, which means the rest of us are basically playing financial roulette with a candy cane.

According to new research from Affirm, a whopping 70% of credit card users expect to carry a balance into 2026, and nearly one in five believe they’ll still be paying off holiday purchases by June or later.

RELATED: Uncomfortable Facts About Holiday Spending

The Different Types of Holiday Spenders (You Know Which One You Are)

🎁 The Giver

This person genuinely loves giving gifts. They want everyone to feel special, appreciated, and slightly emotional while opening their present.

They mean to stay realistic, but then suddenly they’re saying things like,
“Well, it was on sale.”
“They deserve it,”
“It’s only money,”
and
“I’ll deal with this in January.”

January, meanwhile, is sharpening its claws.

📋 The Planner

The unicorn of holiday shopping.

They make lists.
They set a budget.
They stick to the budget.

They shop early, wrap early, and somehow still have money left for groceries in January. Everyone both respects and mildly resents them.

If you ask how they do it, they’ll casually say something unbearable like,
“I just planned ahead.”

🤖 The AI-Assisted Shopper

This is the newest character in the holiday spending universe.

Nearly half of adults say they’ve used or plan to use AI tools to help with shopping. That includes finding deals, staying on budget, or figuring out what to buy for the person who “doesn’t want anything” but will absolutely judge you.

Younger adults are leading the charge:

• 60% of Gen Z
• 55% of Millennials
• Compared to 39% of Gen X
• And just 21% of Boomers, who still trust their gut and Canadian Tire flyers

People using AI say it’s less about laziness and more about survival. They want to save time, avoid overspending, and maybe even look thoughtful without spiralling at the mall.

Honestly? Fair.

The Real Gift We’re All Getting: January Regret

No matter how you shop, the holidays have a funny way of turning generosity into future stress. December feels magical. January feels like a financial audit you didn’t ask for.

So if you’re staring at your credit card statement in the new year, wondering,
“Who was I shopping for… and do I even like them that much?”

Congratulations. You’re not alone.

The holidays giveth.
And interest absolutely taketh away. 🎄💸