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Crowded stores, spend budget top holiday stressors, claims study

December 14, 2018

The top stressors for consumers during the holiday season are crowded stores and financial limitations, with long lines, out-of-stock items and online delivery delays also cited as stressful elements.

Consumers are interested in flexible payment options to deal with budget constraints, according to a Klarna survey that polled more than 1,100 U.S. consumers.

"Although festive, the holiday season can be a stressful time — especially when it comes to budget," said Michael Rouse, chief commercial officer at Klarna, in a press release on the data. "Our goal at Klarna is to provide merchants with the ability to offer flexible payment options, like installments, to their shoppers, therefore alleviating financial pressure.”

When it comes to purchase, 40 percent don't buy on a credit card, and, of the 21 percent that do use credit cards, the average expected time to pay off the purchases is 11 months. About a third of holiday credit card users say it will take a year or more to pay off in full, according to the release.

The study also noted that close to three-quarters (74 percent) of those that shop during the holidays have occasionally had to opt out of a holiday purchase or opt for a cheaper alternative due to their budget.