A lot of people are heading into the holidays already expecting to fall behind on what they charge.
In a September survey conducted by The Harris Poll, 38% of shoppers planning to use buy now, pay later said they don’t expect to make every payment on time and in full. A quarter of those planning to use credit cards said the same.
For many buy now, pay later users, falling behind is already happening.
In LendingTree surveys this year, 47% of users said they’d paid late in the past year, up from 41% in 2025 and 34% in 2024. And 54% said they couldn’t make ends meet without these loans.
The longer holiday debt hangs around, the more it costs.
“Carrying a month or two of holiday debt is no big deal,” LendingTree chief consumer finance analyst Matt Schulz said in the company’s holiday debt report last December. “Extend that out to six months to a year or longer and it becomes significant because of how high interest rates are on credit cards today.”
This is part 11 of Consolidated Credit’s 2026 Money Confidence Roadmap, our monthly guide to taking the stress out of money. Consolidated Credit has previously reported on how to set a holiday budget.
With the year almost over, this month is about sticking to it when Black Friday (Nov. 27) and Cyber Monday (Nov. 30) roll around.
Bring your budget to Black Friday
Most shoppers (64%) plan to do the bulk of their holiday shopping over Thanksgiving weekend, according to the National Retail Federation’s holiday survey.
If that’s your plan, go in with a number. Write your limit down and check your cart against it before you pay. If you can, use cash or debit so you’re only spending money you actually have.
“It’s rare that you actually need to act immediately to get a certain deal or promo,” said Kimberly Palmer, personal finance expert at NerdWallet.
If something isn’t on your list, sleep on it for a day.
Know your payoff date before you swipe
Before something goes on a credit card, know which paycheck is going to pay it off. If you can’t answer that, you probably can’t afford it right now.
The Federal Reserve reported that the average interest rate on credit card accounts charged interest was 22.36% in August.
Be careful with store cards that promise “no interest” if you pay off a purchase within a certain time. If you don’t pay it off by the deadline, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau explains, “you will be charged interest on your purchase going back to the date you first made that purchase.”
Don’t stack buy now, pay later plans
Four payments of $25 doesn’t feel like much. Four of those plans running at once is a different story. LendingTree found that 63% of buy now, pay later users have had more than one loan going at the same time, and a quarter have had three or more.
Adobe expects shoppers to put $21.3 billion of online holiday spending on these plans this season. If you use one, put every payment date on your calendar and add up what you owe each month before you sign up for another. Our guide to the true cost of buy now, pay later walks through what to watch for.
Watch your credit utilization
Holiday shopping can quickly raise your card balances, which can drag down your credit score. “Experts advise keeping your use of credit at no more than 30 percent of your total credit limit,” according to the CFPB.
Check your balances every week through December. If a card is getting close to its limit, switch to cash or debit for the rest of your shopping, or pay it off before the month is over.
Keep every account current
Bills can easily slip through the cracks in a busy month. That matters because, according to the CFPB, most credit scores treat payment history as the most important factor. Make sure every account is current now, and set up autopay for at least the minimum so nothing gets missed in the rush.
If you’re already struggling to keep up, call your lenders before you miss a payment.
“Lenders have hardship programs that can help you through a short-term rough patch,” Schulz said in the same report. “That could include deferred payments, lower interest rates, waived fees and other temporary help. However, you won’t get them if you don’t ask.”
Next month, the roadmap wraps up the year with a look back at your progress and the goals you’ll carry into 2027.
If your balances are more than you can handle on your own, Consolidated Credit’s certified credit counselors can walk you through your options for free.
