The holiday period is a period of joy, giving and household togetherness. But for parents like me, it’s also marked by stress, financial strain and an overwhelming sense of guilt.

The pressure to deliver a magical holiday encounter fills me with anxiety. I desire my children to be joyful, but at what expense?

According to a survey by Bankrate, more than 50% of holiday shoppers expect to feel financially burdened, with “parents of younger kids (feeling) a bigger financial pinch.”

Parental guilt has become a Christmas custom

The cultural expectation to provide children the “perfect” Christmas can be overwhelming. The guilt is oftencompounded by social media, where picture-perfect holiday celebrations dominate our feeds.

From watching reviews of the latest gadgets to seeing the period’s trending toys, and swiping through lavish holiday home decor, I can easily become overwhelmed.

I recognize I can’t provide my children the globe, but I desire to.

My household has had to be a little more expense-conscious because of worth rise. Although the worth rise rate, now 2.7%, has slowed in the history couple of years, the high expense of necessities such as food and housing is still a significant concern for middle-class families like mine.

The Census Bureau reports that 37% of Americans are struggling to pay schedule bills. Add in the expense of Christmas gifts and other holiday costs and it can feel overwhelming to keep up with the Clauses.

The National Retail Federation predicts an boost in holiday spending this year, but the rise is more indicative of the higher expense of goods than anything else. We aren’t buying more; it’s just what we are buying costs more than before.

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Instead of asking what our children desire for the holidays, we’re asking ourselves: Can I afford this? Will they feel let down if I don’t get the items on their aspiration lists?

The test to provide an abundant holiday for children is even greater for low-returns families. Parents often face a heartbreaking selection between conference their household’s basic needs and participating in the holiday traditions that bring their children joy.

What makes the holidays even harder is the guilt that comes with saying “no.” No to the latest must-have toy. No to extravagant outings. And sometimes, no to traditions that once defined the period.

I desire my children to have fond memories and enjoy the holiday period, but I don’t desire to pay for it for years to arrive.

debt from holiday shopping piles up

After the holidays are over, financial recovery ensues. With all the capital card debt, buy now pay lateroptions and personal loans maxed out, many families commence the recent year on a financial tightrope.

About half of consumers are still paying off last year’s holiday gifts, with a schedule to spend nearly $1,000 again this holiday period.

For parents like me, the consequences extend beyond financial hardship. The stress of mounting bills leads to feelings of inadequacy and anxiety, which affect my mental health and relationships with my children.

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Parenting is challenging enough, and the holidays amplify emotions. We require to reimagine what the holidaysmean − not just for our children, but for ourselves. A few ways I’ve decided to make financial boundaries for the holidays are to set a distribution for gifts, embrace minimalism, make experiences that will last and commence recent traditions involving everyone in my household.

We’ve got to recall that things will arrive and leave, but the adore and laughter of our families are worth far more than this period’s trending gadget.

For many parents, the holidays are a period of reflection. It forces us to confront the values we desire to passon to our children and the legacy we aspiration to leave. It’s not about the expense of the gifts; it’s about the memories we construct and the adore we distribute.

This year, let’s prompt ourselves that the magic of the holidays doesn’t arrive from our wallets − it comes from our hearts.

Marla Bautista is a military fellow columnist at USA TODAY view.