When Deidre Cross was tens of thousands of dollars in debt, the holiday season became the tipping point that sparked her journey to get out of the red.

香蕉视频直播淚 would be the person that would still buy the presents and the gifts and stuff, spending money that I didn香蕉视频直播檛 have,香蕉视频直播� said Cross, the founder of Ohh You Budget.

香蕉视频直播淚 would go into overdraft because my credit cards would be maxed out.香蕉视频直播�

Eventually, Cross knew something had to change. She started talking to her friends and family about financial expectations around the holidays, and being honest about the fact that she couldn香蕉视频直播檛 continue keeping up appearances.

香蕉视频直播淚 could not afford it, to the point where it香蕉视频直播檚 just like, we have to have this conversation.香蕉视频直播�

Experts say it香蕉视频直播檚 common to be stressed about money around the holidays, but talking to friends and family about your budget 香蕉视频直播� and maybe even agreeing to financial caps on gift-giving 香蕉视频直播� can remove a lot of anxiety from the holiday season.

香蕉视频直播淲e all know that money is a taboo subject, so it香蕉视频直播檚 very hard to address that,香蕉视频直播� said Angela Iermieri, financial planner at Desjardins.

There香蕉视频直播檚 a lot of social pressure to keep up with everyone else, she said, especially during the holidays when there are a lot of event invitations and gift-giving.

A recent survey by Coast Capital found 72 per cent of respondents are feeling heightened financial pressure due to the holidays. However, the survey found many still plan to spend on gifts, decor and parties as usual.

Yasamin Alami, a chartered professional accountant and assistant professor at University Canada West, said during the holidays, people often spend a lot of time worrying about money: who to buy gifts for, how much to spend.

Talking about that stress can do a lot to take the weight off, said Alami.

香蕉视频直播淚 think it香蕉视频直播檚 a really quick conversation, and maybe it is awkward, but having that quick conversation kind of frees up a lot of mental space and rumination over thinking about a gift and what the appropriate value is.香蕉视频直播�

Often it feels like you need to match the value of someone香蕉视频直播檚 gift and 香蕉视频直播渋t becomes this moving target every year,香蕉视频直播� she said.

It might feel awkward at first, but you might be surprised at how people react when you bring up the topic, said Iermieri.

香蕉视频直播淢aybe everybody feels the same way, but just doesn香蕉视频直播檛 want to say it,香蕉视频直播� she said.

香蕉视频直播淲hat香蕉视频直播檚 important in all of this is to be honest with ourselves, if we want to be honest with others.香蕉视频直播�

Another survey, this one by Ipsos on behalf of Simplii Financial, found that financial constraints are keeping many Canadians at home for the holidays instead of travelling. More than half of the respondents who do plan to travel say they will be staying in their home province, while many are trying to save with cheaper flights and hotels.

Cross agreed that it香蕉视频直播檚 always best to be honest with people if you can香蕉视频直播檛 afford to travel for the holidays, buy expensive gifts or attend every party.

香蕉视频直播淚f you cannot afford something, don香蕉视频直播檛 go into debt or try to do something that香蕉视频直播檚 not within your means,香蕉视频直播� she said.

You don香蕉视频直播檛 have to go into too many details, added Iermieri, depending on how close you are with the person, but if you香蕉视频直播檙e comfortable, you could tell people that you香蕉视频直播檙e trying to meet specific financial goals or stick to a budget.

香蕉视频直播淚 think it香蕉视频直播檚 important, especially with the people that are closer to you, to not be scared to do that,香蕉视频直播� she said.

You can suggest setting a price cap on gifts for the season, she said, or suggest a round of Secret Santa, or perhaps a holiday activity in place of gifts.

It香蕉视频直播檚 all about setting boundaries and sticking to them, she said. This may mean checking your calendar and saying no to some party invitations, but that香蕉视频直播檚 better than overspending and having to deal with the credit card bill later.

香蕉视频直播淚t香蕉视频直播檚 very easy to get carried away and say yes to a lot of things,香蕉视频直播� said Alami.

香蕉视频直播淪o I think being proactive and just setting a budget for yourself is the very first step.香蕉视频直播�

When you香蕉视频直播檙e telling someone you can香蕉视频直播檛 attend a holiday event, you can suggest scheduling something more budget-friendly, or tell them you香蕉视频直播檇 love to spend time together in the new year, she said.

香蕉视频直播淭he holidays are a time where we fall back on traditions, so it香蕉视频直播檚 the concept of we香蕉视频直播檝e traditionally done this, or our family does this every year, or my friends expect me to throw this party,香蕉视频直播� said Alami.

香蕉视频直播淚t香蕉视频直播檚 OK to have those conversations to say, 香蕉视频直播楬ow about we build some new traditions?香蕉视频直播櫹憬妒悠抵辈��