Would You Postpone Santa's Visit to Save Money?

CREDIT: Postponing Santa's visit image via Shutterstock View full size image

Do the high costs of the holiday season make you feel like Scrooge? If so, you might want to think about holding off on your shopping or celebration by a few days or even a week. Many consumers think that may help them save big-time green, a new survey shows.

More than one-quarter (29 percent) of consumers who celebrate Christmas are at least somewhat likely to consider postponing Kris Kringle's visit to a later date so they can save money, according to a survey of more than 2,300 U.S. adults 18 and older sponsored by CouponCabin.com, an online source for coupons, free samples and local deals.

And more than a quarter of them (34 percent) would consider waiting until January to do most of their holiday shopping to save money.

Money anxiety is as much a part of the holiday season as piles of presents, over-the-top decorations and massive meals, the survey found. Here a quarter of consumers are at least somewhat concerned with holiday expenses and 19 percent are very concerned.

More than 4 in 10 are worried that they won't be able to make ends meet this season due to holiday expenses, and nearly as many (37 percent) are worried that they will have a lot of debt after the holidays.

Budget-conscious consumers are also open to changes in their holiday get-togethers, the survey found. Nearly a third (32 percent) said it doesn't matter what day their family and friends celebrate or exchange gifts.

"Financial worries are common for many people year-round, and the holiday season can compound that anxiety," said Jackie Warrick, president and chief savings officer at CouponCabin.com. "Sometimes, switching things up, like when holiday celebrations are held, can mean a smaller financial burden. To some people, it might be unusual to change their celebrations, but for others, it can make sense to shift their plans if it means saving big bucks."

This story was provided by BusinessNewsDaily, a sister site to LiveScience. Reach BusinessNewsDaily senior writer Ned Smith at nsmith@techmedianetwork.com. Follow him on Twitter @nedbsmith.We're also on Facebook & Google+.