As Americans face a financial “holiday hangover,” expert Mark Henry urges families to reassess overspending habits and plan for a financially healthier 2026.
CHARLOTTE, N.C. — As Americans emerge from the holiday season, financial advisors are urging families to confront what one expert calls the “holiday hangover” — the emotional and financial toll of overspending between Christmas and New Year’s.
Mark Henry, CEO of Alloy Wealth Management, said the week between the holidays represents one of the most costly periods of the year for many families, not because of spending, but because of the reckoning that follows.
“This is the time when the presents have been opened, the money’s been spent, but now it gets kind of emotional,” Henry said during a financial segment on local television. “A lot of times we look back and go, oh gosh, what have I just done?”
The post-holiday period brings expenses from gift returns, travel and hosting events, but also a moment when many Americans take stock of their financial decisions and realize they’ve overspent.
Henry said the solution isn’t to dwell on past spending but to use the new year as an opportunity to create a different plan for 2026.
“The best time to have planted an apple tree was 10 years ago,” Henry said. “The best time to start a new habit or a new tradition would have been yesterday, but we do find ourselves right here at the new year. Could there be a better time than to start the new year with a different plan?”
He recommended couples begin by sitting down together to honestly assess what happened during the recent holiday season and what they actually wanted to accomplish financially versus what occurred.
“We find ourselves many times in places we don’t want to be. But if I asked where was the plan to be somewhere else? Oh yeah, we didn’t have that either,” Henry said. “Let’s do that right now.”
His advice: Take an honest inventory of debts — whether holiday-related, student loans or other obligations — and create clear plans for improvement in 2026.
“These are our lives we’re living. So why don’t we ask, what do we like and don’t like? The debt — OK, that’s gotta go then,” Henry said.
According to recent surveys, American consumers were expected to spend an average of more than $900 on holiday gifts this year, with total holiday spending projected to reach record levels despite economic concerns about inflation and interest rates.
Financial experts typically recommend setting aside money throughout the year specifically for holiday expenses to avoid post-season debt, but many families find themselves caught between wanting to provide experiences and gifts for loved ones and maintaining financial health.
Henry emphasized that while the challenge is real, families can take control by starting with honest conversations and concrete plans.
“Let’s all get better,” he said.