The holiday shopping season is in full swing, and as such, consumers are gearing up to find the perfect gifts. According the holiday shopping forecast provided by the National Retail Federation, consumer confidence in the post-recession economy is at an all time high. Consumers are expected to spend more on holiday shopping this season than they have in six years.

However, while consumers are ready to spend their hard-earned dollars on holiday shopping, the effects are the Great Recession have yet to dissipate. In fact, having learned from the recession, consumers are much more careful with how and where they spend their money and many avoid accumulating credit card debt at all costs.

Still, it’s easy for many holiday shoppers to become enticed by too-good-to-be-true deals and sales, blowing a holiday shopping budget. As such, consumers can turn to debt relief centers not only to explore flexible debt relief options, but also to seek financial planning advice. A debt relief agency can help consumers create a holiday spending plan that works within their finances yet allows them to enjoy holiday festivities.

Also, a debt relief agency can help consumers after the holiday season manage debt accrued during the holidays. Experienced debt counselors can negotiate lower interest rates with creditors, in addition to negotiating lower monthly payments through consolidation. This allows consumers to not only pay off their debt on terms that work best for their financial situation, but this also makes it easier to create a budget and adhere to it. Good references here.