Debt Always a Concern Come the Holidays.

• Position: CREDIT CARDS

The 2018 holiday shopping season, like so many before it, will be brought

to us in large part by credit card debt. U.S. consumers began 2018 owing more than one trillion dollars to credit card companies for the first time ever. This holiday season, 35% of people plan to spend more than $500, according to WalletHub's Holiday Shopping Survey. Thirty-three percent say they spent that much in 2017.

Some of this retail enthusiasm can be chalked up to increased consumer confidence. Six in 10 people say they are better off financially than last year, while five in 10 expressed that sentiment in 2017.

"Based on employment stats, wage increases, and tax cuts, 60% feeling better makes sense," indicates Ira Weiss, professor of management, innovation, and entrepreneurship at North Carolina State University, Raleigh.

However, will feeling flush cause shoppers to bite off more than they can chew?--not according to the 60% of people who say they will pay for their holiday purchases in full by the due date or, to a lesser extent, the 18% who expect to pay in full by New Year's Day. The share of shoppers who plan to be free of holiday debt by New Year's is up from 70% last year, and that would seem to indicate there will be less long-term credit card debt after this holiday shopping season--unless you think consumers are being overly optimistic.

"While many of us plan or hope to pay off our debt on time, the reality is, many will carry...