MEDIAIMAG // Shutterstock

The holidays can be hard on your wallet, even if you’re in a strong financial position. But they can be especially challenging for people in debt — and if that’s you, you’re not alone.

Outstanding credit card debt balances, which are known for coming with particularly high interest rates, jumped to $1.23 trillion in the third quarter of this year, according to data from the Federal Reserve Bank of New York. Understandably, financial stress from being in debt can compound during the holidays when there are gifts, decorations and flights to buy: 69% of respondents to a survey of 2,000 Americans published by Talker Research and Current, a consumer fintech banking platform, said the holiday season is the most financially stressful part of the year.

But financial experts say there are several changes you can make to your plans this season to handle the holidays when you’re in debt.

How to handle the holidays when you’re in debt

From adjusting your gifting strategy to finding free events, here are five ways to alleviate the stress of spending in December when you’re in debt.

1. Review your debt repayment strategy
The first step to ready yourself for holiday spending is to revisit your debt repayment goals and strategy, says Chloé Moore, a certified financial planner and founder of Financial Staples in Atlanta. By doing this, you can have a clear understanding of how much wiggle room you have for your spending.

If you typically pay $250 towards a debt payment per month, subtract that, your housing costs, the typical amount you pay for everyday essentials like gas and groceries, and any other necessary payments from your total income for December. The figure you have leftover can be used to determine how much you can spend for the rest of the month.

Having a set amount of money that you can spend in mind also “gives you the freedom to say ‘no’ or ‘I can’t afford this’” when friends and family invite you to activities that will eat away at your budget, Moore says. That brings us to the next step.

2. Be honest
When loved ones invite you to participate in costly activities like shopping at a holiday market or seeing a show, it can be difficult to say no. But being honest with your friends and family, and letting them know you are prioritizing debt repayment can help, says Spencer Betts, a certified financial planner and financial consultant with Bickling Financial Services in Lexington, Massachusetts. Setting expectations up-front helps avoid disappointment.

“Talk openly about your goals with family and friends. Much of the stress comes from hiding financial strugg

Bethany Baker // The Salt Lake Tribune

Kevin Quinn went to London expecting to do what he did best — pitch Traeger Grills’ “wood-fired flavor” to shoppers the way he had countless times at American Costco stores, drawing people in with the welcoming smell of wood pellets and the promise of backyard grill mastery.

Instead, he said, he found himself in a taxing routine: twelve-hour days at a Costco, an hour-long commute each way to his hotel and three days of travel that were unpaid.

After three weeks of pitching Traeger grills — demonstrating how to use their pellets, rubs and sauces and sharing the cooking camaraderie the company celebrates as the “Traegerhood” — he sold just six grills, he said, and went home with $963 for 252 hours of work.

“I nearly went broke,” said Quinn, of Kansas City, Missouri, who worked for Traeger for three years. He was “excited” to go to England, he said, but then learned its typically small back yards made premium grills a tough sell. “It was the best of my trips and the worst of my trips.”

That 2022 experience prompted him to become one of 70 former and current Traeger brand ambassadors who have joined a proposed class-action lawsuit against the company, according to court records reviewed by The Salt Lake Tribune.

The lawsuit lands at a pivotal moment for Traeger, which is shutting down the very sales channels those ambassadors helped build as it looks to transform into a leaner business “so that we can really do the right thing for the brand long term,” CEO Jeremy Andrus said in a November conference call for investors.

The price of Traeger’s stock — traded as COOK — has plummeted since Andrus took the company public in 2021, falling from more than $31 per share to about 78 cents per share as of late November.

Christopher Cherrington // The Salt Lake Tribune

As part of a sweeping restructuring, Traeger is ending the once-signature Costco roadshows by year’s end and also will stop selling directly to consumers on its website. It will send shoppers to retail channels — as it currently does with Amazon and The Home Depot, according to a November filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

It’s a dramatic shift for the brand that began as a regional grill business out of Ore

Orawan Pattarawimonchai // Shutterstock

Choosing the right erectile dysfunction medication can feel overwhelming for many people who are trying to understand how ED drugs differ in effectiveness, timing, side effects, and cost. With several trusted PDE 5 inhibitors available, men often look for clear comparisons that explain which medication fits their lifestyle. Since prescription costs continue to rise, affordability has also become a central part of the conversation.

The guide from SaveHealth, a prescription discount card website, breaks down the major ED medications so you can approach your treatment options with clarity and confidence.

How Erectile Dysfunction Medications Work

Nearly all prescription ED drugs fall into the category of PDE 5 inhibitors. These medications work by increasing blood flow to the penis during sexual stimulation, which helps men achieve and maintain erections more consistently.

What PDE 5 inhibitors do

• Increase nitric oxide levels in the body, which activates an enzyme, guanylate cyclase, to produce cGMP (cyclic guanosine monophosphate).
• cGMP triggers to help relax smooth muscle tissue in the penis.
• Improve blood vessel dilation.
• Support stronger and more sustained erections.
• Require sexual arousal to be effective.
• Do not influence libido.

Understanding how these medications work makes it easier to select the best option based on timing, duration, or personal preference. Cost can also play an important role. Some men learn quickly that switching brands or exploring generics can reduce spend significantly.

Most Common ED Medications

The four major prescription ED drugs available today are sildenafil, tadalafil, vardenafil, and avanafil. Each offers a unique profile that suits different needs.

ED Medication Comparison Table

SaveHealth

This type of comparison helps highlight how lifestyle habits influence the best ED medication choice. Some men prefer longer action so they do not have to plan ahead, while others prefer shorter-acting tablets that can be taken only when needed. Cost differences also become more noticeable when comparing medications.

Effectiveness of Major Erectile Dysfunction Drugs

All four medications are considered effective for erectile dysfunction, but each drug has distinguishing characteristics that influence user preference.

Sildenafil

Sildenafil (Viagra) was the first approved ED medication by the FDA and remains a reliable choice. It has a strong reputation and has helped milli

Cast Of Thousands // Shutterstock

While we don’t always follow through with them, picking the right resolutions that are realistic, doable and are simple enough to action could set you up for success in 2026.

How’d your 2025 resolutions go?

Did you make resolutions to save thousands of dollars in 2025? Or did you promise yourself to go to the gym every single day? Those can be hard to follow through on, since many resolutions are designed around existing bad habits — and any habit is hard to break.

According to an October 2025 Vanguard survey, 75% of Americans fell short of their saving and spending resolutions in 2025. However, most people also reported they were optimistic for 2026.

Instead of aiming for perfection, Finder.com offers 12 money management ideas to help you set realistic goals you can achieve in a year.

12 realistic New Year’s resolutions for 2026

1. Review your budget (or make a budget)

If you don’t have a solid budget, you may not know how much you’re spending on everyday items or paying for living expenses — let alone how much you could actually be saving.

A budget doesn’t have to be a complicated, long spreadsheet. There are plenty of budgeting apps, or you could also try the classic 50/30/20 method. The 50/30/20 budget stipulates that you allocate 50% of your cash toward expenses, 30% toward wants and 20% toward savings and debt repayment. You don’t have to stick to those percentages exactly, but it’s a simple method to start with.

2. Set up automatic savings

Want to save more money in 2026? Automatic savings contributions can make it simple and easy.

If you have direct deposit, most employers let you decide how much of your paycheck is deposited into which accounts, such as 90% into your checking and 10% into your savings. Alternatively, you can simply ask your bank to set up automatic transfers to a savings account on specific days.

3. Set fast-food spending caps

Saying you won’t spend any money on fast food probably isn’t realistic and just sets you up for failure. Instead of making the resolution to cut it out completely, just set a spending cap.

The average cost of a fast-food meal is $11.56. Knowing that, you could set a spending cap of around $35 per month, which would be about three trips per month. For a family of four, it could be around $150 for the whole month.

4. Pay down credit card debt

Not a very fun one, but a great financial resolution is to work on paying off expensive credit card debt.

There are Read more

fizkes // Shutterstock

As early-stage startups head into 2026, fundraising standards continue to tighten. Investors expect founders to bring organization, accuracy, and transparency to every aspect of their equity and financial structure. Clean records, clear communication, and a strong grasp of ownership mechanics now matter as much as the pitch itself. For founders planning a seed or Series A raise, readiness has become a strategic advantage.

Cake Equity shares 10 ways to prepare your startup for fundraising in 2026.

1. Move off spreadsheets and establish a clean, reliable cap table

Cap tables kept in spreadsheets often accumulate errors, especially after multiple SAFEs (Simple Agreement for Future Equity), notes, or option grants. Investors expect accurate, real-time ownership records that match signed agreements and reflect fully diluted ownership. Many founders move their cap tables off spreadsheets to meet rising investor expectations, as dynamic cap table management is now considered a baseline requirement. If your cap table still lives in a spreadsheet, it is time to migrate to a dedicated cap table software.

2. Plan your raise and model dilution scenarios

Modeling different raise amounts, valuations, and option pool changes helps founders understand how ownership will shift over time. Investors want to see that you have thought through dilution and runway before they commit capital. Set aside time to model various fundraising scenarios before entering investor conversations.

3. Update your 409A valuation if you plan to issue stock options

A 409A valuation determines the fair market value (FMV) of your common stock. It is required before granting stock options and protects stakeholders from unexpected tax exposure. If you intend to issue new options in 2026, an updated 409A ensures grants are compliant and helps investors see that your equity processes adhere to regulatory standards.

4. Review your ASC 718 and stay on top of stock-based compensation reporting

ASC 718 governs how companies record the expense of equity awards on their financial statements. Accurate reporting creates a clearer financial snapshot for investors and prevents last-minute cleanup during diligence. Early-stage companies that stay current with ASC 718 often move more smoothly through investor reviews.

5. Consider QSBS as part of your long-term exit strategy

Qualified small business stock (QSBS) allows eligible shareholders to potentially exclude up to $10 million (or more, depending on basis) from capital gains. Because eligibility depends on early choices, such as corporate structure and asset thresholds, founders who examine QSBS requirements in advance are better positioned to preserve this significant advantage when a future exit occurs.

6. Centralize investor relations through a single platform for updates and documents

During fundraising, investors expect quick access to accurate information. Centralizing pitch decks, financials, ownership summaries, and board documents through a unified investor portal creates a more professional experienc