Knoxville (WVLT) - If you're feeling a little down now that Christmas has come and gone, just wait until January when you get your credit card bills, and they're all up!

Being in the red can give anyone the Holiday Blues, but Volunteer TV's Jessa Goddard has some financial advice to help you sort through the bills.

Buy now, pay later. Many Americans charge Christmas, and now the reality is setting in that everyone's bill is about to come due. You'll have to open those credit card statements sooner or later, so now is the time to develop a plan.

The average consumer spent about 900 dollars on Holiday gifts and other expenses this year.

"I would say santa probably spent a few, maybe 1,500?" shopper Scott Seal said.

"Probably around 300, 350," shopper Courtney Knight said.

It's the season for giving, and most of us give more than have to spend.

"I probably overspent, more than I should have," Knight said.

"I always overspend," shopper Jessica Dugger said.

And that usually means gifts are paid for with plastic.

"Credit card. A lot of credit card!" Dugger said.

Add that Holiday debt to an average household credit card debt of 9,900 dollars, and you'll remember this Christmas for years to come because that's how long it will take you to pay for it!

"Pay more than the minimum payment because, if you pay just the minimum payment on a $4,000 dollar credit card with the limit, it takes a little over 20 years to pay that off," credit counselor Joe Garrison said.

Consumer Credit Counseling Service manager Joe Garrison says the Holiday season is the perfect time to give yourself the gift of financial security.

Make a New Year's resolution to balance your checkbook each time you receive a paycheck, so you don't spend more than you make. Keep track of your bills, and keep up with due dates. Create a monthly budget. Prioritize your expenses and spending, needs versus wants. Develop a diversified savings plan and recognize the early warning signs of debt trouble and don't wait.

"You should be planning this week for next Christmas," Garrison said.

Opening a christmas club or some other type of savings account now will eliminate the stress of worrying about Holiday debt this time next year.

If you know you're going to have problems making payments, you can contact your creditors to explain your situation and what you're doing to meet your obligations.

Depending on their policies and your situation, you may be able to negotiate the amount of your next payment. Consumer credit counseling service is a non profit community service agency.

For more information, you can call 1-800-251-CCCS.