Here are some ways you can reduce financial stress during the holidays

The holidays are supposed to be a joyful time, but they can also be financially stressful

NEW YORK -- The holidays are supposed to be a joyful time, but they can also be financially stressful. With gifts, social gatherings and plane tickets home, the costs can start piling up.

Household expenses continue to rise and many Americans are expressing concern about their financial futures, according to a poll from The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research.

"Financial concerns are the number one anxiety-provoking issue (for the holidays),” said Dr. Petros Levounis, president of the American Psychiatric Association.

Here are recommendations from experts to reduce financial stress during the holidays:

In many families, the holidays mean going all out with gift giving. But this can quickly become stressful if your finances make it hard to keep up.