Rising costs of various everyday essentials has many feeling the pinch this holiday season.

Psychologist Dr. Janine Hubbard says financial stress seems to become a bigger burden this time of year.

Participating in holiday gatherings and gift exchanges can become costly, but Hubbard says there are ways to celebrate without adding to the financial strain.

She says it’s okay to be honest and tell people you’re not in a place to spend a big pile of money. Possible options could be finding a cheaper alternative or waiting until you’re in a better financial situation to do a big event.

When it comes to parents wondering how they’ll manage to put presents under the tree, Hubbard says often times it’s not the gifts a child will end up remembering.

Instead of asking kids what they want for Christmas, she suggests asking what they’re looking forward to. Often times kids will be looking forward to spending time with family and doing activities rather than being focused on gifts.