Holiday shopping has begun, but many still paying off last years debt

INDIANAPOLIS Elaina Bowlds leaves the store Monday afternoon with a few gifts in hand.

"A candle, a fun Christmas decoration for a friend," she points out.

She's planning out what she's buying for family and friends this year.

I work in retail, so Im constantly aware of how much Im spending on things, Bowlds said. But I mean, I try to even out the amount Im spending on each person, so that way I can budget things.

Other shoppers say theyre also keeping budgets in mind though not always strict ones.

But not a strict budget, said Mary Ann Schlegel Ruegger. Kind of generally like -- what have we spent in past years and a little bit of talking with each other -- what are we all comfortable with."

Those conversations are key when it comes to managing holiday debt.

If its something thats