A survey of 1,000 full-time workers finds many are adding work or reconsidering pay as daily expenses and seasonal costs strain budgets.
For many U.S. workers, holiday finances are being shaped as much by groceries, household bills and existing debt as by gifts. A survey of 1,000 full-time workers by resume.io found that 53.6% have taken on, or plan to take on, extra work to cover seasonal costs. More than half have also considered changing jobs or seeking higher pay in response to living costs or holiday expenses.
The findings point to a practical tension for employers and workers: extra hours can bring short-term income, while the same financial strain is linked to exhaustion. For businesses planning seasonal staffing, the figures suggest that some employees may be looking for additional shifts while also weighing whether their current pay meets their needs.
More work is one response to squeezed budgets
Among the workers surveyed, 29.4% said they were picking up extra shifts or overtime, 24.6% were taking freelance work or a side hustle, and 19.3% were starting temporary or seasonal jobs. These responses can overlap, so they describe different ways people are trying to bring in more money rather than separate groups.
Some workers are seeking higher pay through their main job or a job change. In the survey, 19.5% were looking for a better-paying role, while 15.6% had asked for a raise. The broader career figures show how common those considerations have become: 25.0% had actively searched for a better-paying job in the previous three months, and another 31.2% had considered doing so but had not acted. A further 16.4% said they would consider a move if their finances worsened. Just 27.4% said rising costs had not affected their career decisions.
Workers are also using several ways to manage the gap between income and expenses. Cutting spending was the most commonly reported step, at 39.5%. Another 21% were drawing on savings, and 9.7% were selling belongings. More than one in four, or 27.1%, said they were borrowing to cover holiday costs. That included 15.5% taking on debt or using credit, 13.5% using buy now, pay later and 6.4% borrowing from family or friends.
Household essentials lead the reasons for extra work
The survey’s breakdown of spending helps explain why the pressure extends beyond the holiday shopping list. Food and household expenses were the leading reason for taking on extra work, cited by 23.3% of workers. Gifts followed at 21.1%, while 18.9% pointed to existing debts or bills. Another 15% were working extra to save for the new year, and 11.2% cited travel or family visits.
For employers, that mix matters when they assess what employees may need from seasonal schedules and pay conversations. A worker seeking more hours may be covering regular expenses, preparing for upcoming costs or trying to reduce a balance. The survey does not show what any particular workplace can afford to offer, but it does make clear that holiday spending is only part of the financial picture.
Financial strain is tied to exhaustion
Money worries also showed up in workers’ accounts of work-related exhaustion. Financial stress was the most frequently named contributor, at 20.4%, ahead of long hours, at 17.5%, and excessive workload, at 14.2%.
Among people borrowing for the holidays, 43.9% said they were becoming more exhausted, experiencing significant burnout or struggling to find motivation at work. The comparable share among workers who were not borrowing was 30%. Workers who named financial stress as their main source of exhaustion were also more likely to be borrowing: 35.8%, compared with 24.9% of those who did not identify financial stress as their main factor.
These figures describe an association, not proof that borrowing causes exhaustion. Still, they highlight a challenge for teams during busy periods: adding hours can help employees earn more, but sustained extra work may sit alongside the very strain workers are trying to manage.
Differences by age and gender
Gen Z workers were most likely to reconsider their careers as costs rose. Four in five, or 80%, had considered changing jobs or seeking higher pay. The rate was 61.5% among millennials and 45.3% among Gen X. Gen Z respondents were also more likely to have already searched for better-paid work: 39.2%, roughly twice the 19.1% reported by Gen X.
The age pattern extended to additional work. Nearly three in four Gen Z workers, or 72.5%, said they were taking on extra work to cover the season. That compared with 58.6% of millennials and 43.8% of Gen X. Gen Z workers were also nearly three times as likely as Gen X workers to ask for a raise to meet holiday costs: 29.2% versus 10.1%.
Women were more likely than men to name financial stress as their main source of work-related exhaustion, at 24.5% compared with 16%. They were also more likely to say extra work was primarily for existing debts or bills, at 22% versus 15.6%. Men were more likely to cite saving for the new year, at 17.5% compared with 12.6% of women.
Pay decisions need to account for the full job
Amanda Augustine, a certified professional career coach, certified professional resume writer and resident career expert at resume.io, said workers considering a raise or job move should research what people with similar experience earn in their area and prepare a record of recent accomplishments and results. She also urged job seekers to compare the full costs and benefits of a role, including benefits and commuting expenses, rather than judging an offer by salary alone.
Augustine said extra work may offer quick relief, but encouraged workers to consider how much they can manage alongside their regular jobs and personal responsibilities. For business owners and managers, the survey’s clearest lesson is that pay, scheduling and workload are connected in employees’ day-to-day experience. As the season progresses, watching how workers balance extra hours with fatigue may matter as much as filling the next shift.
