Almost half of Aussies under financial stress this Christmas: survey

It's no secret that the cost of living crisis has stung Aussies at the hip pocket this year, with new data revealing almost half of the nation will be under bill stress at Christmas.

A national survey conducted by Finder found that of the 1114 respondents, 53 per cent - an equivalent of 10.6 million Australians - admitted they will "struggle" to cover expenses over the holiday period.

Groceries was the biggest concern for respondents, with 33 per cent of people surveyed claiming supermarket shopping will be a major worry for them this Christmas.

Petrol followed closely as well as energy bills.

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More than 1 in 10 (14 per cent) will struggle with rent payments, while 11 per cent will find it hard to pay off credit card debt, according to the research.

"High household costs have left some Aussies with the tough decision as to whether they put food on the table or presents under the tree this Christmas," Graham Cooke, head of consumer research at Finder said.

"Money might be tight this year but there are still ways to have a great Christmas with friends and family."

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Respondents in New South Wales are set to battle the most, with 56 per cent of those surveyed saying they will struggle this Christmas.

Victoria followed closely at 52 per cent, while in Queensland, 45 per cent of households said they were in for a tight Christmas.

"Plan out your spending for the Christmas season and try to avoid unnecessary splurging," Cooke said.

"Shop early and avoid last-minute purchases.

"This can help you avoid the crowds and the temptation to overspend."