This year, 46 percent of Americans feel pressure to spend more than they can afford during the holidays, up from 39 percent in 2014. The recent online survey conducted in October by Harris Poll on behalf of SunTrust Banks, Inc. also found that 29 percent of adults expect this holiday shopping season to be more financially stressful than last year, compared to only 24 percent who answered the same question in 2014 about the previous year.

"Our annual Holiday Financial Well-Being Survey is conducted to understand how people feel about their finances in advance of the busiest spending season of the year," said Brad Dinsmore, head of Consumer Banking at SunTrust. "If you are feeling stressed, you are not alone. Rising credit card balances, overdrawn accounts and limited time to spend with family are a few of the top holiday stressors clients tell us about. But there are things people can do now to alleviate this pressure and instead focus on the moments that truly matter this season."

Simple steps to de-stress the holidays include:

• Make a plan: Set limits on your spending, shop for sales and stay within your means.

• Cash in rewards: Use credit card rewards accumulated throughout the year to help cover the cost of gifts or travel during the holiday season.

• Download your bank's mobile app: Check your balances on a mobile app to better track saving and spending.

• Sign up for overdraft protection: Link a checking account with a savings account, credit card or line of credit to avoid fees and ensure you don't get stuck at the cash register.

• Set up text alerts: Arrange for text message alerts when your balance is running low to help avoid overdrafts and remind you when it's time to transfer money.

Additional Holiday Financial Well-Being Survey Findings

• Among millennials ages 18-34, 42 percent expect more financial stress related to the holiday shopping season than last year – the most of any age group.

• Those parents with a child under the age of 18 in their household are far more likely than those without children in this age range to say they will experience more holiday shopping financial stress than last year (43 percent compared to 23 percent for those without a child).

• Those parents with a child under 18 in their household are also more likely to say they feel pressure to spend more than they can afford during the holiday season (61 percent compared to 39 percent without a child). This number is up from 2014 when only 53 percent of those parents with a child under 18 in their household said they felt pressure to over-spend.