Happy holidays? Not exactly.
A new survey by Principal Financial Group finds that nearly 60 percent of Americans expect the holidays to stress their budgets, and 47 percent view the economy as "unhealthy to some degree." And the percentage of people who think the economy will stay the same or worsen is 2 points higher than a year ago, at 70 percent.
Paying down debt is the most widely cited money priority in the survey, with 33 percent of the respondents saying it's at the top of their list. But even so, 35 percent of the respondents do not plan to make financial resolutions for the new year, up from 28 percent a year earlier.
Read MoreSecret budgeting tool: A New Year's resolution
That means changing their financial behavior may be tough. New research from Fidelity indicates that people who make financial resolutions behave better with their money.
Where are Americans overspending? On food, it turns out. Some 40 percent of survey respondents said dining out or groceries were the categories that busted their budgets–not surprising given that respondents said their biggest financial problem is not saving enough.
Some survey respondents are making resolutions about dieting and fitness over the holidays. But nearly a quarter of the survey respondents agreed with the statement that "I don't plan to manage my weight" over the holiday season.
Read MoreHealth report card: Less smoking, too much eating
If these survey results are any indication, the holidays should be good ones for restaurateurs. But come January, it will be time for belt tightening, in every sense of the word.