A Christchurch based finance company is warning shoppers about the hunt for the perfect gift this Christmas.

In New Zealand, our combined credit card debt ballooned by over $100 million last December.

LoanCo's advising customers not to borrow money to help them splash out in the festive season.

CEO Martin Brennan said most people live to regret it in the New Year.

"Impulse buying [and] thinking it's the right thing to do at the time - frankly, in many cases it's outside their means."

Brennan said that Christmas shoppers are feeling more and more pressure

"Children, Santa, every commercial that gets run in the lead up to Christmas, it starts earlier and earlier. And just that whole culture of buy now and worry about it tomorrow."