As analysts begin to examine the shopping statistics for the 2010 holiday season, there is one developing trend that can't be ignored - consumers are leaving their credit cards at home in favor of other methods of payment that may be less risky.

According to USA Today, it seems that many spenders may be choosing to use their own finances when buying gifts because the method helps them stay within a budget.

"With cash, you know you've got a finite amount of money to spend, so you'll avoid those impulse purchases more," Mike Newbold, president of Huntington Bank for Indiana, told the news source. "With a credit card, you make that purchase but then kind of defer the pain until later."

According to research from America's Research Group, approximately 16.3 percent of shoppers used a credit card when buying gifts and other items over the Black Friday weekend. That number is small in comparison to the 30.9 percent who used credit cards in 2009.

The news source reports that many have been unable to use credit cards this seasons because they hold large amounts of debt. According to MSNBC, one of the best ways to eliminate a credit card balance is to use personal funds when making purchases.