How Much You’re Really Spending on Christmas
Updated: Nov. 07, 2022
Factor in decorations and gifts, and the cost of Christmas really adds up.
When Christmas rolls around, it’s easy to get lost in trying to find the best gift and forget about the cost of everything. It’s important to also remember that Christmas expenses extend beyond just gift buying. There’s the tree, decorations, and plenty of other expenses if you’re hosting a get-together. Also, make sure to use these savvy tips to save on Christmas shopping.
How much does the average person spend for Christmas?
A Gallup study found that consumers anticipate spending $920 on holiday stuff this year. That’s an increase from $885 the previous year, and total holiday spending is expected to top $1 trillion.
The study broke down a range of spending.
- 37 percent are expected to spend at least $1,000 on gifts
- 21 percent expect to spend between $500 to $999
- 27 percent expect to spend around $100 to $499
- 3 percent anticipate spending less than $100.
What is a reasonable amount of money to spend on Christmas?
Dave Ramsey did the math on what’s a reasonable amount of money to spend on Christmas but didn’t come away with a clear conclusion. He did say that the average amount spent on gifts the previous year was $800, and the average household income is around $50,000. So you can use that as a baseline and increase it or decrease it proportionally based on how much you make. Not surprisingly, he suggests just buying gifts for children in the case of a budget crisis.
How much to spend on Christmas gifts
Determining how much to spend on a Christmas gift can be tricky, especially if you do a gift exchange. Spend too much and you look like a showoff, spend too little and you look cheap.
Jodi RR Smith told the Los Angeles Times that you should spend $20 and up for gifts for cousins and siblings. She said to spend $25 and up for nieces and nephews, $20 and up for parents and in-laws, $15 and up for friends and $10 to $15 for coworkers.
How much does the average American spend on Christmas decorations?
Based on a survey conducted by Statista, the average American will spend $61 on Christmas decorations. Meanwhile, an average live evergreen tree will cost $78 and artificial Christmas trees will range from $30 to $100. Looking to save even more?
