Special offer

How Do People Spend Money During The Holidays?

By
Real Estate Agent with Keller Williams Realty

In 2007 Holiday Retail Sales in the US totalled 474.5 Billion dollars! It will be interesting to see if that number is scaled back this year. Want to see where people spent some of that money?

$9.3 billion in jewelry store sales lancaster pa gift

$5.8 billion in stores on hobbies, toys, and games

$19.8 billion in computer and vido game, console, and accessory sales

$700 million in candle sales

$26.3 billion in gift cards

30-35 million Christmas trees are sold in the US every year
20 billion cards, letters, and packages are delivered by the US Postal Service betwen Thanksgiving and Christmas
275 million first class cards and letters were mailed on December 17, 2007, the busiest mailing day of the year
67 million turkeys are eaten at Thanksgiving and Christmas
131 million pounds of eggnog were sold during the 2006 holiday season

In November and December of 2007, consumers piled up an estimated $12.8 Billion in new debt, according to Cardtrak.  (an organization that tracks credit card use) That is 16% of the total debt accumulated that year.

This info is courtesy of GOOD, a weekly series available at Starbucks. Starbucks partners with (RED) to generate money for the Global Fund to help eliminate AIDS in Africa. This cause is important to me and hits close to home, my husband and I adopted our daughter from Ethiopia in 2003. Visit joinred to learn more.

Consider giving a gift to someone around the world through Heifer International ; you can donate money to buy different animals for a family.  I love this organization because they aren't just handing out food, they are helping people become self sufficient, it really changes their lives and helps improve communities.

In 2007 the average American planned to spend $800 on holiday related shopping and $100 on themselves.  I bet that number will come down this year. 

Enjoy the holidays with your friends and loved ones!

Comments (10)

Valerie Springer
Benchmark Mortgage nmls 2143 - Birmingham, AL
Home Loan Officer AL, FHA, VA, Conventional and Re

Love the stats! International help is greatly needed.  We are so fortunate in the US even when our economy stinks!  Thanks for sharing.

Dec 11, 2008 11:56 AM
Rosalinda Morgan
Brookville, NY
"The Rose Lady"

Thanks for the stats.  Hope more people will buy jewelry.  It will greatly help my son who works for Zales in Temecula, CA mall.

Dec 11, 2008 12:04 PM
Patricia Aulson
BERKSHIRE HATHAWAY HOME SERVICES Verani Realty NH Real Estate - Exeter, NH
Realtor - Portsmouth NH Homes-Hampton NH Homes
I keep it somple....there's not need to be extravagant. Especially in this economy. One present each, a wonderful dinner with family and friends and a peacefully happy day. It is after all the birthday of Christ..... Patricia Aulson/ Hampton NH Real Estate
Dec 11, 2008 12:10 PM
Lauren Krady Lancaster
Keller Williams Realty - Lancaster, PA
PA Realtor

Valerie: You are right, we are so fortunate even when the economy stinks.  I teach my kids to be thankful for every meal and every glass of clean water ! 

Rosalinda: Jewelry is always a safe bet!

 

Dec 11, 2008 12:11 PM
Justin Ukaoma
Vizion KC - Kansas City, MO
Kansas City Real Estate Investments

Interesting statistics.  I often think about how fortunate we are to live the way we do in America.

Dec 11, 2008 12:14 PM
Lauren Krady Lancaster
Keller Williams Realty - Lancaster, PA
PA Realtor

We keep it simple to: each kid gets one or two gifts, we send gift money to the children we sponsor, spend the day with family etc.

Dec 11, 2008 12:31 PM
Ellie McIntire
Ellicott City Clarksville Howard County Maryland Real Estate - Ellicott City, MD
Luxury service in Central Maryland

$700 million on candles? That's insane and an awful lot of smelly wax. I always buy a bunch of extra toys for all the "toys for tots" collection bins. I prefer to give toys rather than money.

Dec 11, 2008 12:42 PM
Kathy Kooyman
Home Realty - Pella, IA

I think I'm in the wrong business, better start selling candles!

Dec 11, 2008 01:08 PM
Jesse Clifton
Jesse Clifton & Associates - Fairbanks, AK

I'm always amazed at what people spend their money on.. of course, my wife would say that 9.3 billion in jewels is a good start.  Merry Christmas!

Dec 11, 2008 04:12 PM
James Wexler
wexzilla.com - Scottsdale, AZ

it will be amazing to see what these numbers look like after this upcoming holiday season, I hope the same (or better !!)

Dec 12, 2008 04:52 AM