Average holiday spending: How do you compare?

Posted: 1:08 p.m. November 25, 2009

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Holiday spending seems neverending. Think of the list: the mailman, the babysitter, the school teacher, the manicurist, the pedicurist, the hairdresser, the kids, the husband, the wife, the boss you don't even like.

The list is long, not to mention expensive. Researchers surveyed the average holiday shopper and found just how much they were spending on certain people and certain gifts.

Gifts for family- $395.15
Gifts for friends- $80.13
Co-workers- $22.63
Other gifts- $36.88
Decorations- $43.45
Candy and food- $80.28
Cards and postage- $27. 39
Flowers- $19.10

Grand total: $705.01

"And how would you like to pay for this?"

Times have changed since 2002, when the majority of purchases were paid for with cash. In 2008, only 20% of purchases were paid for with cash, while 33% of gifts were bought with a credit card.

The leading payment method? Debit cards-- perfect for those holiday shoppers who are concerned about spending money that they just don't have this year.