SCRATCH

Holidays Well Spent

“I just never realized how much ornaments add up!” Seventeen people on the streets of New York City talk to us about holiday spending.

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By Julia Rothman and Shaina Feinberg

Julia is an illustrator. Shaina is a writer and filmmaker.

Dec. 14, 2023

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The holidays can be festive and joyous, but they can also be a strain financially. There’s pressure to buy gifts, travel, attend gatherings and “celebrate” days like Black Friday and Cyber Monday.

This season, Americans plan to spend $1,652 on average, which is 14 percent higher than last year, according to the 2023 Deloitte holiday survey. At the same time, people are feeling the crunch of inflation, student loan repayments (which resumed this fall) and dwindling savings accounts.

We’re feeling it, too:

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Julia, illustrator of this column

“I hosted our co-op’s holiday party/board meeting and bought snacks like cheese and crackers and wine, which came to around $175. Since when is a box of crackers $9?”