I took a vacation day today, mid-week three weeks before Christmas, hoping I could avoid the crowds at the mall. Not so. And I shouldn’t be surprised, based on the results of a survey I heard on the radio last week.

The survey, conducted by Visa Canada, suggests each British Columbian will spend an average $917 on Christmas presents this year. Think about that for a second…if the survey is even close, couples will spend more than $1,800 on presents.

No wonder the malls were packed. That’s a lot of cash to spend in just a few short weeks.

I’d really like to know if this even in the ballpark. I expect to spend $600 tops. That includes a couple of family birthdays within two weeks of Christmas…and giving Santa an assist with goodies for my son…and maybe a present for myself. Of course, I could just be cheap.

Doing a quick Internet search about Christmas and spending, I stumbled upon a truly frightening story. In the UK, it is estimated that 4.2 million credit card holders are still paying off last year’s Christmas debts.
Further, the article says folks in the 30 to 50 age group tend to take on average three-and-a-half months to pay their Christmas debts.

This blog is kind of rambling and in an attempt to wrap it up, be careful out there. Know you budget and stick to it. And have a Merry Christmas.