Americans planned to spend more on Easter in 2012, according to a report last week from the National Retail Federation. This year’s Easter spending was expected to be $16.8 billion. That’s an increase of 11% over 2011 Easter spending. $2.34 billion of that is for candy alone. Wow, that’s a lot of Peeps!
The NRF says the average adult was expected to spend $145.28 preparing for the Easter holiday. Here’s how they broke it down:
- Meals – $44.34
- Gifts – $20.57
- Apparel – $26.11
- Flowers – $10.50
- Decorations – $9.07
- Greeting Cards – $7.04
- Candy – $20.35
- Other – $7.32
Since these numbers are for the average adult, we’ll need to double them to find out what the average couple/family would spend: $290.56.
The Money Wise Pastor family spent about the same on Easter this year as we did last year – $197. That’s $93.56 less than the average couple/family, or $46.78 per adult. Here’s how it broke down for our family of 7:
- Meals – $50
- Gifts – $88
- Apparel – $0
- Flowers – $0
- Decorations – $0
- Greeting Cards – $0
- Candy – $19
- Other – $40 in gasoline to visit family
As you can see, we didn’t buy any new Easter outfits this year or flowers, decorations or greeting cards. We did spend quite a bit more on gifts than the average couple – and that’s because we have twice as many kids as they have.
We bought one gift for each child: Our 5-yr old daughter got sidewalk chalk and bubbles, our 9-yr old daughter got some pretty decorative magnets for her new magnet board in her room, our 11-yr old boy got earphones for his iPod, our 13-yr old boy got a volleyball (which we affectionately call “Wilson”), and our 15-yr old boy got a new baseball glove.
We spent a lot less on candy, and that’s because my skinny organic foodie wife doesn’t allow much of it in the house. While she was sleeping, I managed to smuggle in one solid milk chocolate bunny, one Cadbury Egg, and two Peeps for each child.
What about you? Did you spend more on your Easter celebration this year than last year? Why or why not?
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