Australia’s Christmas Spending Statistics 2018

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How much will Aussies spend on Christmas this year?
- $25 billion collectively
- $1,325 per person
Which state is spending the most?
State Christmas spend
WA $1,416
VIC $1,304
NSW $1,301
QLD $1,275
SA $1,250
Which generation is spending the most?
- Gen X will be forking out the most, with the average spend at $1,396
- Baby Boomers are spending the least this Christmas, clocking in at $1,234 per person on average
What are they spending it on?
- Most of our hard-earned cash is going towards purchasing presents ($464)
- One in two (50%) Aussies will spend big on travel
- Across Australia $1 billion will be spent on Christmas decorations
- Almost half of Australia (43%) plans to donate to charity this Christmas
Who spends most on what demographic?
Bah, humbug! Baby Boomers ($37) will be spending almost half of what Gen X ($76) will be spending on charity donations, with Gen Y a close second at $61.
Not only will Victorians spend the most on travel, forking out $503 over the season, they are also most likely to travel.
On average women plan to spend more on Christmas gifts than men. Splashing out $496 on their friends and family in comparison to $432.
Food and alcohol spend
- A Christmas ham will be gracing the table of over half of households this silly season (most popular food)
- Turkey is the least popular choice with only one third of households sitting down to a turkey feast
- On average Aussies will spend $131 on alcohol per person
- On average Aussies will spend $122 on food per person
How many Aussies are planning on cutting down?
14 million Aussies plan on reducing their Christmas spend this year
How are they going to cut down?
- 51% will set a spend limit when purchasing gifts
- Over one in 10 will re-gift
- 17% will be doing Secret Santa
- Over one in eight will avoid buying presents altogether
Tips on how to save
Start a budget
It might seem like the most well-known trick in the book, but there’s a good reason for that. Setting a budget on everything from food to presents and travel is a great way to cut down costs. If you share your proposed budget with your partner or a family member you’re more likely to stick to it and avoid unnecessary spending.
Make the most of the sales
There a number of sales from now till Christmas. Drop a note in your calendar to make sure you don’t miss out on bagging a bargain.
Beware the "one click" trap
Don’t keep your credit card saved if you’re prone to impulse purchases. The more time you have to do a sense check and evaluate whether you really need what’s in your shopping cart the better.
Set a spend limit
Chat to your friends and family and set a spend limit on gifts, this way you won’t end up getting carried away and forking out more than you have. It’ll also help you avoid any gift-giving awkwardness.

State	Christmas spend
WA	$1,416
VIC	$1,304
NSW	$1,301
QLD	$1,275
SA	$1,250

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Written by

Anneka Diaz

Consumer advocate

Anneka Diaz is the PR specialist at Finder. She has a Bachelor of Arts (Communications) from The University of Technology Sydney. She has written about personal finance for the last three years and has her roots in the tech and telco space. More recently she has written about a broader range of topics including energy, credit cards and travel insurance. When Anneka isn't busy trying to help Aussies save money you'll find her scouring the Internet for cheap flights and daydreaming about her next holiday adventure. See full bio

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Australia’s Christmas Spending 2018

Whether it’s Secret Santa, regifting or buying in bulk - Aussies are doing Christmas on a budget this year.

Anneka Diaz

More guides on Finder

Australia’s Christmas Spending 2018

Whether it’s Secret Santa, regifting or buying in bulk - Aussies are doing Christmas on a budget this year.

Plain Text Version: Christmas Spending Statistics

Anneka Diaz

More guides on Finder

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