Americans are optimistic about their finances and plan to splurge this holiday season, survey finds

Morningstar ^ | 11/16/2021 | Kathleen Wiles

[SaxxonWoods]

People expect to spend more on holiday travel, celebrations and 'big ticket experiences,' such as concerts or sporting events, a MassMutual survey found.

It's the most wonderfully expensive time of the year, and people are expecting to spend big.

A new survey from MassMutual shows that consumers are feeling optimistic about their finances -- and are planning to spend $1,243 on average on holiday-related purchases this season. For comparison, the national median rent was $1,312 in October, according to a report from Apartment List.

The MassMutual Consumer Spending & Saving Index surveyed 1,000 U.S. adults online between Oct. 18 and Oct. 22, 2021.

The survey found that despite record-high inflation, 73% of Americans said they're feeling optimistic about their finances. Thirty-five percent said they're feeling "very optimistic" about their finances, up from 27% in July and 21% in February.

[SaxxonWoods]

Here comes Santa Claus Here comes Santa Claus

[US_MilitaryRules]

lol

[kosciusko51]

Great, but it won’t arrive in time due to the supply-chain issues. LGB

[SaxxonWoods]

Sounds like you are in the 27% who aren’t optimistic.

[DIRTYSECRET]

Bidenomics right? No-we were wrong.

[rlmorel]

Good gosh, who are they surveying?

[SaxxonWoods]

Orders are already up as people know delivery is slow. My wife has already done a lot of her Christmas orders.

[proust]

Survey says everything is awesome in Biden’s America.

[Jeff Chandler]

Mrs. Chandler completed our Christmas shopping last week, and everything has been delivered.

[PTBAA]

Perhaps they know there dollars will be less each day going forward and have decided to spend them now while they can still buy something. (The rational response to accelerating inflation.)

[SaxxonWoods]

Me, I guess.

Only 27% are pessimistic.

I’ve noticed the FR is heavy on doom and gloom.

[PTBAA]

there = their

[dfwgator]

Well we only have 9 and a half years left, anyway, so why not live it up?

[SaxxonWoods]

Americans are sitting on more cash than usual per capita and they are spending.

Individuals differ of course but that’s the lay of the land.

[SaxxonWoods]

“Well we only have 9 and a half years left, anyway, so why not live it up?”

Given my age, I agree!

[SaxxonWoods]

“Well we only have 9 and a half years left, anyway, so why not live it up?”

Given my age, I agree!

[BitWielder1]

More like: "Let's spend the cash while it's still worth something."

[z3n]

Good gosh, who are they surveying?

~~~

Silicon valley execs

[rktman]

Inflation? Psshaw. We can afford it. Right mx rhule?

[SaxxonWoods]

No, they are surveying America.

FR is the most gripey, negative site I follow.

Most people are optimistic, doing OK and spending.