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BMO’s Real Financial Progress Index: Holiday spending may be cut, but consumers still plan to give to charity 

November 8, 2023 | Customers

As holiday shopping begins, the latest BMO Real Financial Progress Index found that inflation and rising costs of living are causing 74 percent of Americans to cut down on the number of gifts they buy this year. In fact, 82 percent of Americans say their overall financial situation is causing anxiety, with only 6 percent planning to increase what they typically spend and buy more gifts.

Specifically, Americans say inflation and rising costs of living are causing them to adjust holiday shopping plans this year. Top changes Americans say they will make are:

  • Buy less expensive gifts (38 percent)
  • Reduce spending and make fewer big purchases (34 percent)
  • Cut down on holiday gift lists (26 percent)
  • Spread out purchases over several weeks or months (28 percent)

Adding to the stress of the holidays, more than half of Americans (55 percent) say they plan to take on debt to cover holiday gifts – up from 52 percent this time last year – with nearly half using a credit card (46 percent), followed by other means such as buy-now-pay-later programs (9 percent) or a line of credit (3 percent). On average, Americans say it will take them as long as three months to pay off their holiday gifts, with fewer than half feeling like they can free themselves from their holiday debts within a calendar month (46 percent).


“The holidays are still several weeks away, which means now is the perfect time for Americans to build a holiday spending budget to get a clear picture of how much they can afford to allocate toward gifts, travel and holiday gatherings. Given that so many Americans plan to put their holiday gifts on credit cards, a holiday budget will not only help prepare them to stay on track toward long-term real financial progress, but also alleviate the financial anxiety the majority of Americans say they have associated with holiday spending.”

– Paul Dilda
Head of U.S. Consumer Strategy at BMO


Despite spending less due to inflation, Americans still in a spending mood 

The research found that about half of Americans often spend more money than they know they should (51 percent), and according to BMO Economics, American shoppers recently ended the third quarter the way they started it: in a spending mood.


“It’s important to note, spending does look to downshift from the 4 percent annualized pace of the third quarter, although it should still remain at around half that rate throughout the rest of the fourth quarter of 2023 – which is notable considering the more than 5 percentage points of Fed rate hikes. We saw a significant pickup in real wages, employment growth and confidence boosted spending this past summer – but the latter looks to fade while households deal with higher interest rates and student loan repayments.”

– Michael Gregory
Deputy Chief Economist, BMO


Additionally, following the second consecutive Fed decision not to raise rates on Nov. 1, Gregory added, “That could be evidence that a prolonged pause may be unfolding, but it’s still premature to rule out another rate hike in December or January to further tame inflation.”

Regardless of economic concerns, Americans’ charitable giving plans remain strong 

While rising costs of living and inflation are enough to cause most consumers to spend less on holiday gifts, nearly two in three Americans (63 percent) plan to give back.

  • How Americans give back: The top three ways Americans plan to give back are by contributing money to a cause (35 percent) and volunteering time (23 percent)
  • Why Americans give back: Most Americans say helping people in need motivates them the most (64 percent), followed by supporting causes they care about (54 percent), and to teach their kids about the importance of giving (31 percent).
  • Who plans to give the most: Younger Americans ages 18 to 24 are more interested in giving back (73 percent). That’s compared to 67 percent of those ages 25-34, 68 percent of those 35-44, 56 percent of those 45-54, 57 percent of those 55-64, and 62 percent of Americans 65 and above.

“The feeling that comes with making a lasting impact is unforgettable: that’s what philanthropic giving does, and it doesn’t have to be a million dollars to make a real difference. For those who have the resources to make purposeful contributions that will support progress in their communities, working with a professional will help Americans be more thoughtful with their donations and volunteer work.”

– Brook Kramer
Head of Philanthropy and Impact, BMO Family Office


For Americans looking to give back this holiday season, there are a variety of options available:

  • Donate directly: Donate cash or other assets to a charity’s general fund for unrestricted use, or to a restricted fund for a specific project. Donate appreciated publicly traded stock that you’ve held for more than one year.
  • Donate through your will or trust: Make testamentary gifts to charities in your will or trust by giving a set dollar amount or a portion of your estate or trust.
  • Designate a charity as the beneficiary of your Individual Retirement Account (IRA) or 401(k): Charities do not pay income tax on donations they receive from these accounts. However, you may need spousal consent in the case of a 401(k); check your state’s laws.
  • Establish a donor-advised fund (DAF) or your own private foundation (PF): Both a DAF and PF offer an immediate income tax deduction in the year of the gift and allow you to distribute the funds over an extended period of time.

To learn more about charitable giving, including additional tips, visit https://uswealth.bmo.com/insights/exploring-charitable-giving-and-beyond.

To find out how BMO helps customers make financial progress, visit: https://www.bmo.com/us.

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