Tips on how to avoid creeping expenses and a holiday hangover
in January
TORONTO, Dec. 16, 2016 /CNW/ - Canadians plan to spend an
average of nearly $600 on this
year's holiday shopping, 8 per cent less than last year, yet
more than half (51 per cent) expect to go over budget in the
exuberance of the festive season, a new CIBC (TSX: CM)
(NYSE: CM) poll finds.
"The danger comes from what's not wrapped – the entertaining,
travelling, or even tempting Boxing
Day sales and New Year's
festivities," says David Nicholson,
Vice-President, CIBC Imperial Service. "If we're not careful, these
unplanned expenses can derail even the most mindful budgeters and
lead to tighter finances, stress and even regret when the bills
come due."
Key poll findings include:
- $597 is the average amount
Canadians say they will spend on holiday shopping, compared to
$652 last year
- Albertans will spend 6 per cent more this season at
$688, while Ontarians and
Quebecers cut their holiday shopping budgets by 12 per cent
and 10 per cent, respectively.
- Despite trimming their shopping budgets by 7 per cent,
those in Atlantic Canada are still
the country's top gift-buyers, spending $803.
- Millennials are reducing their holiday spend by 14 per
cent to about $400 on
average.
- 51 per cent expect to go over budget and carry some
holiday debt, with many (13 per cent) anticipating that they
will feel 'a little guilty' or the 'pain' of overspending when
their bill comes due in January.
- 57 per cent pay off their credit card balances in full
and 13 per cent say they don't use a credit card, while
nearly a third (29 per cent) carry their debt forward.
Millennials more apt to overspend
Millennials are more apt to buy on credit than those aged 35+
(60 per cent vs. 52 per cent) and one in five
(20 per cent) expect their shopping to result in them
feeling 'a little guilt' or 'pain' when their card bills come due.
They also tend to carry card debt longer, with nearly half (48
per cent) carrying credit card debt forward for more than a
year, including 18 per cent who say they can't remember the
last time their balance was zero.
The poll findings also show that nearly two-thirds of Generation
X-ers (35-54 years) with card debt either carry balances forward
one year or more or can't recall the last time they had a zero
balance.
"While most Canadians use their credit card responsibly, it's
very easy to get swept up by the holiday spirit and carried away
with spending," says Mr. Nicholson. "The best way to stay cheerful
is to spend within your means."
The poll also shows that the likelihood to overspend over the
holidays is true for all Canadians regardless of age or income. In
fact, more than half (52 per cent) with higher incomes break
their budget, adds Mr. Nicholson.
"Feeling the pressure of the holiday season is something we all
share," says Mr. Nicholson. "At this time of year, it's really
important to talk to your family and friends about gift-buying
expectations and entertaining costs. The holidays hold a lot of
emotion and tradition, so the more you can manage expectations, the
less stress you'll have and the easier it will be on your
budget."
Tips to avoid financial pain after the holidays:
1.
|
Reboot
expectations – While every family and tradition is different,
talk to your family and friends about setting spending limits or be
creative and consider making new traditions as alternatives to
expensive outings and gift buying.
|
2.
|
Track your
spending and check it twice – Be aware of what you're spending
in stores and online, include everything from gifts, party clothes,
tips, entertaining and travel costs. Use tracking tools, such as
CIBC CreditSmart, to help you avoid creeping expenses.
|
3.
|
Go Prepaid -
set a hard limit with a reloadable prepaid card. CIBC Smart™
Prepaid Visa* Card can help you stick to your budget by pre-setting
your day-to-day discretionary spending.
|
4.
|
Entertain at
home – Avoid hefty restaurant bills by entertaining family and
friends at home. Consider sharing costs of food and drink with
'BYO' meals or potluck for additional cost savings.
|
5.
|
Be smart about
credit – If paying by credit card, choose the one that
works best for you. While paying on credit offers considerable
consumer benefits and rewards, stay on top of your money and avoid
late fees with alerts sent to your phone or email. This will help
you reap rewards benefits and avoid the pain of carrying balances
forward and incurring interest.
|
6.
|
Seek advice –
If you get to January fearing the bill of your holiday spend, don't
worry: You're not alone. Talk to an advisor to help you create a
budget to manage your cash flow, and set you on the right track for
2017 so that you only take on debt that can be comfortably managed
and paid off.
|
KEY POLL FINDINGS:
Average amount Canadians say they plan to spend on holiday
shopping this year, by region:
|
2016
|
2015
|
All
Canadians
|
$597
|
$652
|
British
Columbia
|
$529
|
$557
|
Alberta
|
$688
|
$649
|
Manitoba/Saskatchewan
|
$647
|
$709
|
Ontario
|
$670
|
$759
|
Quebec
|
$406
|
$450
|
Atlantic
Canada
|
$803
|
$867
|
Average amount Canadians say they plan to spend on holiday
shopping this year, by age:
|
2016
|
2015
|
18-34
years
|
$399
|
$464
|
35-54
years
|
$670
|
$706
|
55 years and
older
|
$693
|
$758
|
How Canadians expect
to feel in January, once the holiday season is over:
|
2016
|
Cheerful - I
stuck to my budget and paid my expenses in full
|
46%
|
Comfortable -
I went a little over budget, but I can cut some expenses to pay off
the debt within a month or two
|
38%
|
A little
guilty - I didn't really stick to a budget and expect to take
some time to get back to black after the holidays
|
10%
|
Painful -
Yikes! I got carried away in the holiday cheer and I'm afraid to
see what my bill looks like
|
3%
|
Indifferent –
I don't really keep track of my holiday spending; debt is a part of
life for me.
|
3%
|
How Canadians typically pay their credit card balances:
The complete
balance
|
57%
|
More than the minimum
payment, but I carry a balance forward to the next month
|
23%
|
The minimum payment,
I carry a balance forward to the next month
|
4%
|
I pay as much as I
can, when I can
|
2%
|
I don't
know
|
1%
|
Not
applicable
|
13%
|
Of those carrying card debt, how long Canadians carry a balance
on their card:
1-3 months
|
20%
|
4-6 months
|
13%
|
7 months to a
year
|
12%
|
1 year or
more
|
33%
|
I don't remember the
last time my balance was zero
|
22%
|
2016 Holiday Spending Poll Disclaimer:
From December 2nd to December 4th
2016 an online survey was conducted among 1,516 randomly
selected Canadian adults who are Angus Reid Forum panelists. The
margin of error—which measures sampling variability—is +/- 2.5%, 19
times out of 20. The results have been statistically weighted
according to education, age, gender and region (and in Quebec, language) Census data to ensure a
sample representative of the entire adult population of
Canada. Discrepancies in or
between totals are due to rounding.
About CIBC
CIBC is a leading Canadian-based global financial institution
with 11 million personal banking and business clients. Through our
three major business units - Retail and Business Banking, Wealth
Management and Capital Markets - CIBC offers a full range of
products and services through its comprehensive electronic banking
network, branches and offices across Canada with offices
in the United States and around the world. Ongoing news
releases and more information about CIBC can be found
at www.cibc.com/ca/media-centre/ or by following on
Twitter @CIBC, Facebook (www.facebook.com/CIBC) and
Instagram @CIBCNow.
SOURCE Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce