Minnesota Projected to Be in the Top 10 For Holiday Spending

It's officially the Holiday Season here. With the Holiday Season comes all of the gatherings, decorating, gift giving, and all of those things add up. Minnesotans are projected to be in the top 10 for holiday spending, averaging out to a whopping $1,146 spent per person. Now, when I first read that amount, I thought it was spending that much on EACH person you bought for. Nope, had to read it again, it's how much the average person spends for the holiday season, in total.

So what is the breakdown, where is our money going for the holidays? Holiday spending can be separated into three major categories:

• Gifts: The average American is willing to allocate about $660 from the holiday budget.
• Greeting cards and decorations: The average spending of about $230
• Non-gift spending and food: You can save money here by watching your budget and knowing what foods to not buy during the holiday season.

Interesting to note, North Dakota is in the number one spot:

10 States Where Consumers Will Spend the Most

1. North Dakota -- $1,394 per person
2. Vermont – $1,265
3. Maine – $1,251
4. Massachusetts – $ 1,240
5. Montana – $1,228
6. New Hampshire – $1,225
7. New Jersey – $1,207
8. Connecticut – $1,198
9. Hawaii – $1,176
10. Minnesota – $1,146

10 States Where Consumers Will Spend the Least

1. Mississippi – $893

2. New Mexico – $936

3. Arizona – $942

4. Ohio – $954

5. Oklahoma – $956

6. West Virginia – $966

7. Indiana – $968

8. South Carolina – $971

9. Arkansas – $978

10. Alabama – $980

I have a budget that I stick to, which is nowhere near the average amount spent. But, I also try to do more with friends and family that does not center around gifts. Christmas Movie Night at my house, where we enjoy each other's company, and all contribute to a meal is a huge hit.

Source: 247Wallst.com