The holiday reports are in, and they show retail spending will increase across the board by about 3 percent this year, reaching its highest point since the Great Recession. Many reports indicate people are feeling more secure about their finances as a whole and are planning their purchases more strategically. You and your organization can help encourage these savers and arm them with good financial habits with these new resources from America Saves.
1. Get messages and resources from our partner resource packet
Our latest partner resource packet, Ring in the New Year with a New Financial You, is chock-full of blog and social media content, graphics, and useful resources and tools free for you to use, including holiday-related posts for #SavingsTipTuesday and #SavingsFactFriday. It even includes an article for you to guest post or rewrite as your own, 5 Steps to a New Financial You, with practical steps to help your constituents and clients establish their best financial path for 2017.
2. Hear what the economists have to say about holiday spending and saving
America Saves recently sat down with two economists who have differing views of the economy, the impact of these issues on the nation, and the implications to the financial well-being of individual households. In the first of four videos we’re calling America Saves Conversation with the Economists, we asked Aaron Klein, fellow in economic studies and policy director of the Initiative on Business and Public Policy at the Brookings Institution, and Mark Calabria, director of financial regulation studies at the Cato Institute, about the role of holiday spending in the nation’s economy.
The 30-minute conversation covers this annual boom and bust and a range of topics from behavioral economics, the value of time, and useful tips on getting through the holidays with budgets intact.
3. Share a free holiday budget worksheet
If last year is any indication, Americans can expect to spend an incredible $800 or more on gifts alone. To help savers set a holiday spending limit and stick do it, America Saves developed a free holiday budget printable. We even included categories that are easy to forget as part of holiday planning, such as tips for the baby sitter, year-end giving, and all the small expenses like wrapping paper.
Share the free holiday savings and spending plan with the savers you work with:
Get control of your holiday spending with this free holiday #budget printable from @AmericaSaves >> http://bit.ly/2e8XoQj #HolidaySavings
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4. Join the #HolidaySavings tweet chat
Join America Saves for a 45 minute power chat on savings and financial habits during and after the holidays.
Hashtag: #HolidaySavings
Featuring:
Aaron Klein, fellow of economic studies at Brookings Institution (@Aarondklein)
Mark Calabria, director of financial regulation studies at CATO Institute (@MarkCalabria)
Topic: Holiday Habits: Spending Less and Saving More
When: Thursday, December 8 at 2pm Eastern (iCalendar | Google Calendar | Outlook | Yahoo)