Shoppers having record-breaking spending year

Average Florida family expected to spend over $700 this holiday

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Christmas is still weeks away, but many shoppers have already spent hundreds of dollars getting gifts for everyone on their list, helping to make 2012 a projected record-breaking spending year.

For shoppers in Florida, some spending amounts ranged from $200 to $3,000.

According to one study, the average for a Florida family is just under $750 and researchers say even more shoppers will be spending that money online, and that could mean big savings.

"We'll just say $200," shopper Jack Pike said. "$200 to $300 maybe, but probably $200."  

"I would say about $1,200 to $1,500," another shopper Gerald Hyman said.  

Showing each shopper has a different way of spending, shopper Constance Hammond said, "I spent a little bit more in gift cards and cash because I have additions to the family. So probably about $1,200."   

Talking to shoppers here in Jacksonville, the amount they are planning to spend is across the board.

But according to Topcashback.com, the average Florida family is expected to spend $749.51 this holiday.

This year's holiday shopping season is already off to a good start.

The average American spent $423 over Thanksgiving weekend. That's up six percent from the $398 spent that weekend last year, and some shoppers haven't even started.  

"The truth is I haven't gotten out there yet," Pike said. "We will. The wife and I. We will eventually and we've got a lot of people in the family and everything."  

The pick up is expected to start after December 10th.

The website comScore predicts that overall, online spending will increase this year by about 17 percent to $43.4 billion and make up about 10 percent of total retail spending this season.

Whether it's online or in the store, shoppers say what they really want for Christmas, is a good deal. 

"I've always done that way. That's the way I shop," shopper Pat Day said. "Certainly look around for the things that would be the best deal for the children, the people that I'm buying for."

If online shopping is for you, the website that did this study, Topcashback.com, says they have savings from more than 2,000 stores online, including big name stores like Walmart and Best Buy.

They say they can help shoppers get discounts of up to 80 percent on some items.