Can Bay Staters Afford to Deck the Halls This Holiday Season?
Stockings may be hung by the chimney with care, but they’ll feel a bit lighter this year for families in Massachusetts.
According to new MOA polling, nearly half of Massachusetts voters say they plan to spend less on holiday gifts this year than they did in 2024. Forty-five percent of voters report cutting back on holiday spending, up sharply from the 36% who said the same thing last year.
Parents are feeling the squeeze most acutely, with 41% of respondents with children under 18 planning to spend less on gifts this year. Considering Massachusetts is already one of the most expensive places in the country to raise a child, it’s no surprise that holiday budgets are among the first to be trimmed.
That strain is especially pronounced among lower- and middle-class households. Forty-eight percent of residents earning between $50,000 and $100,000 say they plan to spend less on gifts this year, along with 56% of those making under $50,000.
Those cutbacks reflect broader pressures across the state. Massachusetts has become an increasingly expensive place to live, work, and do business. High housing costs, rising taxes, and everyday expenses leave families with less room in their budgets, whether for holiday gifts or long-term planning.
Not So Merry Outlook For 2026
This frugal holiday season is just the latest symptom of our struggling state economy. In fact, more than four in ten voters say they feel pessimistic about the economy heading into the new year.
For families already cutting back, tax relief – like an MOA-inspired income tax cut headed to the 2026 ballot – is one concrete step toward easing the financial strain many households are facing.
Residents should have the confidence to spend, to invest, and to plan for the future they want. Instead, many Massachusetts families are approaching the holiday season with caution, and with little hope that relief is in sight. It’s a signal to policymakers that delivering a more affordable Massachusetts must be a top resolution in the New Year.
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