For the third year in a row the Red Cross conducted a national holiday giving survey. They polled more than a thousand people about their plans for spending and charitable giving over the holiday season. This year the survey found that 45 percent of people plan to cut back on spending on travel and holiday decorations. Two in five plan to reduce spending on parties and more than a third are cutting back on their gift budgets. The fewest number of people report that they’re cutting back on charitable giving. One in four say they’re reducing their donations.

Men and women tend to respond to holiday budgets and spending differently. Forty-three percent say they feel bad about spending less on friends and family. Women are typically more concerned about giving meaningful and practical gifts. Of those questioned, three in give say they feel bad about spending money on a gift that ends up not being used. Just 48 percent of men feel the same way.

Women are more likely to say that charity helps them get into the holiday spirit. Men are more likely put their money where their mouth is and give to worthy causes. Roughly one in three men will be giving more than $100. When it comes to women one in five will be giving more than $100. The economy has helped both men and women realize what’s important, with 66 percent of women and 49 percent of men saying they’re focusing more on what’s really important during the holidays. In a rush of guilt, 71 percent of women say they feel bad they can’t give more while 49 percent of men feel the same.

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