Each year, millions of Americans look forward to hosting family and friends for gatherings during the winter holiday season. From Thanksgiving feasts and Friendsgiving dinners to Christmas brunches and New Year’s Eve parties, these gatherings in November and December are among the country’s most popular traditions. However, for many, the joy of hosting is tempered by the financial demands it brings. Rising prices and ongoing economic pressures mean that the cost of hosting has become a significant consideration for households, affecting everything from the decorations to the guest list.
Our 2024 Holiday Hosting Report captures insights from a November survey of more than 1,700 U.S. adults, exploring how Americans plan and budget for holiday gatherings. The report reveals that cost is a top-of-mind concern for hosts, with many feeling the pinch of inflation and adjusting their plans accordingly. From increased food costs to rising pressures to overspend, holiday hosting now demands careful financial planning, especially as Americans seek to balance fun with realistic budgets.
Key Takeaways
- A majority of Americans plan to host or attend gatherings this holiday season. In 2024, 57% of U.S. adults plan on hosting a holiday gathering, and 70% plan to attend one.
- Hosts often “carry the load” of organizing multiple holiday gatherings for their social circles. Across all age and income groups, the average host puts on 2 to 3 holiday events each season.
- Gen Zers host the largest parties, while millennials anticipate the highest expenses. Gen Z hosts expect around 18 guests per gathering — 2 more than the average — while millennials lead in spending, budgeting $878 for holiday hosting.
- Holiday hosts feel the strain of high prices. Nearly half (44%) feel pressure to spend more than they should, and a similar portion (45%) expect that hosting will strain their household budget.
- Food is the leading holiday hosting expense, representing the largest spending category for nearly two-thirds of hosts.
Holiday Social Plans
This year, 57% of U.S. adults plan on hosting a holiday gathering that includes guests from outside their household, such as extended family, friends, neighbors, or coworkers. Additionally, 70% of American adults plan to attend such get-togethers. Activities related to Christmas, Thanksgiving, and New Year’s are the top reasons for getting together, with younger generations and higher-income households more likely to host.
Gen Z and millennials are the most likely to organize, with 65% of each group planning to host, compared to 59% of Gen X and 48% of baby boomers. Income also strongly influences hosting rates. While 44% of households earning less than $25,000 plan to host, this figure rises steadily with earnings, reaching 82% among those making over $200,000.
Despite widespread enthusiasm for holiday gatherings, practical barriers prevent some Americans from hosting. Among those opting out, the most common reasons are limited space (38%) and the cost of hosting (26%). Consequently, those who do host often find themselves shouldering the responsibility of organizing multiple holiday get-togethers each season — typically hosting 2 or 3 events for family and friends.
Holiday Party Sizes and Budgets
When it comes to party sizes and budgets, holiday gatherings show a clear trend: Larger parties and bigger hosting budgets are most common among younger and wealthier Americans. Gen Z expects the largest gatherings, with an average of 18 guests per event, while millennials plan to spend the most, budgeting $878 for the season, or about $345 per party.
By comparison, baby boomers and the Silent Generation anticipate smaller gatherings of around 12 guests, with total hosting budgets of $447 and $265 for the year, respectively. High-income households earning $200,000 or more per year are set to host the largest and most expensive events, with an average of 20 guests per event and a total budget of $1,005 for the year — or roughly $420 per party.
On average, hosts spend around $18 per guest per party, though this varies by age and income, ranging from $12 to $23 per person. Overall, nearly 40% of Americans plan to increase their holiday hosting budget this year, while only 11% expect to cut back.
Top Spending Categories and Payment Methods
For holiday hosts, food stands out as the primary expense, with nearly two-thirds (66%) citing it as their top spending category. Alcoholic beverages come next, cited as the largest expense by 13% of hosts, followed by gifts, decorations, and entertainment.
While food was overwhelmingly the top choice across demographic groups, the highest earners and millennials were more likely to pick alcoholic beverages as their largest expense. Among those earning at least $200,000, 32% selected alcohol as their top spending category, which is about 2.5 times higher than average. Among millennials, 18% chose alcohol, which was the highest of any age group.
When it comes to paying, debit cards (55%) and cash (44%) are the most commonly used for holiday expenses. However, among high earners, credit cards — paid off in full — are the top choice, with 61% of respondents in this group preferring them, compared to the 42% average. Higher-income households leverage credit cards for perks, such as travel rewards and cash-back, while lower-income families miss out on these benefits.
The Financial Burden of Holiday Parties
Approximately 6 out of every 10 hosts report feeling stressed out about the cost of entertaining. Younger hosts feel the financial pressure most acutely, with 74% of Gen Z and millennials expressing stress about these costs. Nearly half of all hosts (44%) feel pressured to spend more than they’re comfortable with, while 45% expect that holiday hosting will place a strain on their household budget.
When asked about high prices, 60% of hosts say that inflation has affected their holiday hosting plans, with younger and lower-income hosts feeling the impact most acutely. To cope with high costs, many plan to cut back on decorations or reduce spending in other areas of their lives. Other common options include trimming holiday gift budgets and limiting the guest list. Notably, fewer hosts are willing to scale back on food or alcohol.
The vast majority of hosts (75%) ask guests to bring something to the gathering, with side dishes, appetizers, snacks, and alcohol being the most popular requests. If you’re a host feeling the pressure of higher prices this year, remember that many guests expect to contribute — and most are happy to help.
Methodology
The survey was conducted within the U.S. by Upgraded Points from November 1 to 7, 2024, sampling 1,721 U.S. adults aged 18 and older, of whom 974 plan to host a holiday gathering. For this study, a holiday party is defined as a private (non-corporate) gathering to celebrate a specific fall or winter holiday, including guests from outside the respondent’s household. While gatherings may include household members, they are not limited to immediate family living in the same home, and corporate or company holiday parties are explicitly excluded from this definition. Outliers and incomplete responses were removed from the analysis to improve relevance.
Final Thoughts
This year, more than half of U.S. adults are planning to host holiday gatherings, but many are feeling the financial strain that comes with it. Our survey reveals that 45% of hosts expect their holiday events to put pressure on their household budgets, while 60% report feeling stressed about costs. With inflation continuing to impact household expenses, Americans are finding ways to adapt while not missing out entirely on holiday traditions. Many hosts are scaling back on decorations, reducing spending in other parts of their lives, or buying less expensive gifts to manage the cost of entertaining.
For those hosting, simple strategies like setting a firm budget and prioritizing spending on essential items, like food, can help keep costs under control. Hosts should also not hesitate to ask guests to pitch in with food or beverages, which many guests are more than willing to provide. Guests, in turn, can contribute meaningfully without overspending by bringing a small dish, a bottle of wine, or simply lending a hand with setup or cleanup.
