How much should you spend to avoid post-holiday blues in Arizona?

PHOENIX — The holidays are right around the corner, which means people across Arizona are getting ready to open their hearts — and their wallets — to have a good time.

But the coming of the holiday season does not mean you have to burn a hole in your wallet.

The personal finance website WalletHub recently calculated the average amount each resident in major Arizona cities should spend in order to avoid the post-holiday blues.

For those who are living in Tucson, we have some not-so-cheery news: You will only be able to spend an average of $391 — the lowest budget in Arizona — this holiday season to avoid going into debt.

But Gilbert residents have a little more leeway: They can spend about $1,256 on holiday tricks and treats without breaking the bank.

The Phoenix suburb also ranked as the 57th-highest budget in the nation.

Scottsdale fell shortly behind Gilbert, with an average holiday budget of $1,086. Goodyear was the third Arizona city to break the $1,000 budget range — with an average budget of $1,000.

Chandler, Peoria, Surprise, Flagstaff, Avondale, Tempe, Mesa, Phoenix and Glendale all fell within the middle of the pack, with average holiday budgets ranging from Chandler’s $807 to Glendale’s $514.

Phoenix, for what it’s worth, had an average holiday budget of $523, 414th in the nation and the fourth-lowest in Arizona.

Yuma joined Tucson as the second Arizona city that failed to break the $500 mark at $432.

People across the country are expected to spend more than ever this holiday season. According to the National Retail Federation, the average person will spend $967 during the holidays, a 3.4 percent jump over last year.

WalletHub calculated each city’s average holiday budget by suing five key population characteristics, including average income, age and savings-to-monthly expenses ratio.

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