More New Yorkers plan to up holiday spending | Business

COLONIE - Sammi Gelhaus searched for the perfect Webkinz for her little sister at a Hallmark store Tuesday, and she wasn't worried about the price.

Last Christmas, Sammi was unemployed, but now that she's working in her family's business, there's more money to spend.

"I guess I'm just more confident in buying stuff this year because I have a more stable job," she said.

That sentiment was reflected in a new state wide Siena poll, that surveyed New Yorkers about their holiday spending plans.

Seven percent said they expect to shell out more this year than they did last year, up from four percent.

34 percent planned to cut back on gifts this year, not as many as a year ago.

55 percent said they will spend about the same as last year.

The manager at the gift store Pearl Grant Richmonds in Stuyvesant Plaza  said they're already seeing an uptick in spending.

"Maybe last year it was just one item per family member, this year it's I wanna get them this one but this one ties in it's very cute let's get it along with that," said manager Margeret Ressmeyer.

The poll also found that 83 percent of New Yorkers plan to pay for presents with cash or debit cards.

"I will definitely spend with cash because I won't put myself in debt to pay for Christmas," said Sue Spinelli, a Grafton resident.

"I'm more of a cash girl, I don't like to run up credit cards," said Adrienne Quickenton, of Rotterdam.

For Sammi Gelhaus, another reason to spend a little more this holiday - the many sales at the mall.

"I was just walking down the mall and and I had at least two people coming out of the stats, and being like we have sales going on," she said.

As for the total holiday gift budget, 63 percent of New Yorkers said they'll try to keep it under $600, the same as last year.

But over a quarter of the residents surveyed said they'll spend more than a thousand dollars, the highest number of people with that outlook in five years.