Mar 16, 2026

Question of the Day: How much are Americans expected to spend in total on St. Patrick's Day this year?

Many Americans are “Dublin” down on celebrating!
Answer: $7.7 billion

 

Questions:

  • Why do you think people spend so much on a holiday that most of them rate as low-effort?
  • If you added up every "minor" holiday you spend money on throughout the year, how much do you think it would total?
  • What strategies could you use to celebrate holidays without blowing your budget?

 

Click here for the ready-to-go slides for this Question of the Day you can use in your classroom. 

 

Behind the numbers (NRF): 

"As celebration climbs, so does spending. Total spending on the holiday is expected to reach a record $7.7 billion, up from $7 billion last year. Unsurprisingly, top purchases for the holiday are food and beverages — did someone say Irish stew and a Guinness?."

 

About the Author

Dave Martin

Dave joins NGPF with 15 years of teaching experience in math and computer science. After joining the New York City Teaching Fellows program and earning a Master's degree in Education from Pace University, his teaching career has taken him to New York, New Jersey and a summer in the north of Ghana. Dave firmly believes that financial literacy is vital to creating well-rounded students that are prepared for a complex and highly competitive world. During what free time two young daughters will allow, Dave enjoys video games, Dungeons & Dragons, cooking, gardening, and taking naps.

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