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Christmas day marks the climax of the holiday season as many Americans prepare for one last week of festivities from Dec. 25 to Jan. 1. Despite the moderately tame post-Christmas spending, however, 2011 holiday shoppers put quite a dent in the retail scene over the course of the last three months.

Outright.com provided statistics on holiday shopping, putting this year’s spending in perspective and making consumers more aware of the holiday debt hangover they could be headed for in January.

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Every year, U.S. consumers spend hundreds of dollars on gifts for family and friends, but have you ever wondered how much money and effort goes into just wrapping up those presents? The gift wrapping industry–yes, it has it’s own industry–is worth multiple billions and most of that comes directly during the holidays.

If you’re looking to cut the fat out of your holiday budget, consider using more cost-efficient ways of wrapping your gifts. At about five bucks per roll, you could be spending your money on much better presents, instead of devoting so much time, money and effort to the paper around them. Your wallet, the Earth and even the lucky gift receiver will thank you.

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By Casey Bond

The next Republican primary debate takes place tonight, and an issue that will likely be covered heavily is job creation. The current lack of jobs in the U.S. is negatively impacting the economy in a number of ways: Everything from a slowed economic recovery, to a struggling housing market, rising foreclosures and consumer debt, just to name a few.

It’s for this reason that everyone in the running for America’s next boss in 2012 has presented what they believe to be the job plan to slash unemployment rates and kick start the economy once again. The following is an infographic detailing the main job plan points from many of the candidates, as well as the current president (click to enlarge).

They say money can’t buy love, but it seems that’s exactly what we try to do each year when Valentine’s Day comes around. We’re not talking about a few greeting cards or chocolates here and there, either. Valentine’s Day has grown into a multi-billion dollar industry. That’s right, billion.

If you have never stopped to consider how much money you’ve basically thrown away over the years on frivolous Valentine’s gifts, perhaps the data in the graphic below will bring you to your senses. If you’re looking for ways to save money in 2011, try skipping the box of chalky heart candies this year and find a better use of your funds.

Americans have been experiencing increasing food prices, and it’s likely you’re searching for ways to make trips to the grocery store less expensive. Clipping coupons, buying wholesale and swapping in generic options can help you save money, but the first instinct for many Americans is to buy foods that are naturally less expensive.

Buying cheaper foods is certainly one way to cut the grocery bill, but what makes some foods so much more cost effective than others? Is has a lot to do with our government and what it chooses to subsidize. The following infographic demonstrates how much money the government allocates to the top agricultural subsidies in the U.S.

Recent data regarding consumer debt from a Consumer Reports survey, released just before the new year, revealed some startling facts about how the holiday season affects our bills. By the end of 2010, 13.6 million people had still not paid off their holiday debt from the year prior.

As you’ll see below, while about two-thirds didn’t bother to set a holiday budget (first mistake), a large number of those who did so still went over anyway. It seems Americans have a big problem when it comes to overspending.

Making New Year’s resolutions is an annual tradition for most, and as each new year approaches, many people take a look a close look at what parts of themselves they want to improve. Whether it’s saving money, paying off debt or living a little healthier, the goal is to be better off in the following December than you were in January.

That said, how many people actually follow through with their plans? More than half of the people who make New Year’s resolution don’t get past the first six months, but those that really commit to achieving their goals have a higher chance of success. Check out some of the most popular resolutions people make each year. Then tell us what your resolutions are and how you plan to accomplish them in 2011.

Santa’s sleigh may be powered by magical reindeer, but what if he had to go with another economical option to get around the globe every Christmas? Maybe Santa could benefit from switching to a hybrid. After all, we’ve talked a lot about saving and avoiding common money mistakes this holiday season, but you might find that expanding your concept of “holiday budgeting” will help you continue to save money well into the next year and beyond.

For example, while you’ve been applying your excellent budgeting skills while getting gifts for Christmas, have you stopped to think about all the money you’ve been spending just driving between shopping malls? Take a lesson from someone who does quite a bit of traveling during Christmas and see how much you could save by changing vehicles.

Whether or not you celebrate Christmas, you have probably heard the song “The 12 Days of Christmas” more times than you care to remember. Well, every holiday season, PNC calculates the cost of those gifts in their Christmas Price Index.

The infographic below shows how the cost of the items in the index have changed for 2010 (check out the 2009 12 Days of Christmas). Unfortunately, if you plan to buy your loved one everything from 12 drummers drumming to a partridge in a pear tree, budget for a nearly 10 percent increase in price over last year.

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They usually say “cash is king,” and they have a point.

Just take a trip down memory lane and try to remember all the bad presents you’ve received over the years. Well what if instead of those awful gifts, you received their cash value deposited into a savings account? You’d be surprised at how much a lifetime of bad presents amounts to.