2016’s Best & Worst Cities for Easter Celebrations
2:12 AMPosted by: Richie Bernardo
You know it’s Easter when grocery stores devote special aisles to chocolate bunnies and marshmallow peeps while the dairy section is perpetually depleted of eggs. Besides Valentine’s Day, it’s the other big “consumer” holiday that’s expected to rake in billions and give every American a toothache. But eating is just one part of the celebration. Most people dye their eggs in bright colors, hide them strategically around the home and let the kids loose for the egg hunt on Easter Sunday. At least that’s the Easter tradition that’s familiar to the roughly 80 percent of Americans who celebrate the occasion in some way.
For Christians, however, Easter is less of a commercial event than a holy experience. It not only marks the end of Lent — a 40-day period of fasting, reflection, prayer and repentance followed directly by Easter Sunday — but it also celebrates the resurrection of Jesus Christ and represents the “new covenant” between God and humanity. In observance of the holiday, many families will gather to attend a “sunrise service”, delight in an Easter feast and continue to share the messages of Christ.
But some Americans will feel the Easter spirit more than others, depending on where they live. To identify those areas, WalletHub compared the 100 largest cities based on 11 metrics that speak to an ideal Easter celebration. Our metrics range from “number of egg-hunt events per capita” to “percentage of Christian population.” Read on for the full ranking, money-saving tips from experts and our methodology. Make sure to also check out WalletHub’s Easter Facts & Stats infographic for fun facts about the holiday.
Main FindingsEmbed on your website<iframe src="//d2e70e9yced57e.cloudfront.net/wallethub/embed/19774/geochart-easter.html" width="556" height="347" frameBorder="0" scrolling="no"></iframe> <div style="width:556px;font-size:12px;color:#888;">Source: <a href="http://ift.tt/2omyFeF;
|
Overall Rank |
City |
Total Score |
‘Easter Observers’ Rank |
‘Easter Traditions’ Rank |
‘Kids’ Easter’ Rank |
‘Easter Weather’ Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 96 | Los Angeles, CA | 36.54 | 87 | 95 | 100 | 36 |
| 97 | Henderson, NV | 35.63 | 98 | 89 | 80 | 39 |
| 98 | Laredo, TX | 33.93 | 97 | 99 | 2 | 53 |
| 99 | North Las Vegas, NV | 33.02 | 99 | 98 | 14 | 44 |
| 100 | Hialeah, FL | 32.53 | 100 | 90 | 54 | 94 |
Tage S. Rai Postdoctoral Research Associate and Lecturer at the MIT Sloan School of Management
Robert Hooker Associate Professor in the Center for Supply Chain Management & Sustainability at the Muma College of Business at University of South Florida
Luca Cian Assistant Professor of Marketing in the Darden School of Business at University of Virginia
Marsha D. Loda Associate Professor at Augusta University
Warren Sackler Associate Professor Emeritus at the Rochester Institute of Technology
Rosa Abreu Assistant Professor of Hospitality Management at New York City College of Technology
Kristin Malek Assistant Professor of Hospitality Management at Kansas State University
Matt J. Goren Adjunct Professor at University of Georgia and Financial Literacy Educator, Advisor & Consultant
Natalie Mitchell Visiting Assistant Professor at Tulane University
What tips do you have for celebrating Easter on a budget? Give one egg or one chocolate or one gift. People tend not to respond to quantity, and so there are diminishing returns to giving several eggs or several chocolates. What are some of the big money wasters on Easter? All holidays suffer from the problem that gifts are expected. As such, the excitement they create is lower than when gifts are given at unexpected times. Consider the gentleman who brings his wife flowers on a random Tuesday versus the one who only brings them on special occasions. Also, when bringing gifts for families with two children, there may be an impulse to spend more on the older child. Never do this. Siblings don't care what they get as long as it is equal. Has Easter become too commercial? The exception to the above is that quantity will matter if people can compare. So if the neighbors give their children 20 eggs, then your child will demand 20 eggs, because now they have a point of reference, and so quantity can be evaluated. A generation ago, no one gave presents on Easter, and now that's commonplace. Why? Because someone started doing it, and then everyone had to. Robert Hooker Associate Professor in the Center for Supply Chain Management & Sustainability at the Muma College of Business at University of South Florida 
What tips do you have for celebrating Easter on a budget? What are some of the big money wasters on Easter? Consumer spending for Easter has been on the upswing the past few years. Consumers spent over $2B on candy alone, in 2016. For 2017, the National Retail Federation is forecasting upwards of $18B in total consumer spending for Easter in the U.S. Families may find that they can save money by planning ahead, making use of incentives offered on products they purchase. Sometimes, better deals may be found in-store vs online, or vice versa. Consumers should be aware that other products they buy, such as clothing, can often be purchased online and shipped to a local store for pickup, possibly saving time and money. Finally, there is always the option of picnic lunches at public parks, etc., as opposed to going out to restaurants, which can save money -- families may enjoy the time spend disconnecting from social media and TV, too! What money-saving tips do you have for people planning to travel for the Easter Holiday? If planning a trip, consumers might make use of package discounts on travel found through club memberships, or through flexible airline tickets and travel dates. Luca Cian Assistant Professor of Marketing in the Darden School of Business at University of Virginia 
In evaluating the best cities to celebrate Easter, what are the top five indicators? I would suggest that one should ask herself / himself what are the most important things that s/he seeks in Easter -- is it cozy family time? Is it fun and excitement? Is it relaxation? Is it a spiritual connection? What is the time and monetary budget? Only after writing down the most important 5 things one wants to have during spring, one can look at the city that fits best the list. Usually, we use the other way around: we look at the city first, and then we think if it can fit our needs. However, it may be more satisfactory to think first about the values (what do I really want to do for Easter?) and then about the execution (which city fits best my needs now). Marsha D. Loda Associate Professor at Augusta University 
What tips do you have for celebrating Easter on a budget? Plan on a DIY celebration. Have fun as a family dying your own eggs and hiding them in your yard or a nearby park for “hunting.” Also, plan to have Easter lunch at home. Expensive restaurants are a money waster. Has Easter become too commercial? Easter is becoming more commercial and less religious and America becomes more secular. Chocolate bunnies and Easter egg baskets have replaced the cross as symbols of the holiday for an increasing number of Americans. Warren Sackler Associate Professor Emeritus at the Rochester Institute of Technology 
What tips do you have for celebrating Easter on a budget? Turn back the clock and get into nature like our grandparents did. Use nature resources for decorations and as a learning experience with family. What are some of the big money wasters on Easter? Commercialization has raised the price to celebrate Easter. I recommend looking in dollar type stores. Has Easter become too commercial? Yes. What money-saving tips do you have for people planning to travel for the Easter Holiday? Check out the local grocery stores, stands, and small mom and pop food shops. Offering a deconstructed meal from the local shop is a great money saver and a way to support the local economy. Rosa Abreu Assistant Professor of Hospitality Management at New York City College of Technology 
What tips do you have for celebrating Easter on a budget? Think about your guests and what they like to eat, vegetables in season will not break your budget, pasta and potato salads and greens salad can be a plus. At this time of the year ham is expensive, turkey can be option. What are some of the big money wasters on Easter? Too many desserts and candy if you don't have a big gathering. Has Easter become too commercial? Yes, there are too many expectations, the new outfit, going out for brunch, cooking a big meal, the Easter candies, flowers, eggs, the Easter china, towels, napkins and tablecloths and the list can be longer. What money-saving tips do you have for people planning to travel for the Easter Holiday? Book your flights early; at least five months in advance if you know that you are traveling for Easter. Remember, if you are going to a beach area you may encounter spring breakers. Kristin Malek Assistant Professor of Hospitality Management at Kansas State University 
What tips do you have for celebrating Easter on a budget? If you are on a tight budget at Easter, try to find things that are multipurpose and things that will be valued. Skip the Easter grass and use a bag of jellybeans to prop up your other items while still being a gift in and of itself, while also making the basket look fuller. You can even skip the basket altogether and go with a leftover box with no top that is wrapped in wrapping paper you have laying around. Instead of entire Easter outfits, you can focus on accessories that can be mix and matched with other things. Instead of focusing on candy that will be eaten and gone before the day is done, think of crayons, coloring books, or non-candy snacks that you can buy at a dollar store for a fraction of the cost. What are some of the big money wasters on Easter? Without a doubt, Easter grass is the thing that comes to mind. Also, people who purchase a new basket and new plastic eggs every year instead of saving them year over year. Has Easter become too commercial? Absolutely, many children (and even adults) have completely forgotten what the real meaning of Easter is. Matt J. Goren Adjunct Professor at University of Georgia and Financial Literacy Educator, Advisor & Consultant 
What money-saving tips do you have for people planning to travel for the Easter Holiday? Most of us know whether we'll be traveling for Easter many months ahead of time. That foresight can help many people travel at reduced or even no cost by utilizing travel rewards credit cards. The best time to sign up for these cards is when purchasing a ticket. Most major airlines offer about $50 off the price of a ticket when you sign up for their card at checkout. Then, spend about $1,000 to $2,000 over the next three months on your regular purchases to qualify for hundreds more in free flights. If the card has an annual fee -- and most of them do -- calculate whether keeping the card pays for itself. In my experience, few do so, it is probably best to cancel the card once all the rewards have been processed and before the fee is assessed. Next year, pick a new airline and repeat the process. Easter is a busy travel time, meaning most of the flights are going to be overbooked. The airline may need volunteers to take a later flight or risk paying big fines from the government. Try to plan ahead so that you can volunteer for the next flight -- which may only be an hour wait! Volunteers are usually generously compensated, usually between $200 and $400. If you plan ahead and give yourself a little window, your flight may pay for itself. Natalie Mitchell Visiting Assistant Professor at Tulane University 
What tips do you have for celebrating Easter on a budget? Retailer, Dollar Tree, has an Easter Lookbook with a host of inexpensive holiday items for a great celebration. The Lookbook includes decorations, wreaths, assorted Easter-themed baskets, party favors and more, for $1. That’s an unbeatable deal. Has Easter become too commercial? All holidays, Easter included, have grown to be a marketers paradise. Typical Easter decorations, in addition to the grocery retailer, photography, apparel and restaurant industries, continues to grow. Consumers, those who believe in the resurrection or Christ and those who don’t, will contribute greatly to economy through Easter consumption. Traditional advertising and informal social media sharing via consumers will continue to expose consumers to new Easter ideas and boost consumption. In evaluating the best cities to celebrate Easter, what are the top five indicators?
- Great climate, moderate spring weather;
- Many churches of different denominations;
- Attractive dining options;
- Large parks that are family and dog-friendly for egg hunts;
- An official parade to fully celebrate the event.
- Book flights early;
- Consider alternate lodging options including Innclusive and Airbnb.
from Wallet HubWallet Hub
via Finance Xpress
0 comments