Seasonal spending

Also: A migrant family sprints for housing as shelter clock ticks; New Bedford fishermen put hope in Trump [❤️ Donate]( [View in Browser](   December 2, 2024 | ☀️ Sunny, with a high near 39. Good Morning Boston, Cheers! You've made it to the last month of the year. You won't be able to get another [Sullivan's hot dog on Castle Island until 2025]( but at least [ice skating on the Frog Pond is open for the season]( Now, let's get to the news: - Shopping around: The average Bostonian is expected to [spend $2,000 this holiday season.]( It isn't much of a deviation from last year's spending trend in the region, according to an annual survey from the consulting firm Deloitte. But that's still a lot of cash. Here's where that money is going. - Popular: WBUR's John Bender reports locals are expected to spend the most on experience gifts, including holiday travel, seasonal concerts and other events. - Not-so-popular: Gift cards. Anthony Jardim, who works for Deloitte in Boston, says consumers may skip these easy options. "There's a couple of reasons why that might be," Jardim told WBUR. "One, because of inflation, a $50 gift card might not be of the same value this year compared to last." - Early numbers: If [this past Black Friday]( is any indicator of shoppers' appetite, people are buying more - but staying home while they do it. Online shoppers nationwide spent over 10% more than they did last Black Friday, ringing in at a record $10.8 billion. (Even more sales are expected to roll in today for Cyber Monday.) - Beware of scammers: If you get a text or email from a supposed shipping company in need of your personal information to deliver an online order, it may be a ploy to steal your identity. How can you tell? "Oftentimes, the way to protect yourself from fraud is to stop and take a breath and really, really think about what's happening here and whether it makes sense," Christina FitzPatrick, AARP's New Hampshire director, [told NHPR](. "So if it's a notification of shipping, but it doesn't say which company is trying to ship something to you, that's a red flag." - If you're missing the experience of shopping IRL, [here are nine holiday markets filled with unique gifts, food and cheer.]( - About that tax plan: State senators will meet this morning to re-up their discussions on [Boston Mayor Michelle Wu's tax plan]( which would temporarily shift the burden of higher tax rates from homeowners to businesses. Boston City Council and the state's House of Representatives have already given the plan the thumbs up. - What's the hold up? Wu's tax plan was being discussed in the senate last Monday, but lawmakers adjourned Wednesday for the holiday break. This week, they'll continue discussions with Wu's administration on the legislation, and if it passes the senate, it will head to Gov. Maura Healey's desk for final approval. - Race against the clock: Wu wants the new rates to go into effect next month. She says her staff is willing to work through New Year's to make sure the rates are reflected in January's bills, but ideally, "we'd like to have these timelines proceed in a less pressurized way," she said. - Helping hands: Over the last week, nighttime temperatures in Greater Boston dropped below freezing. As we venture further into winter, local homeless shelters are preparing to welcome in more people seeking refuge from the cold. - Barbara Trevisan, a spokesperson for Pine Street Inn, told WBUR's Amy Sokolow the shelter is open around the clock for anyone in need of assistance. On colder nights, they're sending [out st]( with food, blankets and clothing]( to check if anyone unhoused needs an extra layer and ask them if they'd like to come inside for the night. Pine Street Inn also has a warming center located at 444 Harrison Ave. - On the ice: The Boston Bruins enjoyed a bit of fanfare over the weekend. [The 100th anniversary]( of the team's first game was this past Saturday. To mark the date, the [team played]( the Montreal Canadiens - the Bruins' first game was also against a Montreal team - and clinched the win 6-3. The City of Boston also [unveiled a giant statue of a brown bear]( as a monument to the team in a ceremony officially marking Nov. 30 as "Boston Bruins Centennial Day." - Did you know? The Bruins were the first hockey team based in the U.S. to join the NHL. P.S. - Already dreaming of Friday? You could be watching [a live taping of "The Memory Palace,"]( author Nate DiMeo's Peabody Award-nominated podcast. The event will feature extraordinary stories from the everyday lives of people throughout history. Hanna Ali Associate Producer, Newsletters The Rundown [A migrant family sprints for housing as shelter clock ticks]( As Massachusetts moved to limit shelter costs and stays, the Eduoards and other migrant families stared down a fast-approaching deadline. If they failed to find a home of their own, they were facing a possible end to their hopes of living in the United States. [Read more.]( [A migrant family sprints for housing as shelter clock ticks]( As Massachusetts moved to limit shelter costs and stays, the Eduoards and other migrant families stared down a fast-approaching deadline. If they failed to find a home of their own, they were facing a possible end to their hopes of living in the United States. [Read more.]( [President Biden pardons son Hunter]( The pardon comes in the last weeks of President Biden's time in office and despite his public assurances in the past that he would neither pardon nor commute his son's sentence. [Read more.]( [President Biden pardons son Hunter]( The pardon comes in the last weeks of President Biden's time in office and despite his public assurances in the past that he would neither pardon nor commute his son's sentence. [Read more.]( [With Trump, New Bedford's fishermen hope for better times]( Trump made big gains in New Bedford in the recent election, a storied working-class city which overwhelmingly supported Biden just four years ago. Fishermen say they feel the Democratic party has forgotten them. [Read more.]( [With Trump, New Bedford's fishermen hope for better times]( Trump made big gains in New Bedford in the recent election, a storied working-class city which overwhelmingly supported Biden just four years ago. Fishermen say they feel the Democratic party has forgotten them. [Read more.]( [The 2024 Atlantic hurricane season was the deadliest in nearly two decades]( The six-month season saw an above-average number of storms. Scientists say climate change is leading to more powerful and deadly hurricanes that can affect inland communities far from the coasts. [Read more.]( [The 2024 Atlantic hurricane season was the deadliest in nearly two decades]( The six-month season saw an above-average number of storms. Scientists say climate change is leading to more powerful and deadly hurricanes that can affect inland communities far from the coasts. [Read more.]( [A restored Notre Dame cathedral is unveiled days before its official reopening]( Notre Dame Cathedral has been closed to the public since a fire damaged the landmark in April 2019. [Read more.]( [A restored Notre Dame cathedral is unveiled days before its official reopening]( Notre Dame Cathedral has been closed to the public since a fire damaged the landmark in April 2019. [Read more.]( Anything Else? - Whether you're trying to save money or help the planet, [here are five ways]( can be more sustainable gifting and decorating this holiday season. - The 2024 animated "Garfield" movie may not be on your essential viewing list, but for Cognoscenti contributor Karen Wilfrid,[the film (unexpectedly) hits close to home.]( - Got a song stuck in your head? This 40-second audio clip engineered by the software company Atlassian claims it can knock out even the most persistent earworms. [Here's how it works to "erase" an annoying tune from your mind.]( - From super silly to surprisingly sentimental, [here's a roundup of holiday movies]( you'll want to watch this month courtesy of NPR's Pop Culture Happy Hour. What We're Reading 📚 - Boston offers its employees paid parental leave, but some say it's not long enough ([The Boston Globe]( - The Upside of Climate Pessimism ([Undark Magazine]( - A right turn for Democrats is a wrong turn ([Commonwealth Beacon](   Tell Me Something Good [A lobster pot tree lights up the season in Provincetown (Cape Cod Times)]( The annual lighting of the Provincetown Lobster Pot Tree drew a crowd that filled Lopes Square. Even Santa took time out to visit with children. [Read more.]( [A lobster pot tree lights up the season in Provincetown (Cape Cod Times)]( The annual lighting of the Provincetown Lobster Pot Tree drew a crowd that filled Lopes Square. Even Santa took time out to visit with children. [Read more.]( Play: [WBUR's daily mini crossword.]( Can you keep your streak going? Before you go: [Meet Boston's Chris Evans.]( 😎 Forward to a friend. 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