TORONTO – Most kids already have a long list of what they want for Christmas but they might not get as many of those things this year as they did in previous years.

A new survey by the Chartered Professional Accountants of Canada shows Canadians are planning to spend less.

The average amount they’re planning to shell out for Christmas $583 dollars, down from $643 last year. A little more than 40 per cent of those polled say they didn’t set a budget, so sticking to the goal of spending less could be a challenge.

One-in-five people told CPA Canada that they anticipated overspending during the holidays.

CPA Canada says there are some ways to help you save money, including hunting for deals, saving money ahead of time, and find non-traditional gifts to put under the tree.

Almost half of the respondents–46 per cent–anticipate doing their shopping the old fashioned way in stores.