Maximum number of days the U.S. Department of Agriculture suggests keeping a fresh turkey before cooking it, according to a National Turkey Federation survey: 2
Number of hours it takes to thaw a frozen 22- to 24-pound turkey in cold water: 11 to 12
Number of days it takes to thaw it in the refrigerator: 5.5 to 6
Number of hours it takes to cook a stuffed 22- to 24-pound turkey in an oven set to 325 degrees Fahrenheit: 5 to 5.5
Source: CNN Money.
Percentage of consumers who say their biggest holiday stress is the cost of gifts, according to a survey by RetailMeNot: 64
Percentage of consumers who are likely to do their winter holiday shopping in-store: 73
Source: RetailMeNot.com.
Ranks of Minnesota, North Carolina and Arkansas on the list of U.S. states that produce the most turkeys, according to the U.S. Census Bureau: 1, 2, 3
Ranks of Wisconsin, Massachusetts and New Jersey on the list of states that grow the most cranberries: 1, 2, 3
Ranks of North Carolina, California and Mississippi on the list of states that produce the most sweet potatoes: 1, 2, 3
Source: U.S. Census Bureau.
Number of ultra-high net-worth individuals globally -- defined as those with $30 million and above in net assets -- according to a study by Wealth-X and the Sotheby's International Realty brand: 211,000
Percentage of them who own two or more residences: 79
Ranks of the United States, the United Kingdom and Switzerland on the list of the most popular locations for second homes among the ultra wealthy: 1, 2, 3
Source: Wealth-X.
Percentage of Americans who report that they loathe sharing the road with bad drivers -- more than cyclists, buses, taxis, joggers and walkers combined -- according to the Expedia 2015 Road Rage Report: 51
Percentage of all Americans who rate themselves as "careful" drivers, but feel that only 29 percent of fellow drivers merit the description: 97
Source: Expedia.
Estimated amount the average consumer is expected to spend this holiday season, according to the 2015 Deferred Interest Report by CardHub: $834
Projected net rise in credit card debt by the end of the year: $60 billion
Percentage of major retailers who offer financing options to their customers: 73
Source: CardHub.
Even though many financial advisers, friends and family members will tell you owning a home is not all it's cracked up to be, percentage of Americans who believe it's truly the great American dream, according to the Ipsos survey: 81
Percentage who believe it's important to keep the house updated and looking fresh: 88
Source: Ipsos Public Affairs.
Ranks of the Dallas Cowboys, Green Bay Packers, New England Patriots and Denver Broncos on the list of America's favorite football teams, according to the results of a Harris Poll: 1, 2 (tie), 4
Percentage of Americans who believe the worst part of Super Bowl Sunday is having to get up the next morning to go to work or school: 54
Source: The Harris Poll.
Estimated number of Americans who choose to rent rather than buy a home, according to research by Credit Donkey: 105 million
Average rent in the U.S. in 2015: $1,200.
Estimated percentage of American households that spend more than 30 percent of their income to keep a roof over their heads: 41
Percentage of renters who spend more than half their pay on rent: 25
Source: CreditDonkey.com.
When it comes to expenditures in retirement, percentage of millennials (ages 20 to 37) who think they will spend less than $36,000 per year -- 30 percent less than the current national average, $46,757, for those aged 65 to 74: 70
Percentage who believe they will not be able to retire when they want to, with half this group thinking they will never be able to fully retire: 56
Source: Insured Retirement Institute.
Idle Thought
"Too many people spend money they haven't earned, to buy things they don't want, to impress people they don't like." -- Will Rogers, humorist
(Readers can contact John MacIntyre at johnmacintyre@bwr.eastlink.ca.)