Holiday shoppers say they will spend more in 2012, but will remain budget conscious and look for bargains, according to various consumer surveys. Consulting firm Accenture’s annual consumer holiday shopping study indicates 51 percent of Americans have already budgeted for holiday shopping this year and plan to pay cash for gifts, having already saved for their shopping endeavors.

The same survey shows consumers plan to spend an average of $582 on holiday shopping this year, although 23 percent of respondents say they intend to spend more than $750. More than half of those surveyed plan to increase their 2012 holiday shopping by at least $250 over last year’s budget, but only 5 percent said they expect their shopping to be “extravagant,” and only 8 percent plan to “splurge” this year.

“The U.S. consumer refuses to be counted out and is entering this holiday season better prepared and more willing to open his or her wallet,” said Chris Donnelly, managing director of Accenture’s Retail practice. “Self-sacrificing will be down and spending will be slightly up, however, our research also shows that shoppers will remain disciplined in their spending.”

Bargains will certainly be hunted this year. Accenture’s survey found just over half of consumers plan to shop online on Thanksgiving Day if retailers offer discounts, and 53 percent plan to shop on Black Friday, reversing a three-year trend of declining Black Friday interest indicated by Accenture’s prior-year surveys. Last year, for example, only 44 percent of consumers planned to shop on Black Friday, a drop from 47 percent in 2010 and 52 percent in 2009.

Likewise, according to research conducted by USAA Bank, 53 percent of its survey respondents plan to buy more gifts this year than last year. USAA found only 24 percent of holiday shoppers plan to follow a budget this year, compared to 31 percent in 2011 and 40 percent in 2010.

“In addition to the decrease in the number of shoppers cutting spending and budgeting, nearly half plan to use their credit cards to make holiday purchases,” said JJ Montanaro, a USAA certified financial planner. “With only one-third planning on paying their holiday credit card balances in full immediately, it appears shoppers will be less cautious with their holiday spending.”

Pricegrabber, an online shopping site, surveyed 2,235 shoppers and found consumers are spending more this year for a variety of reasons. Forty-two percent of consumers upping their holiday shopping budget said they are making more money, while 34 percent said items are priced better than last year. Another 22 percent said their confidence in the economy led to their decision to spend more over this holiday season, while 13 percent attributed their increased spending to higher credit limits. Eight percent of shoppers surveyed said they were sick and tired of being frugal during the holidays.

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