THIS YEAR’S 12 DAYS OF CHRISTMAS: $34,558

If you bought all the presents in the song “The 12 Days of Christmas”, it would cost you $34,558.65 this year. PNC Financial Services Group has calculated the the cost of the gifts each year since 1984. This year’s Christmas Price Index is up slightly from last year because of a spike in gold ring and pear tree costs.
The break down:
– Partridge: $20
– Pear tree: $199.95 (up $10 over last year)
– Two turtle doves: $375
– Three French hens: $181.50
– Four calling birds: $599.96
– Five golden rings: $825 (up $125 over last year)
– Six geese-a-laying: $360
– Seven swans-a-swimming: $13,125
– Eight maids-a-milking (federal minimum wage for one hour): $58
– Nine ladies dancing (nine modern dancers from Philadanco dance troupe): $7,552.84
– Ten lords-a-leaping: $5,618.90 (up about $100 over last year)
– Eleven pipers piping: $2,708.40
– Twelve drummers drumming: $2,934.10
* If you’re a milk maid, it would pay to learn to dance, or even play the drums.
* How about moving the most expensive gifts up to the front of the line so you don’t have to buy so many?
* Instead of three French hens for $181, you can get three of those frozen Cornish game hens for about $3.50 apiece.
* Eleven guys all playing flutes at the same time. That’s gotta be pleasant.
* It’s $34,558.65, but if you order online, delivery is free.
* Four calling birds are out of date. Texting is what all the birds today are doing.