A survey on holiday shopping plans released this week by Consumer Reports found that among folks considering trimming their holiday spending this year, women were more likely to cut back on giving to their spouse than to the family pet. Twenty-two percent of women who expected to reduce holiday spending said they'd be spending less on their spouses. That compares with 14 percent planning to trim the fat on Fido's bones. Men, on the other hand, were more even-handed; about the same percentage were willing to cut back on their significant other (17 percent) as on their pet (19 percent).

Perhaps women favor their pets in gift-giving because a cat won't sigh heavily and roll its eyes after getting slippers instead of a GPS. To ensure you've got more left over in your pet budget for the fun stuff, check Consumer Reports Money Adviser's advice on saving on pet expenditures. And here are some tips on buying pet toys. Check this blog next week for more results from the Consumer Reports Holiday Shopping Poll.—Tobie Stanger