A new AP-NORC poll shows that while most Americans still find cash and gift cards acceptable holiday gifts, secondhand and re-gifted items are less favored.
Gift Preferences
The poll found that 6 in 10 Americans say cash or gift cards are “very” acceptable holiday presents. Secondhand gifts and re-gifted items receive lower approval.
About two-thirds of adults under 45 say cash is “very” acceptable, compared with 55% of adults 45 or older. Gabriel Antonucci, 26, a ski resort cook in Alaska, said, “Everything’s too expensive nowadays. And I don’t want to go buy a gift for somebody and then it turns out they don’t like it. So cash.”
Nine in 10 say cash or gift cards are at least “somewhat” acceptable, while six in 10 feel the same about secondhand gifts and re-gifted items.
Teresa Pedroza, 55, a mom of two adult sons in central Florida, said, “I don’t like it when kids say they want cash, or I should get teenagers gift cards. It kind of takes some of the charm away from gift giving.” She added that she sometimes reaches for cards out of convenience.
Three-quarters of adults under 45 say secondhand gifts are at least “somewhat” acceptable, compared with about 6 in 10 adults 45 or older. Four in 10 adults 45 or older say secondhand gifts are “somewhat” or “very” unacceptable.
Sleep Habits for New Year’s Eve
The poll also revealed that 44% of Americans say they won’t stay up to greet 2026. About half of adults 45 or older won’t make it to midnight, while roughly one-third of adults under 45 will.
Nancy Wyant, 73, a retired bus driver in rural central Iowa, said, “Cash is OK for the grandkids I guess.” She added, “But I’m a gift giver.” She said she’ll be fast asleep before 2026 rolls around, laughing with her live-in partner and noting, “At our age, we don’t do anything.”
Otis Phillips, 23, a master’s student in Seattle, said, “It’s one of the holidays that doesn’t really feel special to me.”
Decorations and Traditions
Around one-third of U.S. adults say they’ll leave holiday decorations up after New Year’s Day, while about 2 in 10 put them up before Thanksgiving. Teresa Pedroza remarked, “I just had my husband bring down the bins. If we weren’t expecting company, I wouldn’t even bother to decorate, honestly. I’m tired of doing that.”
Holiday Activities
About one-quarter of U.S. adults plan to watch sports on Christmas Day, whereas only 5% will head for a movie theater. Men are more likely than women to watch sports, and older Americans are more likely than younger ones. Two in 10 adults under 45 plan to watch sports, compared with three in 10 adults 45 or older.
Phillips said, “She made all kinds of things for me growing up. This is by far my favorite.” He keeps the red sweater in rotation for his part-time job as a grocery checkout clerk. Women are more likely than men to wear holiday sweaters or accessories.
Pets and Elf on the Shelf
About 3 in 10 U.S. adults will give a gift to their pet this year. In Iowa, Wyant’s nearly 3-year-old boxer-Great Dane mix named Indy is among them. “She’s a very spoiled dog,” Wyant said. “She’s got too many toys, so she’s getting treats this year. She loves her treats.”
Only about 1 in 10 U.S. adults will do Elf on the Shelf. Pedroza replied, “Noooo,” when asked if she’d ever done the elf for her kids. “My younger son was very well-behaved. I didn’t have to use any kind of tactics.”
Key Takeaways
- Cash and gift cards remain the most accepted holiday gifts.
- 44% of Americans will not stay up for the midnight countdown.
- One-third of adults leave decorations up after New Year’s Day.
The poll paints a picture of a nation that prefers cash, is largely disengaged from midnight celebrations, and keeps holiday traditions alive in its own modest way.
