If it feels like your cart is smaller but your total is higher, you’re not alone. Recent surveys show nearly 28% of Americans are spending less on holiday decorations than last year, and about a quarter are cutting back on gifts too. But at the same time, holiday spending overall is still huge—around $890 per person on gifts, food, decor, and everything else, according to National Retail Federation data.
So how can both be true? Simple: people are buying fewer items, but they’re choosing more intentional or higher-quality pieces instead of filling the cart with random extras.
The shift from “a little bit of everything” to “a few things that matter”
That Rocket Mortgage/Redfin survey found most people are trimming back on decor and gifts, not because they hate Christmas, but because the economy has them nervous—higher housing costs, groceries, and utilities all add up.
Instead of buying new stuff for every room, a lot of families are:
- Reusing older decorations
- Focusing on one or two standout areas, like the mantel or front porch
- Putting more budget toward food and experiences
You end up with fewer shopping bags full of decor, but the items you do bring in are more deliberate—and often more expensive per piece.
“Dupes” and smart splurges are living side by side
Gen Z especially is changing how retailers think. They’re more likely to hunt down dupes—cheaper lookalikes of high-end decor—and only splurge on a few meaningful items.
You see it in the popularity of:
- Dollar Tree and discount-store “Pottery Barn dupes,” like $5 wreaths that mimic $300 versions.
- Budget glassware and decor that give the same look as Anthropologie or other higher-end brands for a fraction of the cost.
People will spend a little more on one nice throw blanket or a better-looking wreath, then bulk out the rest with cheaper finds that still look good.
Fewer impulse buys, more researched purchases
Holiday spending is still in the trillions, but shoppers are more cautious. Retail reports show people are starting earlier, comparing prices across stores, and using “buy now, pay later” tools to spread out bigger purchases instead of swiping impulsively.
On the decor side, that looks like:
- Waiting for specific sales on items you’ve already picked out
- Watching clearance patterns (like when certain stores drop holiday items to 50–75% off)
- Skipping random cute things at the checkout line
You’re still spending—but you’re spending more on things you already decided you wanted.
The rise of “less stuff, more feeling”
There’s also an emotional side to this. People are burned out on clutter. Between decluttering trends and the cost of living, plenty of families are deciding they don’t want bins of decor they use once a year.
For many, the money that used to go toward another set of ornaments is now going toward:
- Experiences—holiday outings, events, or travel
- Food and hosting, which people say they actually remember
- A few sentimental or heirloom-quality pieces they plan to keep long-term
So yes, the amount of decor items may go down, but the dollars still get spent—just in different categories.
What this means for your own house
If this all sounds familiar when you look at your own budget, you’re not doing anything wrong. You’re reacting to the same pressure a lot of households feel. A few ways to follow the “less but better” trend on purpose:
- Pick one main decorating zone and give it the bulk of your effort. Let the rest stay simpler.
- Choose one or two nicer decor pieces this year—a wreath, garland, or throw—and plan to reuse them for several seasons.
- Fill in with lower-cost dupes and DIY projects that give you the look without the cost.
You don’t have to fill every surface for your house to feel ready for Christmas. In a tight year, it makes more sense to aim for “thought through” than “every inch decorated.”
*This article was developed with AI-powered tools and has been carefully reviewed by our editors.
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