If you’ve noticed more people asking for “no gifts” or “experiences only,” you’re not imagining it. There’s a real shift happening in how people want to celebrate Christmas—and it doesn’t involve another pile of random things to find space for.
Multiple surveys now show that a huge majority of Americans would rather be gifted experiences than physical items. One study from a travel platform found 92% of people say they’d prefer an experience over a physical gift during the holidays.
Between clutter, budgets, and burnout, a lot of families are quietly stepping away from “stuff” and toward something else.
The experience-over-things wave
We’ve been talking about the “experience economy” for years, but now it’s hitting Christmas hard. A 2024 TD Bank survey found about 45% of consumers plan to gift experiences instead of physical presents, with younger adults leading the way.
That can look like:
- Concert tickets
- Day trips or weekend getaways
- Gift cards for classes, museums, or local attractions
- Dining, coffee, or spa experiences
People aren’t saying they hate presents. They’re saying they’d rather remember something they did together than babysit another gadget.
Budgets are forcing hard choices
On the money side, things are tight. Surveys this season show 79% of Americans are worried they won’t have enough money for holiday gifts, and nearly a third expect to slide into debt.
When you’re already stressed about basic bills, it gets a lot easier to say, “Let’s skip random stuff this year.” Many families are responding by:
- Buying gifts for fewer people
- Setting harder budgets per person
- Suggesting gift exchanges or Secret Santas instead of buying for everyone
Some even do a full-on “no-gift Christmas,” focusing on food, traditions, and time together instead of swapping things.
Clutter and mental load are part of it too
There’s also the simple reality that our homes are full. Parents especially are tired of tripping over toys that were thrilling for 15 minutes. Between decluttering trends and minimalist content, more people are openly saying, “Please don’t buy us more stuff just because it’s December.”
You see it in Reddit threads, blog posts, and social media—people asking grandparents for experiences, contributions to savings, or very specific items instead of twenty “surprises.”
It’s not that they’re ungrateful. They’re just trying not to drown in clutter.
What people are giving instead of physical gifts
When people step away from traditional presents, they usually don’t step away from generosity. They just redirect it. Common swaps:
- Experience gifts: zoo passes, museum memberships, escape rooms, cooking classes.
- Cash or gift cards toward bigger goals—kids’ savings, travel, or hobbies.
- Donations in someone’s name, especially for adults who truly don’t want anything.
- Practical gifts that relieve pressure, like grocery gift cards or help with bills.
It’s still giving. It just looks more like support than like adding another object to a shelf.
What this might mean for your own Christmas
If this all resonates, you don’t have to go cold-turkey on gifts. You can:
- Suggest a family experience instead of extra toys.
- Ask adults to swap names and do one nice gift each instead of a free-for-all.
- Tell grandparents exactly what your kids would actually use.
- Pick one or two physical items per person and let the rest be experiences or help.
The big picture is this: more people are realizing the best parts of Christmas aren’t in the pile under the tree. They’re in what you do with the people in your house. The gifts that support that—rather than distract from it—are the ones that still feel good in January.
*This article was developed with AI-powered tools and has been carefully reviewed by our editors.
Leave a Reply