The holidays are a time of joy and happiness. But according to the latest finder.com data, more than half (53%) of us will face another feeling: disappointment. Specifically, the disappointment of receiving an unwanted gift.
Some 53% of Americans surveyed admit to getting at least one unwanted gift over the holidays, totaling roughly 138 million American adults. They say it’s the thought that counts. But if you wind up giving someone a present they don’t want, how much thought did you actually put into it?
You know when it’s an unwanted present: Your loved one opens it, smiles, stares at you wide-eyed and gleefully says, “You shouldn’t have … ”
To avoid the awkwardness in 2023, consider steering clear of clothing and accessories. Of those surveyed, 46% said that clothing and accessories were gifts they least like to receive, followed by household items (31%) and cosmetics and fragrances (25%).
Because our survey allowed participants to select more than one option, percentages do not equal 100. They are based on responses, not on unique participants.
With the average adult saying that they receive unwanted gifts worth roughly $66, that means approximately $9.1B will be spent on unwanted gifts in 2023, up from $8.3B in 2022.
When it comes to who’s getting those unwanted gifts, men are less discerning than women. Roughly 44% of men say they receive at least one unwanted gift during the holidays compared to the majority (61%) of women.
Out of those getting unwanted gifts, clothing and accessories are the most unwelcome present for both sexes: 47% of women and 46% of men. Men (22%) are about twice more likely than women (12%) to be given food or drink as a gift they don’t want, and whereas women are roughly twice as likely to get unwanted cosmetics and fragrances (men 17% compared to 31% of women).
Because our survey allowed participants to select more than one option, percentages do not equal 100. They are based on responses, not on unique participants.
And the amount being spent on unwanted gifts is vastly different between the sexes, with men ($77.50) getting unwanted gifts that are more than double the value of women ($58.80).
Gen Z receives far and away more unwanted gifts than any other generation, with 74% saying they’ve received a gift they didn’t want. They’re followed by millennials (67%) and gen X (48%).
Clothing and accessories is the number one category for unwanted gifts across the board for each generation.
Gen Z also has the most spent on them for unwanted gifts, averaging a whopping $94.20 each. Millennials aren’t too far behind at ($90.30), more than double that of gen X ($49) and baby boomers ($39.30).
Those in the East South Central region (Alabama, Kentucky, Mississippi and Tennessee) say they get the most unwanted gifts (64%). Those in the Pacific region (Alaska, California, Hawaii, Oregon and Washington) get the most expensive unwanted gifts at an average of $95.68.
What are people doing with their unwanted gifts? Open the nearest closet or check under the bed, and you’re bound to find out.
According to our most recent survey, 39% of people just hold on to the unwanted item, 37% regift their unwanted items and 29% exchange them.
Because our survey allowed participants to select more than one option, percentages do not equal 100. They are based on responses, not on unique participants.
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