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.
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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?
What not to buy for someone in 2023
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%).
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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.
Related: Holiday spending in 2023
Most women say they’re getting gifts they don’t want
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.
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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).
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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).
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Gen Z really doesn’t like your gifts
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.
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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).
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Must read: The price of Christmas trees are rising in 2023
Unwanted gifts by region
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.
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What happens to all the unwanted gifts?
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.
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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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We calculated these figures from a survey of 2,033 American adults commissioned by finder.com and conducted by global research provider Qualtrics/SAP as part of Finder’s Consumer Confidence Index. The spending figures were calculated using the trim mean function to remove the outliers.
We define generations by the age of participants at the time of the survey:
- Gen Z — any adults born post-1997
- Millennials — 1981-1996
- Gen X — 1965-1980
- Baby boomers — anyone born pre-1964
We define geographical regions according to the divisions of the US Census Bureau.
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To make sure you get accurate and helpful information, this guide has been edited by Holly Jennings as part of our fact-checking process.
Richard Layco*ck is Finder’s NYC-based lead editor & insights editor, spending the last decade data diving, writing and editing articles about all things personal finance. His musings can be found across the web including on NASDAQ, MoneyMag, Yahoo Finance and Travel Weekly. Richard studied Media at Macquarie University, including a semester abroad at The Missouri School of Journalism (MIZZOU). See full bio
