Christmas – a time to spend with family, feast on roast turkey, enjoy the festive atmosphere and of course, receive presents. Many of us save up a Christmas gifts fund in our bank accounts for months. But, as it turns out, you’d better start thinking through the ‘presents’ part of the equation a little more, as more people than you think receive unwanted gifts each year. We look at how many people receive unwanted Christmas presents and the most common types.
Our survey found that 3 in 5 UK adults (58%), approximately 31 million people, have been given at least one Christmas gift they don’t like. The total estimated spend on these unwanted gifts works out at £1.27 billion. As of 2024, the average spend on unwanted gifts per person is £41.
The younger generations are more likely to receive a gift they dislike, with 8 in 10 from generation Z (80%) and three-quarters of millennials (74%) admitting they have been given an unwanted Christmas present before.
The likelihood of receiving an unwanted present decreases with age, as 54% of generation X, 35% of baby boomers and just a third (33%) of the silent generation revealing that they’ve received a Christmas present they dislike.
| Generation | Percentage receiving unwanted gifts | Average worth (£) |
|---|---|---|
| Gen Z | 80% | £50 |
| Millenials | 74% | £51 |
| Gen X | 54% | £32 |
| Baby boomers | 35% | £24 |
| Silent generation | 33% | £16 |
There are some differences between regions in terms of which Brits are most likely to be given an unwanted Christmas present. Those in Northern Ireland come out on top, with 8 in 10 (81%) admitting to receiving a gift that they didn’t like. They are followed by Londoners (72%) and those in the West Midlands (63%).
Meanwhile, residents in Wales are less fussy and more likely to be content with the Christmas gifts they are given as less than half (47%) have received one they don’t like. This is similar in the East Midlands, where 47% have also been unhappy with a gift, and the East, where 49% have received something they didn’t want.
| Region | Percentage receiving unwanted gifts |
|---|---|
| Northern Ireland | 81% |
| Greater London | 72% |
| West Midlands | 63% |
| North West | 62% |
| North East | 59% |
| South East | 56% |
| Yorkshire and The Humber | 55% |
| South West | 54% |
| Scotland | 51% |
| East of England | 49% |
| East Midlands | 47% |
| Wales | 47% |
A separate 2023 survey found that soap and bath bombs are the most common unwanted gifts, with 28% of respondents getting these for Christmas when they didn’t want them. Other common festive faux pas included body spray, candles, jumpers and mugs.
To find out the number of people receiving unwanted gifts and their estimated worth, Finder commissioned Censuswide on 8-11 November 2024 to carry out a nationally representative survey of adults aged 18+. A total of 2,000 people were questioned throughout Great Britain, with representative quotas for gender, age and region.
Matt Mckenna
UK Head of Communications
T: +44 20 8191 8806
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