Christmas presents, in this economy? How some people are shifting their spending | CBC News

"Hark, can you hear it? It's barely audible over the sound of a zillion people muttering, "isn't it too early for this?" while sipping holiday lattes, but it's there: the sound of Christmas spending panic. And this year's holiday season approaches amid soaring grocery prices, trade tensions and economic uncertainty. Which is why some people say they're planning a more modest Christmas, whether that involves spending less, giving fewer or more intentional gifts, relying more on charitable services, or scaling it all down."

"On social media, for instance, influencers and frugal bloggers are encouraging people to "de-influence" their holidays by forgoing the matching family jammies, reusing Christmas decorations, sticking with affordable advent calendars and buying second-hand gifts. "I can't afford the kind of Christmas you see online," said one U.K. money and family influencer in a TikTok video Thursday. "It's not normal to spend hundreds just to make it look perfect for social media.""

"Becky Field, 34, who lives in Ottawa, told CBC News she's had to get creative with gifting after the expense of buying a second car so her husband could get to work set them back. "With groceries at an all-time high, as well, gifts didn't really make it into our budget," Field said. She's always valued not gifting in excess, but she recently decided to give only items that are thrifted or sourced from her neighbourhood "buy nothing" groups."

Holiday spending is becoming strained as soaring grocery prices, trade tensions and economic uncertainty prompt many households to cut back. Some people plan a more modest Christmas by spending less, giving fewer or more intentional gifts, relying on charitable services or scaling traditions down. Social media influencers and frugal bloggers urge "de-influencing" holidays—skipping matching jammies, reusing decorations, choosing affordable advent calendars and buying second-hand. Some families choose thrifted gifts, reusing grocery bags for wrapping and using loyalty points to fund presents. Parents report that budgets shifted by large expenses, like buying a second car, and high food costs have reduced gift spending.

Read at www.cbc.ca