People will spend an average of £200 less on Christmas presents this year – and will buy more second-hand gifts than ever before, a study shows.
The uncertainty brought by the coronavirus pandemic has made people reflect more on the meaning of Christmas, and two in five are planning to cut back by more than a third the £550 they spent last year.
Research for Oxfam shows a remarkable shift in attitudes towards second-hand gifting, with almost half saying they are considering buying second-hand presents, and more than 70 percent saying they are shopping more sustainably than five years ago.
Only 9% of people say they would feel offended if they receive a second-hand gift
And they need not worry that it will upset friends and family, because a whopping three-quarters of all Brits say they would be happy to receive a pre-owned gift. Only 9% say they would feel offended, compared to 38% who say they would have been offended if they’d received a second-hand gift 10 years ago.
The majority of adults said they care much more about spending time with family than spending on gifts, as it was revealed that every year the average Brit gets two presents they never even open.
Forty per cent of the 2,000 people in the study say they will cut-back not only on how much they spend this Christmas, but on how many people they buy for.
Strictly star and ‘Queen of thrift’ Katya Jones said: “Everyone looks forward to the magic of Christmas!
“But only recently I started to realise the flip side of it, such as excessive present buying and seeing people get stressed about not being able to afford Christmas. This year has been especially difficult for us all, so I feel like this is a perfect time to try something different.”
“Opting for a second-hand gift is a great way to find something thoughtful and unique, whilst being good value for money. Not only that, but it’s better for the environment too. It’s fantastic to see that so many people would be happy to receive a second-hand present, and I’ll certainly be searching the Oxfam Online Shop for some hidden gems this year. Christmas can be magical second hand too.“
Oxfam’s sustainable shopping expert Jill Hocking, said: “It’s fantastic to see so many people thinking about gifting second-hand this Christmas. If this pandemic has given us anything, it’s the opportunity to re-evaluate the impact that we have. Shopping second-hand is a great way to give existing items a second life but to also raise lifesaving funds for people living in poverty when you shop with Oxfam.
“We’ve already had hugely positive sales on our online shop and hope to see a surge in customers in our shops when they fully reopen across the UK. And, as lockdown has given so many people time for a good clear-out, now is the perfect time to try and find a thoughtful gift for a loved one this year.”
63% would appreciate the effort of someone treasure hunting in charity shops for a hidden gem
The Oxfam study showed 63 percent would appreciate the effort of someone treasure hunting in charity shops for a hidden gem to give them, while 53 percent said it would please them to know that the gift was more sustainable and environmentally friendly.
And as it turns out, men are more likely to say they’ll be spending more on gifts this year (20% vs 12% of women), while women are more likely to say they’ll be spending less (43% vs 32% of men).
And for those looking to gift second-hand, the 35-44s are your best bet, being the most likely to say they would be grateful (37%), happy (33%), and pleased (28%) to receive a second-hand gift for Christmas this year.
About Oxfam
Oxfam is a global movement of millions of people who share the belief that, in a world rich in resources, poverty isn’t inevitable. In just 15 years, extreme poverty has been halved. 15 more years and we can end it for good.
Sourced By Oxfam is Oxfam’s range of brand new, ethically sourced products, made by craftspeople around the world who receive a fair wage for their work. The collection includes bamboo coffee cups, seagrass baskets, and bags made from saris. You can also find Christmas cards, decorations, recycled gift wrap and crackers.
The Oxfam online shop can be visited here.
Oxfam has 561 high street shops, as well as the Oxfam Online Shop. Oxfam has shops in Jersey, Guernsey and the Isle of Man.
