Exhausted America: Holidays in 2025 Lean Toward Cash and Early Nights

Wed Dec 17 2025 23:32:08 GMT+0200 (Eastern European Standard Time)

A new AP-NORC poll reveals that many Americans are more open to cash gifts and plan to spend New Year's Eve asleep.

According to a recent poll, a significant portion of Americans are embracing cash as a holiday gift, indicating a shift in gift-giving preferences. The survey also highlights a trend of early bedtimes on New Year's Eve, particularly among older adults. Other findings include a rise in post-holiday decoration retention and a notable interest in sports on Christmas Day. The poll showcases changing traditions as America adjusts to 2025's holiday realities.

NEW YORK (AP) — Welcome to exhausted America 2025: Most adults are more than a little fine with cash as gifts, and many plan to be asleep before midnight on New Year’s Eve, according to a new AP-NORC poll.

About 6 in 10 Americans say cash or gift cards are very acceptable as holiday presents, but they’re much less likely to find secondhand or re-gifted items acceptable. This trend reflects a growing preference for financial gifts over traditional presents thanks to the increasingly high cost of living.

Come New Year’s Eve, almost half of respondents (44%) reported they wouldn’t stay up past midnight, especially among individuals aged 45 and up, where nearly 50% plan to turn in early. In contrast, about one-third of younger adults under 45 will also catch some Z’s before 2026 arrives.

Cash appears to be a desirable option for many, particularly younger generations, with two-thirds of those under 45 finding it to be an appropriate gift. Gabriel Antonucci, a 26-year-old ski resort cook from Alaska, shared his sentiments: Everything's too expensive nowadays... So cash. This sentiment indicates a shift in the perception of gifting as practicality triumphs over sentiment.

Contrary to the younger adults, sentiments differ among older generations: nearly 40% of adults aged 45 and older expressed that receiving secondhand gifts was somewhat or very unacceptable. However, about 75% of younger adults are at least open to these types of gifts.

Many Keep Holiday Decor Up Post-New Year

Tradition shows that holiday decorations don't get taken down right after the holiday, with one-third of Americans admitting they’ll keep their décor up after New Year. Plenty of respondents opt for a relaxed approach to holiday decorating, indicating a general fatigue in the seasonal hustle.

Sports Watching Takes Precedence on Christmas

In a shift from typical family gatherings, approximately 25% of Americans plan to watch sports on Christmas Day, with older adults being twice as likely to tune in compared to younger generations. This reveals an evolving narrative around holiday traditions.

Gifts for Pets and the Elf on the Shelf

Interestingly, around 30% of U.S. adults intended to gift their pets this year, continuing the trend of treating pets as family members. However, the increasingly popular Elf on the Shelf phenomenon sees low participation, with only 10% of adults admitting they engage in this holiday activity.

The AP-NORC poll, conducted from Dec. 4-8 with a sample of 1,146 adults, highlights the shifting landscape of America's holiday practices in 2025, presenting a blend of convenience, practicality, and evolving traditions.