Cash! It’s what I want. Via Shutterstock
At the top of the list for Christmas gifts this year isn’t an iPhone6, Xbox or PlayStation 4.
It’s cash.
The good news is that cash doesn’t take much time to give. Stuff a check or a few bills into a card and you’re done! The bad news is that giving cash is as awkward as your seventh grade dance.
The top Christmas gifts that people want
But cash is what people want for Christmas. Almost 4 in 10 consumers ranked cash as their best gift (39%), according to new research from the cash back site, Ebates.com. Incidentally, there’s still time to make money with a side job before Christmas comes around.
After cash, people want:
- Clothes (37%),
- Home goods (i.e. candles, picture frames, book or calendar- 24%),
- Homemade gift (18%),
- Shoes (15%),
- Tablets (15%),
- Smartphones (12%),
- Laptops (10%)
- Tickets to an event or place (10%)
- TV: (7%)
==> See what Bargain Babe spent last year on Christmas gifts!
When I give cash, I give more.
Partly to make up for the awkwardness of giving cash. A cash gifts feels like I’m giving less than a toy or book or sweater, which carries the weight of the time I’ve spent selecting it, wrapping it, and packaging it for the mail. I can also feel like I’ve spent the full price, even though I almost always use a cash back site like Ebates and pair it with a coupon for a percentage off or free shipping. Sometimes all three! Have you noticed that you give a bigger cash gift than if you had bought a physical gift?
Who gives the best gifts?
The Ebates.com 2014 holiday survey also answered this question. And the winner is?
- Significant others were the universal favorite, with nearly half (42%) of consumers loving that gift
- Mothers came in second place with (21%)
- Limping in third place for best gift was your friend!!! (8%)
Americans agreed that their bosses or other coworkers gave them the worst gift (18%)
Doh! As a boss, should I rethink my gifts to my wonderful writers and my executive assistant? I usually give cash!
What are good Christmas gifts for employees or coworkers?
Related: Are gifts cards good Christmas gifts?
Welcome to Bargain Babe! I’m Mara, and I’m so glad you’re here. I am an obsessive bargain hunter and penny pincher, and I am determined to live a full life without EVER paying full price.
I prefer giving gift cards rather than cash. The thing to remember is the card should be for a store where you KNOW the recipient likes to shop or a general card like a VISA gift card is good because it can be used all over. There is nothing worse than getting a gift card to a store where you don’t like either the store or its merchandise.
Many stores and restaurants are giving bonus cards (5-10%) at this time of the year when you purchase their gift card so both you and the recipient come out ahead. It is also good to buy cards for yourself if you frequent the establishment.
@Myke I agree, a gift card can be a thoughtful gift if done right. What stores do you find yourself giving gift cards to? I buy all my gift cards on Cardpool (here’s my affiliate link if you want to check it out and don’t mind sending a small commission my way: http://refer.cardpool.com/v2/share/5942432492888508251) but they are usually paper ones. I have given paper gift cards as gifts, but it’s not as nice as the standard plastic gift card.
I need to buy more CVS gift cards! We end up shopping there regularly bc it’s where we fill scripts.