News

The pressure to purchase the perfect Christmas gifts for our loved ones can often leave people feeling anxious about buying the wrong presents for our nearest and dearest. However, Saga Insurance has taken some of the pressure off this Christmas, by asking over 11,600 members what they would like as a present.

Amazon.co.uk reported that each British person spends 882 hours (more than 36 days) on average, purchasing 1,386 presents in a lifetime and will purchase 22 gifts in just one Christmas alone.  The commercialisation of Christmas, with social media creating a need to 'keep up with the Joneses' is removing the joy of present buying for many people, leaving them feeling under pressure to buy the right gift for family and friends.

All of us have one or two people who are particularly difficult to buy for at Christmas and for a third of Saga Members (31%) that person is their partner. It is men in particular who struggle with this, with two fifths (39%) saying they find purchasing a gift for their partner the most challenging.

When asked what they do and do not want for Christmas this year, women revealed that the most unwanted gift they have received in the past is cosmetic sets (37%), while the gift they would most like to receive this year is tickets to a live event (23%) such as a concert or theatre trip

For men, the most unwanted gift is the safe pair of socks (22%), the gift they would most prefer to receive is vouchers (17%).

Despite receiving some less than desirable presents, overwhelmingly people feel it is the thought that counts, with Saga Members reporting that they enjoy giving gifts at Christmas (82%) more than receiving them (69%).

Top 5 most unwanted gifts

Top 5 Most Wanted Gifts

With so much time spent purchasing Christmas gifts, both homes and cars are likely to hold additional and more valuable items in the lead up to the Christmas holiday. Saga home and motor insurance automatically increases cover for the month of December, offering a temporary increase for contents and valuables in the home by 10% for standard home insurance product and 20% for Premier and doubling personal belongings cover in the car to £2,000 during December.

Maria Caruso, Head of Home insurance for Saga said, “"When it comes to gift giving over the festive period, it is important to remember that it isn't the money spent or the quantity of presents given that is important. Particularly for our Members, it is more about being thoughtful. This survey found that people most enjoy receiving a unique experience or voucher for something which is often something that they can share with friends and other family members, making the gift much more than something nice to open up on the big day.”

ENDS