NEW YORK (AP) — Welcome to exhausted America 2025: Most adults are more than a little fine with doling out 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 say that about a gift that was purchased secondhand or re-gifted.
“Cash is OK for the grandkids I guess,” said Nancy Wyant, 73, in rural central Iowa. “But I’m a gift giver.”
When New Year’s Eve arrives, she’ll be fast asleep before 2026 rolls around. “At our age, we don’t do anything,” the retired bus driver said with a laugh. “He’s set in his ways.”
They’ll be joined by the 44% of Americans who say they won’t stay up to greet 2026, according to the poll. About half of U.S. adults age 45 or older won’t make it to midnight, compared to around one-third of those under 45.
Consider 23-year-old Otis Phillips in Seattle, an outlier among his peers. He, too, will turn in early. “It’s one of the holidays that doesn’t really feel special to me,” said the master’s student.
**Most Say Cash Makes an Acceptable Holiday Gift**
Cash is increasingly viewed as a safe gift for younger adults. The poll shows about two-thirds of Americans under 45 find cash 'very' acceptable compared with 55% of adults age 45 or older.
“Everything’s too expensive nowadays. I don’t want to buy something that someone doesn’t like. So cash is the way to go,” said Gabriel Antonucci, 26, a ski resort cook in Alaska.
Nine in ten respondents accept cash or gift cards as at least 'somewhat' acceptable gifts; about 60% say similarly about secondhand gifts and re-gifted items.
Teresa Pedroza, a 55-year-old mother from Florida, remains skeptical.
“I don’t like it when kids say they want cash or ask for gift cards,” she shared. “It takes some of the charm away from gift-giving.” Yet, she admitted to using gift cards for convenience once or twice.
Three-quarters of adults under 45 say secondhand gifts are at least 'somewhat' acceptable, compared to 60% of those older than 45. Approximately 40% of those 45 and up deem secondhand gifts 'somewhat' or 'very' unacceptable.
**Many Keep Holiday Decor Up Beyond the New Year**
It isn’t just annoying neighbors who delay removing holiday decor; roughly a third of U.S. adults will keep their decorations up past New Year’s Day. More people leave decorations up than put them up early; about 20% start decorating before Thanksgiving.
“I just had my husband bring down the bins. If we weren’t expecting company, I wouldn’t even bother to decorate, honestly,” said Pedroza.
**Many Will Celebrate Christmas Day With Sports**
About 25% of U.S. adults plan to watch sports on Christmas Day, while only 5% will head to the movies. Men are significantly more likely to watch sports than women, and older Americans show greater interest in tuning in than younger ones.
Phillips enjoys wearing a knitted red sweater with a green Christmas tree made by his grandmother. “This is my favorite,” he noted, although women typically show more enthusiasm for holiday-themed wear.
**Gifts for Pets and Elf on the Shelf**
Around 30% of U.S. adults plan to give gifts to their pets this year. Wyant’s dog, Indy, an indulged boxer-Great Dane mix, is among them, receiving treats instead of toys this holiday.
The festive 'Elf on the Shelf' tradition seems less appealing, with only about 10% of adults engaging in it. “Noooo,” Pedroza firmly stated regarding ever adopting the elf tradition with her children.
The AP-NORC poll conducted in early December surveyed 1,146 adults, reflecting a representative sample of the U.S. population, with a margin of sampling error of plus or minus 4 percentage points.
“Cash is OK for the grandkids I guess,” said Nancy Wyant, 73, in rural central Iowa. “But I’m a gift giver.”
When New Year’s Eve arrives, she’ll be fast asleep before 2026 rolls around. “At our age, we don’t do anything,” the retired bus driver said with a laugh. “He’s set in his ways.”
They’ll be joined by the 44% of Americans who say they won’t stay up to greet 2026, according to the poll. About half of U.S. adults age 45 or older won’t make it to midnight, compared to around one-third of those under 45.
Consider 23-year-old Otis Phillips in Seattle, an outlier among his peers. He, too, will turn in early. “It’s one of the holidays that doesn’t really feel special to me,” said the master’s student.
**Most Say Cash Makes an Acceptable Holiday Gift**
Cash is increasingly viewed as a safe gift for younger adults. The poll shows about two-thirds of Americans under 45 find cash 'very' acceptable compared with 55% of adults age 45 or older.
“Everything’s too expensive nowadays. I don’t want to buy something that someone doesn’t like. So cash is the way to go,” said Gabriel Antonucci, 26, a ski resort cook in Alaska.
Nine in ten respondents accept cash or gift cards as at least 'somewhat' acceptable gifts; about 60% say similarly about secondhand gifts and re-gifted items.
Teresa Pedroza, a 55-year-old mother from Florida, remains skeptical.
“I don’t like it when kids say they want cash or ask for gift cards,” she shared. “It takes some of the charm away from gift-giving.” Yet, she admitted to using gift cards for convenience once or twice.
Three-quarters of adults under 45 say secondhand gifts are at least 'somewhat' acceptable, compared to 60% of those older than 45. Approximately 40% of those 45 and up deem secondhand gifts 'somewhat' or 'very' unacceptable.
**Many Keep Holiday Decor Up Beyond the New Year**
It isn’t just annoying neighbors who delay removing holiday decor; roughly a third of U.S. adults will keep their decorations up past New Year’s Day. More people leave decorations up than put them up early; about 20% start decorating before Thanksgiving.
“I just had my husband bring down the bins. If we weren’t expecting company, I wouldn’t even bother to decorate, honestly,” said Pedroza.
**Many Will Celebrate Christmas Day With Sports**
About 25% of U.S. adults plan to watch sports on Christmas Day, while only 5% will head to the movies. Men are significantly more likely to watch sports than women, and older Americans show greater interest in tuning in than younger ones.
Phillips enjoys wearing a knitted red sweater with a green Christmas tree made by his grandmother. “This is my favorite,” he noted, although women typically show more enthusiasm for holiday-themed wear.
**Gifts for Pets and Elf on the Shelf**
Around 30% of U.S. adults plan to give gifts to their pets this year. Wyant’s dog, Indy, an indulged boxer-Great Dane mix, is among them, receiving treats instead of toys this holiday.
The festive 'Elf on the Shelf' tradition seems less appealing, with only about 10% of adults engaging in it. “Noooo,” Pedroza firmly stated regarding ever adopting the elf tradition with her children.
The AP-NORC poll conducted in early December surveyed 1,146 adults, reflecting a representative sample of the U.S. population, with a margin of sampling error of plus or minus 4 percentage points.
