The wrapping paper is long gone, the tree is back in its box, and the presents have found their places around the house. But for some families, the holiday did not end on December 26. The bill came due.
A YouGov survey published January 14, 2026 found that 21% of Americans borrowed money for Christmas 2025 spending. That is just over one in five.
What The Survey Found
YouGov’s online survey was conducted January 12 and 13, 2026, with 1,262 U.S. adults. Among those who borrowed, here is what the money went toward.
- 77% used it for gifts.
- 38% used it for food and drink.
- 32% used it for everyday bills.
Those add up to more than 100%, so many borrowers evidently put the money toward more than one thing. Gifts led the list by a wide margin, though, which tells us where much of the holiday borrowing went.
How People Borrowed
YouGov also asked how people got the money. 66% used credit cards. 24% used buy now, pay later plans. And 6% used payday or other high-cost loans.
Most of the borrowing was on the smaller side. 68% of borrowers took on less than $1,000. But 11% borrowed $2,000 or more, which is a hefty sum to be paying off after the holidays.
The repayment number may be the most striking one. Only 23% of credit card users had fully repaid what they borrowed by the time of the survey. In other words, when the survey was taken in mid-January, most card users had not yet paid it off in full.
Where The Gifts Go
This is where our favorite subject comes in. If more than three out of four borrowers put money on gifts, it is fair to ask what happened to those gifts. For many households, the answer is that they ended up in a closet, a toy bin or a drawer.
Think about the things you received or gave last year. Which ones are still in daily use? Which are in a corner collecting dust? Children in particular can lose interest in a toy within days, and adults know the feeling of getting a gadget that never leaves the box.
When a gift turns into clutter and was paid for with borrowed money, the cost stacks up twice. You pay for it with money, and you pay for it again with space and with interest.
Rethinking The Pile
Nobody is suggesting you skip the joy of giving. The goal is to give in ways that stick. Here are some ideas to try before next season.
- Set a number and keep it. Decide on a total holiday budget before you shop, and treat it as a ceiling.
- Give fewer, better things. One gift a child will love often beats a stack of small ones that are forgotten by February.
- Try the four-gift rule. Something they want, something they need, something to wear and something to read gives structure and keeps the pile in check.
- Give experiences. Tickets, a day trip, a class or a homemade coupon for time together takes no shelf space.
- Agree on family limits. Many extended families draw names or set a spending cap, which takes pressure off everyone.
- Ask what people really want. A short wish list prevents gifts that miss the mark.
If You Already Borrowed
If part of last Christmas is still on a credit card, you are in good company, and there are steps you can take. Make a list of what you owe. Pay more than the minimum when you can. And consider selling items from around the house that you no longer use, using the proceeds to chip away at the balance.
Gifts you received but will never use might be worth passing along or selling too, as long as it is done kindly. A cleared shelf and a smaller balance feel good together.
If buy now, pay later plans were part of your holiday, keep track of the payment dates so no surprise catches you off guard. Small payments across several plans can add up quickly, so it helps to see them all in one place.
Start Planning Early
The best fix for holiday debt is a little preparation. Open a small savings account just for gifts and add to it each month. Even modest amounts make a difference by the time the season rolls around. Keep a list of ideas through the year, so you are not grabbing things in a rush and paying more than you meant to.
The Takeaway
YouGov found that 21% of Americans borrowed for Christmas 2025, that 77% of those borrowers used it for gifts, and that only 23% of card users had paid off in full by mid-January. Before next December, think about what the family will really use and remember. A smaller pile, a clear budget and no debt make for a merrier season, and a lot less to store in January.
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