The “buy nothing” trend increases the popularity of the gift economy
The Buy Nothing project was created for people to trade items with each other instead of buying new products themselves.
Fox – 26 Houston
Some families don’t buy presents during the holiday season and ask other family members not to buy presents.
And they aren’t alone.
In a survey conducted this fall by Empower, 33% of those surveyed said they weren’t asking for gifts this year.
Rebecca Rickert, director of consumer insights at Empower, said the “no-gifting” trend signals a return to consumerism.
“Not giving gifts is certainly an economic signal, but it’s also becoming an act of generosity in itself,” Rickert told USA TODAY. “That takes the pressure off the other person to give.”
In the same survey, 60% said gifting culture was “out of control,” and a further 48% said they felt “gift fatigue.” 44% said they would rather give the gift of time rather than material things.
Families can save money by not exchanging gifts
Josie Bradley’s family will stop exchanging gifts this year and focus on their talent.
The family in Snohomish, Wash., is a little “foolish” and turns holiday family time into a talent show, Bradley said.
For several years, Bradley said, her family has been trying to prepare for Christmas without presents.
In the past three or four years, we’ve all gone from buying each other gifts to picking one name out of a hat.
“But for years I’ve wanted to have this celebratory Christmas where we perform for each other,” Bradley said, explaining that when she was growing up in her hometown in Canada, her entire community would hold parties and talent shows instead of exchanging gifts.
Bradley, 53, has four adult children, two of whom are married with children, for a total of 13. Families share expenses and live together in “intentional communities.”
“We’re all looking at ways to save money as a unit, as a community, so everyone got on board with it this year,” she said of the idea of not buying each other gifts.
Some family members share budding talents. Ms. Bradley is trying to learn to play the didgeridoo, and her son is learning to play the whistle. In a TikTok post about her family’s decision not to buy presents, Bradley said her daughter-in-law told her she was going to campaign for the family. (Mr. Bradley said he may have been joking.)
Holiday shopping doesn’t have to be on your to-do list, reducing stress for your family.
Bradley said she and her family are looking forward to not having the stress of shopping during the holiday season.
“We’ve all been through something like that, and we’ve all been so stressed out about it, and we try to go back and remember the gifts we gave and the gifts we were given, and we can’t,” she said.
Bradley said she believes it was a little easier to get her family involved because it was her idea as the head of the family.
“There was some resistance because some people, like my daughter-in-law, are very good at buying presents. It’s like part of her expression of love.” But this year, Bradley said her daughter-in-law has been more open.
However, there are important exceptions.
Bradley said the family decided to buy each grandchild a large gift because they didn’t want them to feel socially excluded when they were with other children who received gifts.
But she’s excited to be able to enjoy the run-up to Christmas without buying gifts.
“For the first time, it’s not so much that I feel pressured to buy presents, but that I’m mentally blind to celebrating Christmas,” she said.
Refocus family time by eliminating gift exchanges
Lori Meo of Foster, Rhode Island, and her family also decided to give presents this year, and Meo couldn’t be happier.
“I’ve been saving money every year since my kids were little. To be honest, none of us need anything,” Meo said in a TikTok post, adding that her husband, two adult children and her mother won’t be buying presents this year.
“Honestly, I don’t need blankets, candles, lotions, etc. anymore,” she said in the post.
Meo, 57, told USA TODAY that she had been saying for the past few years that she wanted to eliminate gift-giving.
Her children, ages 23 and 25, are saving money to buy a house.
Meo also spoke with her stepmother and they agreed not to exchange gifts because her stepmother usually gives her money and it would be “too much work” for Meo to buy gift cards.
Eliminating gifts also takes away the pressure to pretend you like a gift when you don’t, Meo says.
“I don’t like it, I don’t need it, and I don’t have to return it,” Meo said. “So I think everyone is feeling good.”
Meo said she plans to give the cash to children and their loved ones, but has not yet decided whether to fill their stockings.
But otherwise, she plans to buy a new game for the family to play and make a big breakfast on Christmas morning.
“We’re going to focus less on gifts and refocus on being with family.”
Betty Lin-Fisher is a consumer reporter for USA TODAY. Contact her at blinfisher@USATODAY.com or follow her at @blinfisher on X, Facebook and Instagram and @blinfisher.bsky.social on Bluesky.. Sign up for our free The Daily Money newsletter, breaking down complex consumer and financial news. Subscribe here.
