• Nearly half (48%) of Brits are looking for more affordable presents to gift loved ones this December, according to research by Nectar
  • Whilst 3 in 5 still want to spoil friends and family, 38% are concerned they won’t be able to
  • Brits favourite secret Santa gifts have been revealed, with a bottle of alcohol, festive chocolates and a scented candle topping the list

2 in 5 – or more than 27 million** – Brits are cutting costs this Christmas by turning to secret Santa so that they can still spoil family and friends despite the cost-of-living pressure.

According to new research from Nectar, 60% want to treat loved ones but 38% are concerned that they can’t afford to. As a result, nearly half (48%) are looking for more affordable options.

The gifting game has proven popular in recent years, especially among friendship groups and work colleagues. This year though, 38% of people – or more than 7 million families*** – are gifting each other this way.

The study has revealed that shoppers think the ideal amount to spend on a secret Santa gift is £13. Considering the average Nectar user has £20 worth of points saved up, it’s no surprise that many are using their points to make their shopping go further this year.

Despite the cost savings, it turns out not everyone is sold on secret Santa. 1 in 3 only enjoy it when they get someone they like and 1 in 4 prefer receiving presents to gifting them.

Topping the list of the easiest people to buy for is a child, whereas a colleague you rarely speak to proves to be the most difficult.

 Easiest people to buy for Hardest people to buy for 
 1. Child  1. Colleague you rarely speak to
 2. Partner  2. Boss
 3. Best friend outside of work  3. CEO
 4. Mother  4. Friend you know the least
 5. Best friend at work  5. In-law

Even with the right person, the fear of giving a bad present is strong, with 35% saying the struggle to buy a good present puts them off secret Santa completely.

But this year, it is back on the cards with offices, friendship groups and families all gearing up for thecheaper option. According to the research, the top secret Santa gifts are a bottle of alcohol and chocolate:

 Top secret Santa gifts
 1. Bottle of alcohol
 2. Festive chocolates
 3. Scented candle
 4. A book
 5. Selection box of biscuits

In previous years, millions of savvy shoppers have cashed in on their Nectar points at Christmas. In fact, last year alone nearly £50 million worth of points were redeemed in December – that’s the equivalent of 2.5 million turkeys, 82 million KG of roasties, and 253 million mince pies.

Meanwhile, Nectar issued its 1 trillionth point this month – meaning over £5 billion worth of points have been issued to Nectar users over the last 20 years! That’s an average of £250million points per year. Customers have had the option to either spend these on their food shopping, save them for a treat or exchange them for rewards across hundreds of Nectar’s partners. The recently launched My Nectar Prices has also ensured customers are getting great value from personalised offers all year-round.

Alex Naisby, Director of Loyalty and CRM at Nectar said: “Despite the challenges this year, our customers are telling us it’s still really important to them to make Christmas as special as they can, and our research shows that secret Santa is a great way to still be able to treat loved ones. We know that customers often have around £20 worth of Nectar points left to spend at this time of year so redeeming those is a great way to help festive celebrations go that little bit further. Whether it’s secret Santa gifting or topping up on Christmas dinner essentials, we hope that customers can use our top tips to make their Christmas shopping a little bit easier this year.”

The price is right
Price is on everyone’s lips this year and with so many struggling it’s important to have an affordable price limit for gifting that won’t put people off taking part. Nectar’s research suggests that the ideal price limit for Secret Santa is £13, so aim to stick somewhere around there. A low price limit takes the pressure off, and there are still plenty of gifting options available to fit the budget.

Use up the points you already have
The average Nectar user has over £20 in unspent points at this time of year which is the perfect amount to buy a secret Santa treat without spending a single penny!

Knowing what to buy
Choosing a gift for a loved one can be overwhelming as you want to get it just right. Suggest each person makes a wish list to avoid any awkward present exchanges this Christmas.

Alternatively, if you’re really stuck on what to buy them, research suggests you can’t go wrong with a festive candle, a good book or something tasty.

Timing
It seems we are a nation of last minute Christmas shoppers!! In fact, each year Nectar sees a rush of shoppers redeem their points on the 21st, 22nd and 23rd December. Whilst this might sound stressful , the longer you wait, the more Nectar points you’ll have saved up to spend on a gift. 

Secret Santa present suggestions

1-1000 Nectar Points (worth up to £5)

1001-2000 Nectar Points (worth up to £10)

2001-3000 Nectar Points (worth up to £15)

3001-4000 Nectar Points (worth up to £20)

This year, Sainsburys and Nectar are running a Super Secret Santa campaign, giving customers an opportunity to donate their money, including Nectar points, to help tackle food poverty. Donations can be made both in store and online, and for each donation, Sainsbury’s will match it up to the value of £1.5million.

Research conducted by OnePoll on behalf of Nectar between 25-28 November. 2,000 UK adults were polled.
*With Nectar members who have had a card for over a year, the average leftover balance is £20.52
**39.71% of the UK population (67,508,936)
***37.78% of UK families (19.3 million)

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