Almost 1 in 4 haven’t used their gift vouchers from last Christmas: new CCPC research
December 2, 2025
The Christmas spending, saving and borrowing plans of Irish consumers are detailed in annual research published by the Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (CCPC), with the CCPC advising shoppers to plan carefully, check the total cost of credit before borrowing, and think before buying gift vouchers.
Gift vouchers
- Almost two thirds (63%) received at least one gift voucher last Christmas
- Almost 1 in 4 (22%) of those have not yet used them
CCPC Director of Communications Grainne Griffin said,
“Our research shows how popular vouchers are as gifts but if they’re not used, they’re a waste of money. We are encouraging consumers to use gift vouchers as soon as possible, and if you’re thinking of giving someone a voucher this year, maybe consider if they would prefer cash – it comes with fewer terms and conditions.”
Average spend
- Consumers expect to spend about the same as last year – €1,163 this Christmas vs €1,177 in 2024, a decrease of €14
- 45-54 age group expected to spend the most – €1,465 on average
- Consumers in social class ABC1 expect to spend €1,360, while those in C2DE expect to spend €1,056
- 32% of Dubliners plan to spend more this Christmas than last, versus 23% outside Dublin
- Big differences in average expected spend between households with children (€1,601) and those without children (€995)
Grainne Griffin said,
“From our research it appears that consumers are taking quite a sensible approach to Christmas spending. While costs have risen, most consumers don’t plan to spend any more than last year.
“That said, it’s easy for spending to get out of control at Christmas, and the price increases can hit particularly hard at this time of year. We advise consumers to plan carefully; list everything you’re going to have to spend money on for Christmas – presents, food, drink, nights out, travel – and then look at your sources of cash. Think about how many paydays you have left before Christmas. Will your savings and wages cover your costs? If not, have a look at where you might be able to cut back.”
Shopping, saving and borrowing
- 1 in 5 (19%) plan to borrow to cover Christmas costs, with the majority of these planning on using a credit card
- 1 in 4 of those who have Christmas savings start saving between July and September, with a further 2 in 5 saving year-round
- Three quarters of all women start their Christmas shopping before December, compared to half of all men
Grainne Griffin said,
“We’re glad to see that the numbers borrowing to cover Christmas haven’t increased on last year. However, we know that people spend more than they need to on credit by using the wrong products. Credit cards are only a good choice if you can fully clear your bill in January, otherwise they can be one of the most expensive forms of borrowing. If you need to borrow, consider a personal loan from a bank or credit union. Avoid moneylenders.
“Ideally, you want to clear the cost of Christmas by Easter, or summer at the very latest, so that you’re not still paying off last year’s debt when you start thinking about next Christmas.”
Buy now, pay later – pay more?
- 7% of 25-34 year olds say they plan to use Buy Now Pay Later services to pay for Christmas expenses, compared to 3% of all age groups
Ms Griffin concluded,
“We’re glad to see that overall numbers planning to use BNPL appear low but there is a risk that far more people will use it without planning to – it’s an option presented at checkout for home goods, clothing, electronics and even groceries and takeaways, and it can be very tempting to simply put off paying for a while. It is a form of borrowing and missed payments incur fees that can mount up quickly; it can be a lot of hassle for something that seems convenient at first.”
Find out more about the Christmas Shopping Research Report 2025.
Return to News