All we want for Christmas is cash?

This story version has been formatted as an on-air script for broadcast outlets. See the original research story here.

FORGET GADGETS AND SOCKS. ALL AMERICANS WANT FOR CHRISTMAS THIS YEAR IS CASH, ACCORDING TO NEW RESEARCH.

A SURVEY OF 5,000 AMERICANS ACROSS ALL 50 STATES FROM CHIME REVEALED THAT MOST (58%) WOULD PREFER TO RECEIVE MONEY FOR THE HOLIDAYS, HOPING FOR AN AVERAGE OF JUST OVER $600. 

THE TOP STATES WANTING CASH ARE WEST VIRGINIA (69%) AND GEORGIA (68%) 

WEARABLES AND ACCESSORIES (29%) RANKED IN SECOND PLACE, WITH CASUAL ATTIRE (58%) AND SHOES (56%) BEING THE MOST POPULAR CLOTHING ITEMS.

HAVING YOUR BILLS BEING PAID (21%) ROUNDED OUT THE TOP THREE MOST COVETED GIFTS ACROSS THE BOARD AND PEOPLE IN MAINE (31%) AND WYOMING (29%) WERE MOST LIKELY TO APPRECIATE SOMEONE COVERING THEIR COSTS.

CONDUCTED BY TALKER RESEARCH, THE SURVEY ALSO FOUND THAT ONE-QUARTER OF GEN X (25%) WOULD LIKE TO HAVE THEIR MORTGAGE PAID, WHILE 33 PERCENT OF MILLENNIALS WOULD LIKE HOME IMPROVEMENTS, LIKE NEW WINDOWS OR AN UPDATED BATHROOM. 

MOST WANTED GIFTS THIS HOLIDAY SEASON

• CASH/MONEY - 58%
• WEARABLE/ACCESSORIES (CLOTHES, SHOES, JEWELRY, ETC.) - 29%
• ESSENTIALS (RENT OR MORTGAGE PAID, UTILITIES PAID, REPLACED APPLIANCES, ETC.) - 21%
• EXPERIENCES (TRAVEL, CONCERT OR SPORTS TICKETS, ETC.) - 19%
• GADGETS/TECH (GAMING SYSTEMS, COMPUTERS, SMART DEVICES, ETC.) - 16%
• TRENDY ITEMS (LABUBU, STANLEY CUP, THE LATEST SKIN CARE PRODUCTS, ETC.) - 7%

MOST WANTED WEARABLES/ACCESSORIES THIS HOLIDAY SEASON

• CASUAL ATTIRE (SWEATSHIRTS, JEANS, LEGGINGS, ETC.) - 68%
• SHOES - 56%
• JEWELRY (RING, BRACELET, WATCH, ETC.) - 49%
• OUTERWEAR (COATS, SHACKETS, ETC.) - 43%
• NECESSARY ATTIRE (UNDERGARMENTS, SOCKS, ETC.) - 36%
• DESIGNER ITEMS (BAGS, BELTS, ETC.) - 29%
• EVENT ATTIRE (LONG DRESSES, SUITS, BLAZERS, ETC.) - 16%

MOST WANTED ESSENTIALS THIS HOLIDAY SEASON

• UTILITIES PAID - 58%
• RENT PAID - 51%
• CREDIT CARD DEBT PAID - 44%
• UPDATED/REPLACED APPLIANCES (AIR FRYER, TOASTER, REFRIGERATOR, ETC.) - 29%
• HOME IMPROVEMENTS (NEW WINDOWS, UPDATED BATHROOM, ETC.) - 28%
• STREAMING SERVICES PAID - 28%
• MORTGAGE PAID - 24%
• MEDICAL COSTS (MONEY FOR APPOINTMENTS, ONLINE PROVIDER GIFT CARDS/CREDITS, ETC.) - 23%
• STUDENT DEBT PAID - 13%

MOST WANTED EXPERIENCES THIS HOLIDAY SEASON

• FULL TRIP (REQUIRES AIR TRAVEL OR A LONG DRIVE, HOTELS, ETC.) - 56%
• CONCERT TICKETS - 51%
• LOCAL TRAVEL EXPERIENCES (GETAWAYS IN MY HOMETOWN, CLOSE TO MY HOME, ETC.) - 43%
• MOVIE TICKETS - 37%
• SPA DAY - 37%
• SPORTS TICKETS - 35%
• THEATRE TICKETS (BROADWAY SHOWS, LOCAL THEATRE, ETC.) - 33%
• FOOD TASTING - 30%
• COMEDY SHOW - 29%
• ZOO/AQUARIUM TRIP - 25%
• WINERY/BREWERY TOUR OR TASTING - 24%
• BOAT RIDES/TRIPS - 23%
• COOKING CLASSES/WORKSHOPS - 20%
• ART/CREATIVE CLASSES (POTTERY, PAINTING, KNITTING, ETC.) - 19%
• GHOST TOUR - 15%

MOST WANTED GADGETS THIS HOLIDAY SEASON

• SMART PHONE - 45%
• LAPTOP - 43%
• HEADPHONES/EARPHONES - 41%
• TV/SMART TV - 39%
• SMART WATCH - 38%
• GAMING SYSTEM - 37%
• GAMING COMPUTER - 24%
• SPEAKER - 23%
• VIRTUAL REALITY (VR) DEVICES - 21%
• DESKTOP COMPUTER - 21%
• SMART APPLIANCE - 21%
• HOME SECURITY DEVICES (RING CAMERA, MOTION ALERT, ETC.) - 19%
• TRACKING DEVICES (SMART TAGS, KEY FINDERS, ETC.) - 17%
• SMART RING - 16%
• DRONE - 16%
• MODERN PROFESSIONAL CAMERA - 12%
• VINTAGE CAMERA (POLAROIDS, FILM, ETC.) - 8%

MOST WANTED TRENDY ITEMS THIS HOLIDAY SEASON

• SKIN CARE OR MAKEUP PRODUCTS (TOWER 28, PEACH & LILY, SUMMER FRIDAY’S, ETC.) - 62%
• BRANDED ITEMS (STANLEY CUPS, DESIGNER BAGS, ETC.) - 60%
• POPULAR BOOKS - 32%
• WHATEVER IS TRENDING IN THE TIKTOK SHOP - 31%
• COLLECTIBLE ITEMS (POKEMON CARDS, FUNKOS, ETC.) - 28%
• INFLUENCER RECOMMENDED ITEMS - 26%
• BLIND BOX ITEMS (LABUBU, ETC.) - 25%

Research methodology:

Talker Research surveyed 5,000 state-by-state Americans (100 in each state) who celebrate a winter holiday, who have access to the internet; the survey was commissioned by Chime and administered and conducted online by Talker Research between Oct. 23 to Oct. 31, 2025. A link to the questionnaire can be found here.

To view the complete methodology as part of AAPOR’s Transparency Initiative, please visit the Talker Research Process and Methodology page.