This Holiday Season, Americans Want "More Joy, Less Stuff". Poll Shows Only 28% of Americans Feel Holiday Season Brings Them Joy

Takoma Park, MD - Amid the noise, confusion and expense of the holiday season, is it possible that all Americans really want is a little.joy? A new poll commissioned by the Center for a New American Dream says that a surprising 44% of Americans feel pressure to spend more than they can afford at holiday time and that only 28% of Americans feel that the holiday season leaves them feeling "joyful."

"The holidays are supposed to be a time to relax and celebrate, and a season to provide our kids with lasting memories," says Betsy Taylor, Executive Director of the non-profit Center for a New American Dream. "Instead, for too many families, the holidays have become just another stressful and expensive time in our already busy lives."

The poll also showed that almost half of all Americans went into debt last holiday season and that more than one in five of those were still in debt eleven months later. "People don't have to go into debt to give great gifts," Taylor said. "In our poll, a whopping 82% said they would rather have a photo album of times spent growing up than a store-bought gift. A family photo album or a book of family recipes is likely to be remembered for years and years. A store-bought gift may not have that kind of impact."

A Growing Movement to Simplify

The Trends Research Institute reports that the move toward voluntary simplicity is one of the top ten trends of the mid-1990s. The Center for a New American Dream works with people in over two dozen states across the country who are part of this growing movement of Americans who have made changes in their holiday spending in favor of a happier, less stressful, more meaningful celebration.

"During the holiday season, we try to concentrate on the values that are most important to us," Taylor said. "This poll shows that more and more Americans are ready to make changes in their lives that reflect those values."

Free Brochure Offers Practical Tips to Simplify the Holidays

As part of its Simplify the Holidays Campaign, the Center for a New American Dream is offering a free brochure with tips, advice and support to help people avoid overspending and instead enjoy a more family-oriented, less stressful holiday season.

Here are a few alternatives to costly holiday spending:

  • Give the gift of time - design a gift certificate that offers baby sitting, a home-cooked meal or a monthly lunch date with an elderly relative or friend.
  • Chronicle your family history by assembling photographs, letters and important documents.
  • Frame a meaningful photograph or put together a photo album.
  • Host a potluck instead of having to cook the entire holiday feast alone.

For a free copy of the Center for a New American Dream's "Simplify the Holidays" brochure, call toll free 877-68-DREAM or click on their website at www.newdream.org/holiday.

Note to media - families who have made changes in their holiday celebrations from more than two dozen states are available for interviews by contacting the Center for a New American Dream.

Poll Highlights*

Gift Giving vs. Gift Getting

  • 40% of those surveyed felt pressured to buy presents for the sake of giving a gift.
  • 85% of Americans said they like spending time with friends and family a lot, while only 17% placed the same priority on getting lots of presents.

Great Gifts Don't Have to Be Expensive

  • 82% of Americans surveyed would rather have a photo album of times shared growing up than a store-bought gift.

Spending

  • 92% felt that Americans spend more money than they can afford to during the holidays.
  • 64% would personally spend less money during the holidays if their family would make changes.

Debt

  • 47% of all those surveyed reported going into debt last holiday season. Of those, more than one in five was still paying off that debt eleven months later.

Stress

  • One out of every three hours spent during the holiday season was devoted to doing things that made survey respondents feel stressed or uncomfortable.

Advertising Aimed at Kids, Family Pressures, Add to the Problem

  • 63% said advertising aimed at kids causes Americans to spend more than they can afford on the holidays.
  • 49% felt pressure from family to overextend financially during the holidays.

Commercialized Holiday Takes its Toll on the Environment

  • 86% said that the commercialization of the holidays leads to excessive packaging and trash, causing environmental damage.
  • 88% didn't think enough people are paying attention to the problem.

# # #

* Poll Commissioned by the Center for a New American Dream and conducted on November 4-5, 1998 by EDK Associates of New York. The survey was administered by phone to 800 people nationwide. Findings from the survey have a margin of error of +/- 3.5 percent with a 95% level of confidence.