When it comes to gather around the tree this holiday season, most Canadians prefer to give (87%) gifts than to receive them (13%), according to a new Ipsos Reid poll conducted on behalf of World Vision Canada. And while xix in ten (58%) say the recent changes in the economy have caused them to re-evaluate this year’s Christmas spending or traditions, the majority of Canadians continue to hold charitable gifts in high regard.
Eight in ten (80%) ‘agree’ (31% strongly/49% somewhat) that they’d ‘rather receive a meaningful gift that would help someone else, rather than a traditional gift like a pair of socks or a sweater’. But finding that perfect gift can often be a challenge, particularly when the gift if for a family member of the opposite sex, according to the poll results.
One quarter (25%) of Canadians say their spouse is the most difficult person to buy a gift for, but men (34%) are significantly more likely than women (21%) to say so. In fact, for women, dad (24%) is the most challenging person to find that perfect gift for, while fewer men (17%) think the same. More men (18%) than women (13%) say finding a gift for mom is the most difficult.
Few parents think their sons (4%) and daughters (3%) are difficult to buy for, while brothers (3%) and sisters (3%) are apparently on the easier side as well. One in ten (9%) are of the opinion that other individuals, such as aunts, uncles, grandparents or cousins are the most
difficult. Interestingly, only 16% of Canadians say they’re all easy people to buy for, and apparently don’t have any problems finding gifts.
Interestingly, six in ten (59%) Canadians think that they’re an easy person to buy for. Just three in ten (28%) recognize that some people have difficulty buying for them, but are unsure of why, with women (30%) being more likely than men (24%) to say so. Only 14% acknowledge that they’re difficult to buy for, and they know it. However, men (20%) are twice as likely as women (10%) to admit that they’re difficult to buy for.
While Canadians struggle more so with finding a gift for a family member of the opposite sex, they generally prefer to receive gifts from the women in their family, not the men. While four in ten (38%) Canadians, overall, look forward to receiving their spouse’s gift the most, husbands (48%) are much more likely than wives (32%) to say that this is the case.
One in three (34%) most look forward to gifts from their children, while others anticipate receiving the gift from their mother (12%), or sister (4%) more so than from dad (3%) or brother (1%). Just 6% say they don’t look forward to anybody’s gift because they never get what they want, with men (9%) being twice as likely as women (4%) to be dissatisfied with their gifts.
Six in ten (58%) say the recent changes in the economy have caused them to re-evaluate this year’s Christmas spending or traditions, with women (64%) being much more likely than men (48%) to say that this is the case. Still, one quarter (23%) of Canadians does not limit the amount of money they spend on Christmas gifts.
Taking a more cost-conscious approach, three in ten (32%) set an overall spending limit while 45% set a spending limit per person. Women (51%) are much more likely than men (35%) to
set a limit per person, while men (36%) are more likely than women (30%) to set an overall spending limit, or no limit at all (29% men vs. 19% women).
These are some of the findings of a poll conducted between September 23 to 25, 2009, on behalf of World Vision Canada. For this survey, a national sample of 2,006 adults from Ipsos' Canadian online panel was interviewed online. Weighting was then employed to balance demographics and ensure that the sample's composition reflects that of the adult population according to Census data and to provide results intended to approximate the sample universe. A survey with an unweighted probability sample of this size and a 100% response rate would have an estimated margin of error of +/-2.2 percentage points 19 times out of 20 of what the results would have been had the entire population of adults in Canada been polled. All sample surveys and polls may be subject to other sources of error, including, but not limited to coverage error, and measurement error.
About World Vision:
World Vision is a Christian relief, development and advocacy organization dedicated to working with children, families and communities to overcome poverty and injustice. World Vision serves all people regardless of religion, race, ethnicity or gender. For more information, please visit http://www.worldvision.ca/.
About Ipsos Reid:
Ipsos Reid is Canada’s market intelligence leader and the country’s leading provider of public opinion research. Ipsos Reid is an Ipsos company, a leading global survey-based market research group. To learn more, visit http://www.ipsos.ca/.
To view the World Vision Christmas gift catalogue visit www.worldvision.ca/gifts
For more information, or to arrange an interview, contact:
Karen Flores
905-565-6200 ext. 3497
416-277-5563 (cell)
karen_flores@worldvision.ca
Jane Bargout
905-565-6200 ext. 2149
416-716-9738 (cell)
jane_bargout@worldvision.ca
