We may have had to think twice about what we spend this year, but it seems where Christmas is concerned we all try to create something a little special. Next surveyed 2,000 respondents to find out we think Christmas should be celebrated – from the amount to spend on in-laws right through to the number of Brussel Sprouts to have with your dinner.

• The average Christmas shopper spends up to £1,381 on Christmas presents for their nearest and dearest every year
• Boys and their toys: spoilt sons top the list as having the most amount of money spent on them, with an average of £128
• The UK drinks more cups of tea on Christmas day (65% having at least one) than Bucks Fizz (40%) 
• The ultimate Christmas dinner in the UK consists of eight slices of meat, three pigs in blankets, three stuffing balls, four roast potatoes, three Yorkshire puddings, three spoonfuls of gravy, and 17 portions of vegetables

The most spoilt friends and family

Christmas shoppers are estimated to spend up to £1,380 on their nearest and dearest in the run-up to Christmas each year, but it’s the UK’s children that cost us the most. 

Sons take the top spot as the most spoilt members of the family with £128 being spent on them, this is followed closely by daughters with £127. Luckily, Santa also picks up some of the expense when it comes to spoiling the children at Christmas. 

Next on the expensive Christmas shopping list are our partners/spouses, who have on average £125 spent on them each year. But a gender breakdown of this data shows that men spoil their other half more than women do – spending £150 versus the £101 spent by women on their partners. 

On the less-expensive side of the scale are friends/best friends with an average of £64 and £66 being spent respectively. This might still sound generous, but this could also be shared across multiple friendship groups or individuals. 

Data shows that it’s often these cheaper presents that are the most likely to slip from our gift lists with 24% of the UK admitting to not buying any of their friends Christmas presents. Likewise, 24% don’t participate in any secret Santa exchanges despite it coming in at the cheaper end of the spectrum at £68.

The ultimate Christmas dinner menu

A big part of Christmas day is dedicated to eating and drinking like a king or queen. With nothing off-limits, it’s no wonder there are so many debates over the best part of the Christmas meal. 

For 61% of respondents, roast potatoes are essential to their Christmas dinner with four being the optimum number of spuds. 

Another 43% believe that their Christmas meal isn’t complete unless it contains Brussel Sprouts. But this iconic winter vegetable isn’t always well-liked with 31% preferring sprouts to not be on their plate.

Next also counted on average, how many portions of each Christmas dinner component the UK opts for. The result – eight slices of meat, three pigs in blankets, three stuffing balls, four roast potatoes, three Yorkshire puddings, three spoonfuls of gravy, and 17 portions of vegetables. Luckily, most of us are in our ‘eating clothes’ with 33% in casual wear and another 33% in loungewear/pyjamas on Christmas day.

Before, during, and after our Christmas dinner, many of us drink alcohol to mark the occasion too. The most common alcoholic beverage to be consumed on Christmas day is wine (white, red, or rose) with 57% drinking at least one glass. Within this, 23% admitted to drinking three glasses or more which equates to nearly one full bottle. 

Perhaps surprisingly, it’s soft drinks like lemonade and cola that take the crown with an average of 2.5 being consumed on Christmas day. Close behind is tea (2.3 cups) and coffee (2.3 cups). After all, if 30% of us are opening our presents first thing in the morning, we must have some caffeine to keep us going.

The UK’s attitudes to tradition

As the data shows, there are many ways to spend Christmas day, and nothing will quite ignite a debate among the nation like discussing how to spend it. But many of us also aren’t willing to change or compromise on the big day.

Just 6% of the UK’s population strongly agree that they’d be open to trying new Christmas traditions. A whopping 67% either disagreed or couldn’t decide whether or not they’d be up for trying new things at Christmas. A further 30% admit to feeling protective over the customs they grew up with and aren’t willing to change them. 

But when it comes to celebrating Christmas with a partner, compromise can be essential. Men generally find compromising around the holidays easier with 22% adopting new traditions from their partner versus just 16% of women. 

Relationship expert James Preece told us…..

“Christmas day is all about doing things for other people, so make sure you make it a fair balance. Make a list of all the things that are important to you both and work your way through this. Choose the ones you each want to stick to and accept the same from your partner. However, keep in mind that part of the fun of the season is creating new traditions to look forward to…together.”

When do Brits open their presents?

A topic of great debate is when is the best time to open your presents at Christmas. Only 9% of respondents open their gifts before the big day, opting to open them on Christmas Eve instead. The most popular time to open presents is after breakfast on Christmas day which topped the list with 35% who agree, soon followed by opening presents as soon as you wake up which has 29% respondents in agreement.

At the other end of the list, the least popular times to open presents is throughout the day with 8% of Brits opening their gifts then, after Christmas dinner (7%), and before bedtime (2%).

You can find out more about what the UK class as the ultimate Christmas here.