Interested in finding out how other NCP panel members feel about holiday shopping? Well, we have some data for you!
But first, let me explain: NCP has been conducting an Advisory Board, with rotating members, for the past few years. The NCP Advisory Board functions as an ongoing, online focus group. Each group usually lasts two or three months, and then we start a new one, with new board members. A few times a month we’ll ask the board members to provide their opinions about a specific NCP-related topic. Our belief is that, as an NCP panelist, there’s no one better to ask about what we can do to enhance the panel.
With that said, our most recent Advisory Board group was asked about their holiday shopping experiences. (Please note: This is not scientific! It’s just a snapshot into some of our panelists’ opinions.) Here is what they said:
When do you start your holiday shopping?
- Start before September: 16.7%
- Start September or October: 14.3%
- Start November to early December: 42.9%
- Start mid-December: 11.9%
- Start day/days before holiday: 4.8%
- Don’t holiday shop: 7.1%
Compared with last year, how much money are you planning to spend on holiday shopping?
- More: 15.4%
- Same: 53.8%
- Less: 30.8%
Did you take advantage of Black Friday or Cyber Monday shopping/deals?
- Black Friday only: 17.9%
- Cyber Monday only: 12.8%
- Both Black Friday and Cyber Monday: 17.9%
- Shopped that weekend, but not on Black Friday or Cyber Monday: 5.1%
- Didn’t shop Black Friday, the weekend, or Cyber Monday: 46.2%
How many friends or family members do you typically shop for during the holiday season?
- 1 – 5: 23.1%
- 6 – 10: 51.3%
- 11 – 15: 23.1%
- More than 15: 2.6%
When holiday shopping, where do you get the best deals?
- Online: 51.2%
- In-store: 39.0%
When making holiday purchases, how do you typically pay?
- Credit: 45.9%
- Debit: 32.4%
- Cash: 16.2%
- PayPal: 2.7%
When do you typically start putting up your holiday decorations?
- Start during November: 29.4%
- Start the day after Thanksgiving: 14.7%
- Start early December: 38.2%
- Start days before the holiday: 17.6%
Do you have a favorite holiday song?
Yes: 58.6%
Songs include:
- Silent night
- Jingle Bells
- Little Drummer Boy
- Holy Night
- Feliz Navidad
- White Christmas
- Winter Wonderland
- All I Want For Christmas is You
Do you have a favorite holiday show/special that you look forward to watching each year?
Yes: 44.8%
Shows include:
- How The Grinch Stole Christmas
- Polar Express
- Rudolph the Red Nose Reindeer
- A Christmas Carol
- It’s a Wonderful Life
- White Christmas
- A Christmas Story
- Charlie Brown Christmas
Note: This particular Advisory Board contains 50 members. Numbers may not add up to 100%, due to rounding and other factors.
We hope you enjoyed reading these results. Please let us know how you would answer these questions by leaving a comment or two.
And one last thing: If you’re able to, please recycle or reuse any wrapping paper, tissue paper, gift boxes, etc. Thank you.
We here at NCP wish you a happy and healthy holiday!
Best Regards,
Taylor
I used to start My Shopping for Relatives in January for small items that could fit in a gift bag; or things of value that I could get anywhere from 50% to 90% OFF that didn’t have an Expiration Date.
Then with Rebates; anything that I could get FREE that would make a great gift for Someone Else (I used to get lots of FREE Razors, etc.)
Anything that can be done early, or a little bit each Month; rather than stressing out about it all in December.
I still have a Christmas Club Account that the Credit Union is now calling the (‘Holiday Account’?); that comes available early enough to get those last few items, like: Clothing in the correct size…((It’s also a nice way to make a big payment towards the Credit Card before starting the last minute shopping.))
Last Year I starting paying higher than the minimum payment; so I plan to continue that so that hopefully when My Husband starts getting His retirement check; We’ll only have monthly bills that aren’t huge Credit Card payments…
With Immediate Family; We often get together after Christmas; because My Husband still in on Christmas Break; and Wr can also take advantage of the lower prices since We don’t have any Grandchildren…..yet…
You forgot those who celebrate Hannukah or Kwanzaa this holiday season. I celebrate Hannukah for 8 nights & begin shopping in late September or early October. I shop for my aides, close friends, & family. That totals 15 people, plus pets. I shop,mostly, in stores but went online for those things I couldn’t find. I did not go orut on Black Friday but I did peruse the internet for CyberMonday deals that whole week. For those that I couldnt find a gift for, I gave gift cards. I decorated by putting a Happy Hannukah banner & electric menorah in my window, in addition to the traditional menorah with candles increasing nighty. Favorite movies are Mitch Albom’s Have a Little Faith & Adam Sandler’s Eight Crazy Nights.
Start Holiday shopping-Nov to early Dec
Plan on spending – less
Didn’t shop on Black Friday, weekend or Cyper Monday
I buy for 13 people
Buy online for best deals
Pay with Debit card
Decorate days before the holiday
Favorite holiday song – O Holy Night
Favorite holiday show/special – it is hard to pick just one. In additional to those listed, the original Miracle on 34th Street, Christmas Vacation and Home Alone.
Happy Holidays
My answers would have been with procrastinaters lol
I feel my answers would geared towards the procrastination side. I always wait way to long to do any shopping
On the way home from school last week, my 13 year old Grand daughter commented that the Polar Express was a bad movie for children to watch; children get onto a train in the middle of the night at the invitation of a strange man, they are given cocoa, which could be drugged and taken to a place without their parents ‘ permission. I thought, what is society doing to kids? I guess they listen to all the warnings and then apply it to movie
fantasies
Wow, she is very smart and has a good head on her shoulders. If I was her age I probably would be afraid to go with a stranger anywhere unless my girlfriend said it was ok, I would drink the cocoa but not get off the train. My mother use to scare me by saying if I hitch-hiked (which I never did, my friends did) that I could get my arms cut off like some sicko did to a girl in real life.
I agree it is sad but I am amazed how knowledgable she is.
1. Early December
2. More
3.Did not shop blackFriday or Viper Monday
4. I shop for 11
5. In-store
6.I pay with debit
7.middle December
8. All I want from Christmas is you
9.It’s a Wonderful Life
1. I normally buy gifts for 8-12 people.
2. I get the best deals online.
3. Pay with credit 40-60% of the time.
4. I put my decorations up shortly after Thanksgiving.
5. My favorite song is, I’ll Be Home for Christmas.
6. Favorite movie, It’s a Wonderful Life
Well that’s all said& good, pretty much retrospect, but let’s get into about these retailers&what they can do to get us in them stores to increase employment, like cashiers, stock,grounds, interactions,&smiles. What in its millennium gonna fix that? What I’m seeing about that is for the cashier to pull up a chair in the break room to start taking orders from online. Because for that physical, people I’m sure are thinking, well it is safer, & cheaper to have it delivered, instead of the world, you only have to worry about the delivery wo/man…smh@changes@ncp
Love it
Online shopping seems to be the way to go! Even before Black Friday starts deals are coming out it seems like earlier and earlier every year. As a year round shopper I look forward to Christmas shopping after Christmas to get the deepest discounts for the following Christmas season.
I always try to recycle my boxes. Especially since none of the stores in my area supply them free with purchase anymore.
I’m not sure what I’m doing seriously, I think giving cash would be the best option for the teen and the adult , 10 & under a small toy. Because within an average about 3-5months later there will be another gift somewhere somehow , someone ,so just reset. Some of the holiday ?
I started my christmas shopping way early than i usually do. And now I am finished stating in november paid with a debit card. I look forward to looking at Charlie Brown Christmas, Grinch that stole Christmas, And Rudolph The red nosed reindeer. It bring back so many Memories for me. My songs are Oh holy Night And Silent Night
I love to be included in questions and polls! Please don’t hesitate to ask me.
I’m always glad when the holidays are over! I used to love Christmas when people still celebrated the true reason for Christmas not the commercial one that starts 3-4 months before the actual Christmas. By the time Christmas rolls around people are so worn out and grumpy. Let’s go back to Christmas as it was celebrated 50-100 years ago where families got together and everyone made it a special festive occasion; giving to those less fortunate than us and celebrating our Saviors birth by caroling through the streets and getting to know others in doing so and sharing goodwill. That’s what Christmas is supposed to feel like! Merry Christmas to all!
I agree! Merry Christmas !!!
I brought Gift cards for all of my grand Children to much
to pay gifts for each other for what they want.
for my 2 boys i got one gift from NCP and the other one I went out and brought it from wal mart
I like Reading your results
It was very interesting how all the results came out
I start my holiday shopping in July.
I’m spending about the same this year as I did in 2018…around $2000 total.
I did take advantage of Black Friday & Cyber Monday deals.
I shop for 9 people for Christmas.
I get the best deals on line.
I typically pay using PayPal.
I put up my decorations in November just before Thanksgiving.
My favorite holiday song is Santa Baby by Eartha Kitt.
My favorite Christmas music is A Christmas Carol.
Merry Christmas!!!!
I start Christmas shopping around October. I buy different things for different people. Amazon online is how I prefer to shop.
I do not celebrate any holidays.
Looks like 9.8 percent is re-gifting for holiday best deals shopping .
I do plan on recycling my boxes and tissue and paper if our little girl doesn’t destroy it all. Lol And I did enjoy reading this!! Thank you for all this information!! I am LOVING NCP!!!!!
Favorite Holiday Movie is: The Preacher’s Wife
Start shopping right after Christmas to catch half price sales.
Favorite Christmas Song: Joy to the World
I stayed my shopping in November right after Thanksgiving black Friday and cyber Monday so I could get all the discounts available. Zulily.com had great deals so did JC Penney”s. The best time to shop there was some thing that had a wait list or out of stock if you leave your email they let you know when it’s available to order again.
Have a. Great Hoilday
Rachael
They didn’t choose Miracle On 34th Street.❤️
I am like a lot of your panel members:
When do you start your holiday shopping? Usually I start early December shopping and ordering. I start thinking about it in November.
Compared with last year, how much money are you planning to spend on holiday shopping? A little less.
Did you take advantage of Black Friday or Cyber Monday shopping/deals? Cyber Monday only.
How many friends or family members do you typically shop for during the holiday season? I’m a great grandmother including friends my list is 26 people long!
When holiday shopping, where do you get the best deals? I don’t know if they are the best deals but much of my family is distant. I order online and use free shipping to the recipients house.
When making holiday purchases, how do you typically pay? Credit.
When do you typically start putting up your holiday decorations? Start early December
Do you have a favorite holiday song? Yes – O Holy Night
Do you have a favorite holiday show/special that you look forward to watching each year? Yes, several including: Polar Express, A Christmas Carol, It’s a Wonderful Life .
Merry Christmas
It is better to buy for christmas during the year, but if you buy something that doesn’t fix fit, can you still return in December or January? I would love to buy during the year to have my shopping done way before Christmas. Stress free.