Holiday Spending Check: what parents told us
By Cool Mom Picks Editors · Published · Updated
The short answer
- 24% of participating CMP parents answered "$350–$499" to "About how much are you planning to spend on holiday gifts for each child?" (base 17).
- 94% of participating CMP parents answered "Amazon" to "Where are you planning to do most of your holiday gift shopping?" (base 17).
- 41% of participating CMP parents answered "Haven't started" to "How's your holiday gift shopping coming along?" (base 17).
Results as text tables
| Answer | Share |
|---|---|
| Yes | 94% |
| Answer | Share |
|---|---|
| 1 | 18% |
| 2 | 41% |
| 4 or more | 35% |
| Answer | Share |
|---|---|
| 3–5 | 18% |
| 6–8 | 41% |
| 18 or older | 18% |
| Answer | Share |
|---|---|
| $350–$499 | 24% |
| Not sure | 24% |
| Answer | Share |
|---|---|
| About the same | 47% |
| Less | 41% |
| Answer | Share |
|---|---|
| Amazon | 94% |
| Target | 47% |
| Walmart | 59% |
| Other | 18% |
| Answer | Share |
|---|---|
| Haven't started | 41% |
| Have ideas, haven't bought | 29% |
| About halfway | 29% |
| Answer | Share |
|---|---|
| 3–5 | 50% |
| 6–10 | 36% |
| Answer | Share |
|---|---|
| Mostly things | 71% |
| About half and half | 29% |
| Answer | Share |
|---|---|
| Toys | 35% |
| Money or gift cards | 18% |
| Not sure | 18% |
Methodology
18 responses collected between October 6, 2026 and December 15, 2026, Pacific time. Questions with too few answers are withheld.
About how much are you planning to spend on holiday gifts for each child?
Early results · 17 responses
Cool Mom Picks parents · base 17 responses
Where are you planning to do most of your holiday gift shopping?
Early results · 17 responses
Cool Mom Picks parents · base 17 responses
How's your holiday gift shopping coming along?
Early results · 17 responses
Cool Mom Picks parents · base 17 responses
Every other question
Are you planning to give your kids holiday gifts this year?
Early results · 18 responses
Cool Mom Picks parents · base 18 responses
How many of your kids are you buying holiday gifts for this year?
Early results · 17 responses
Cool Mom Picks parents · base 17 responses
How old is the youngest child you're buying holiday gifts for?
Early results · 17 responses
Cool Mom Picks parents · base 17 responses
Do you think you'll spend more or less on holiday gifts than you did last year?
Early results · 17 responses
Cool Mom Picks parents · base 17 responses
About how many holiday gifts are you planning to give each child?
Early results · 14 responses
Cool Mom Picks parents · base 14 responses
Are you leaning toward gifts to unwrap, experiences, or a mix of both?
Early results · 17 responses
Cool Mom Picks parents · base 17 responses
What's your youngest child most hoping to get this year?
Early results · 17 responses
Cool Mom Picks parents · base 17 responses