A new holiday spending survey has revealed the average amount of money parents in each state in America spent on kids Christmas gifts in 2025. Apparently, tis the season for racking up debt.
While many Americans go overboard when it comes to spending on Christmas gifts for their kids, in 2025 no one outspent residents of the state of New York. While the average expected budget for Christmas gifts in 2025 was $521 per child, New Yorkers said they would be dropping $732 per kid. That number marks a 22% increase in the state over last Christmas.
Also, according to CouponBirds’ annual Christmas Spending & Savings Survey of 2,500 parents, that $521 per child number was already up 13% from 2024, so New York residents went above and beyond for Christmas.
Overall, 58% of all American parents said they expected to go into debt to pay for Christmas this year. That number is also up from 49% in 2024. Perhaps that can be explained by the fact that 54% of those surveyed said they don’t specifically save for Christmas throughout the year.
New York parents weren’t the only ones planning on being extra generous with gifts to their kids this Christmas. New Jersey residents weren’t far behind, saying they planned to spend an average of $728 per child. Following closely on New Jersey’s heels is the state of Texas, where parents reported they would be spending $722 per child on Christmas presents. Pennsylvania at $717, North Carolina at $702, and Massachusetts at $689 per child also splurged on their children in 2025.
Which states’ parents spent the least amount of money on kids Christmas gifts in 2025?
On the flip side, the thriftiest parents when it comes to buying their kids Christmas gifts live in the state of South Dakota ($266 per kid). West Virginia ($269), Nebraska ($279), Mississippi ($288), Kansas ($303), Montana ($306), Iowa ($314), and Oklahoma ($319) also pinched their pennies this holiday season.
“What children remember most are the traditions, the excitement, and the time together, not the cost of the gifts,” CouponBirds concluded in their report. “Families looking to enjoy the season without financial stress are focusing on honest budgeting conversations, savvy sale shopping, and choosing thoughtful gifts over expensive ones. Simple traditions like baking, movie nights, or homemade presents are also helping parents create meaningful moments without straining their wallets.”