Americans are feeling more financial and emotional pressure this holiday season, but they're not willing to give up the traditions that matter most. According to the Barclays 2026 Holiday Spending & Travel Pulse Survey, consumers are finding creative ways to manage rising holiday costs - from prioritizing everyday spending and using credit card rewards to leaning on family for financial support.

More than half of Americans (56%) surveyed say they have skipped – or would skip – a holiday gathering entirely because they couldn't afford it. However, skipping the celebration is a last resort: 79% would host at home instead of traveling to save money, 78% would cut everyday spending and 74% would shorten a trip or use rewards points before giving up on the gathering altogether. 

"Consumers are being deliberate about how they preserve the holiday experiences that matter most to them," said Doug Villone, Head of US Cards and Partnerships at Barclays US Consumer Bank. "They are adjusting where they spend, finding new ways to stretch their budgets and putting rewards to work across a broader range of expenses. For Barclays and our partners, these findings reinforce the importance of creating loyalty experiences that give customers meaningful, relevant value when and where consumers need it most."

Key findings from the survey include:

• Protecting the Traditions That Matter
  • 57% of Americans surveyed cite the cost of travel or gifts among their top holiday stressors.
  • 56% say they have skipped - or would skip - a holiday gathering because of cost.
  • 79% would host at home rather than travel to save money, while 78% would cut everyday spending.
  • 74% would shorten a trip or use rewards points before giving up a holiday gathering.
• Families Are Picking Up the Tab
  • 37% of Gen Z and Millennials say their parents are helping cover their holiday costs this year, up from 26%.
  • Parents are helping cover meals and hosting costs (53%), gifts (40%) and flights (37%).
  • Among younger consumers receiving help, 25% feel guilty they can't afford the costs, while 18% feel anxious about what their parents might expect in return.
  • 38% of parents of adult children say they are helping their kids with holiday costs this year, nearly flat compared with last year.
• Togetherness Has its Limits, but is Still Worth it
  • 82% say it is worth the time and money to gather with family during the holidays.
  • Although 34% say they reach their breaking point with extended family within four hours of arriving, 52% say they would feel guilty skipping a family gathering for their own vacation.
• Rewards are Part of the Holiday Wallet
  • 63% of rewards cardmembers are tapping points for the holidays this year - either by saving, planning to redeem or already cashing them in.
  • Rewards cardmembers are using points toward gifts (35%), hotels (34%), gas (33%) and flights (30%).

*Barclays partnered with WPP's Burson to survey 1,002 U.S. adults from September 10 to 13, 2026.