An online YouGov poll by Lendwithcare reveals how much was wasted on unwanted presents last Christmas and the public’s concerns about the rising cost of Christmas.

People in Wales say they wasted an estimated £76 million on wasted or unused gifts last year – an average of £30.53 each.

An estimated £1.5 billion pounds was spent on unwanted gifts across the UK last Christmas – an average of £29 each. Over half (51%) of Welsh people who purchase Christmas gifts think that they spent money on gifts that were likely wasted last year. And the gifts we’re giving are unmemorable: less than half (45%) could remember all or most of the gifts they received last year.

Three in five (63%) respondents in Wales who celebrate Christmas are concerned about the impact of the cost of living on their Christmas celebrations this year. Almost a third (32%) have lost sleep and/or are suffering health problems due to worrying about the rising costs of living and its impact on their Christmas celebrations this year. Across the United Kingdom, more than one in four parents (27%) report their children are worried about the cost of Christmas this year.

Actor Nicola Thorp is urging people to give Lendwithcare vouchers – which help someone out of poverty with a loan they pay back - and cut down on the wasteful giving of expensive, unwanted and forgettable gifts.

Thorp said: “It’s sad that people feel the need to panic-buy gifts at Christmas. I'm keen to see a culture shift towards more meaningful, less costly gestures. I’m giving Lendwithcare gift vouchers this Christmas – my loved ones can lend the value to an entrepreneur from a poor community, they use the money to start or expand their small business, feed their family and send their children to school. And they pay the money back – so my loved one can keep it, or relend to another entrepreneur - it’s quite literally the gift that keeps on giving.”

Public opinion backs Nicola’s call for calm on Christmas spending. More than a third (41%) of those in Wales who celebrate Christmas are worried about the impact of the rising cost of living on the quantity or quality of gifts they or their family will be able to give this Christmas. In response, they are more careful about waste this year, with 83% saying they are more mindful of wasting money as a result of the rising cost of living.

In further evidence that the Welsh public are looking for a more meaningful Christmas, a third who celebrate Christmas (33%) say the rising cost of living has made them consider a gift that helps others, such as giving to charity. Many are on the look-out for thoughtful gifts that are cost-effective, with four in five (80%) of those who celebrate Christmas in Wales saying they would be happy to find such a gift for a loved one.

Lendwithcare is an initiative of poverty fighting charity, CARE International UK and is supporting entrepreneurs in a range of countries that are reeling from the cost-of-living crisis, such as Rwanda (31% inflation),Philippines (8% inflation) and Pakistan (24% inflation).