Canadian holiday shoppers are showing less appetite for bigger gift budgets, according to a Stifel survey reported by Retail Insider on October 8. The report says 42% of respondents expected to increase their holiday shopping budgets this year, down nine percentage points from a year earlier. That is a timely reason to reconsider the shopping list after Thanksgiving, not a prediction that Christmas spending will collapse. The September 29 report covered 300 Canadian adults surveyed the previous week. It measures what those respondents intended to do, rather than completed purchases or the budget of every Canadian household. For readers preparing for holiday shopping in Canada, the useful question is personal: which purchases still deserve a place on the list when everyday bills come first?
Read the headline carefully. Fewer people planning to increase spending does not mean everyone plans to spend less, and the reported result does not tell us the dollar size of a typical holiday budget. Retail Insider also reports that 58% of respondents expected their discretionary spending to rise over the next year, while only 9% were very likely to increase it. Those questions cover a different period and a broader group of purchases than holiday gifts. Together, they suggest caution rather than a simple stop-spending message. The practical response is to separate gifts from winter necessities, food and ordinary household replacements. Otherwise, a needed coat or appliance can quietly consume money that was mentally reserved for celebrations, leaving the household surprised even when individual purchases seemed reasonable.
Start with a gift plan that does not depend on finding a spectacular sale. Write down the recipients, a spending limit for each, and any commitments already made. Include wrapping, postage and contributions to shared meals before deciding how much remains for products. These are shopping suggestions, not findings from the survey. A useful test is whether an item would still be on the list without the promotional banner. If the answer is no, leave it for another day. For shared family gifts, agree on who is buying what before anyone checks out. Keep a separate record of purchases already tucked away at home: buying early does not help if you forget the first present and buy a second one for the same person.
Value stores may get attention, but a low ticket price still needs a comparison. In the Stifel results reported by Retail Insider, 68% expected to increase dollar-store spending over the next year. That is a statement about intentions, not proof that any particular chain has the lowest prices. Compare the same quantity, material and intended use when choosing stocking fillers, gift bags or household supplies. A smaller package can cost less at the register while offering less value for the amount inside. For a multipack, consider whether you actually have a use for every item. One suitable gift can be a better purchase than several inexpensive extras that were added just to make a parcel look fuller. No specific discount is assumed or promised here.
Compare the amount you would actually pay, not just the first price on the screen. The Competition Bureau says advertising an unattainable price because of mandatory fixed charges or fees is against the law, except for qualifying government-imposed charges such as sales tax. Its guidance also notes that variable fees can raise concerns. That does not make every difference between an advertised price and a checkout total unlawful; taxes and the particular circumstances matter. For your own comparison, record the product price, tax, delivery and any other charges before placing an order. Keep screenshots if an unexplained mandatory fee appears late. The Bureau accepts reports of suspected drip pricing. A countdown timer is no reason to skip this check, especially when comparing several sellers offering what appears to be the same gift.
Buying in October also creates a return-window question that a December shopper may not face. The federal Office of Consumer Affairs advises checking refund and exchange policies before purchasing, including exclusions for sale merchandise and whether the remedy is a refund, exchange or store credit. For an ordinary change-of-mind purchase, do not assume a store must take the item back; rights involving defects or other statutory protections are a separate matter. Ask for the last eligible return date for this specific purchase, rather than assuming an extended holiday policy already applies. Check whether a marketplace order comes from a third-party seller with different terms. Save the policy and receipt together, and find out who pays return shipping. Gift receipts and intact packaging can make the process easier, but neither overrides the seller's stated conditions or applicable law.
The takeaway from the new survey is not to copy someone else's budget or rush to buy before prices change. It is to be more selective about the purchases competing for your own holiday dollars. Before each order, answer four questions: is it on the list, is the full cost acceptable, will it arrive when needed, and can it be returned on workable terms? If a key answer is missing, pause and check with the seller. Review the list again after each shopping trip, moving completed gifts out of the to-buy section. There is no verified basis in these sources to promise that waiting will always produce a lower price, or that shopping now guarantees savings. A clear plan works without either promise.
Source trail: - Retail Insider, “Canadian Shoppers Grow More Selective as Holiday Spending Intentions Weaken” (October 8, 2026) — https://retail-insider.com/retail-insider/2026/10/canadian-shoppers-grow-more-selective-as-holiday-spending-intentions-weaken/ - Competition Bureau Canada, “Drip pricing” — https://competition-bureau.canada.ca/deceptive-marketing-practices/drip-pricing - Office of Consumer Affairs, “Refund and exchange” — https://ised-isde.canada.ca/site/office-consumer-affairs/en/business-practices-and-consumer-concerns/refund-and-exchange