Half of US consumers surveyed by Omnisend say rising grocery costs make holiday hosting stressful this year, and Ibotta's 2026 Holiday Outlook finds food, drinks and hosting supplies now cause more stress than gifts. Many people still plan to gather, so simpler, lower-cost celebrations at home are an easy way to keep traditions without the big bill.
What's trending
Holiday hosting is getting more expensive, and Americans are feeling it. In a survey of 1,000 US consumers conducted in August 2026, the email marketing platform Omnisend found that 50% say rising grocery costs make holiday hosting stressful. Seventy-eight percent said higher prices will affect their holiday spending, and 44% expect to carry debt after the holidays.
Even so, people aren't giving up on gathering. In the same survey, 53% said they plan to host or bring food to a holiday get-together, and 35% plan to hunt for discount codes and coupons to make it work.
A separate report released September 22, Ibotta's 2026 Holiday Outlook, points the same way. It found that food, beverages and hosting supplies are causing more stress than gift costs, that 72% of shoppers say saving money is important this season, and that nearly half of those changing how they celebrate plan to host more than last year.
Why it's resonating
Gifts can be trimmed, but a holiday meal is hard to shrink without it feeling smaller. As Omnisend ecommerce expert Marty Bauer put it, "Holiday hosting is one of the few seasonal expenses that's difficult to scale back without changing the experience itself."
That's pushing many families toward a different kind of gathering, one where the experience is the point rather than the spread. Think casual evenings at home, simple food, and a theme that makes it feel special without a big grocery list.
The rise of the low-key Christmas party
A Christmas pajama party is one of the easiest versions of this. The dress code is whatever guests already own, the menu can be hot cocoa, cookies and popcorn, and the entertainment is a Christmas movie. Kids love it, grandparents can join in, and the cleanup is a few mugs and a blanket pile.
Invitations are another place to save. Instead of buying and mailing printed cards, many hosts now text a digital invitation to the group chat and print only a few for close family. A watercolor editable Christmas pajama party invitation with a phone-sized version you can text, for example, keeps the cozy feel while skipping the postage.
The bottom line
Higher grocery prices are changing how Americans host this season, but not whether they gather. Expect more relaxed, at-home celebrations built around one simple idea, and fewer elaborate spreads. For many families, that may be the most memorable kind of Christmas party anyway.