Payment Choice Is Shaping Where Holiday Shoppers Spend
Holiday Shoppers Are Feeling the Pressure
Shoppers are heading into the holiday season with tighter budgets and more on their minds. According to the 2026 Consumer Holiday Spending Study from the Electronic Transactions Association and TSG, 44% of consumers feel more financially stressed than last year, up from 27% in 2025. Inflation is the top concern at 82%, and worry about affording gifts and sticking to a budget has risen sharply. For businesses, this means every sale has to be earned.
Shoppers Are Planning Every Dollar
People are still spending, but they are doing it with a plan. 72% plan to set a holiday budget this year, and only 23% will shop without one, down from 40% last year. Spending plans are also more split, with 22% expecting to spend more and 32% expecting to spend less. Customers are choosing carefully where their money goes, and the checkout experience is part of that choice.
Payment Acceptance Decides Where They Shop
One of the clearest findings is how much payment options shape buying decisions. When a business does not accept a shopper's preferred way to pay, 24% will look for the same product somewhere else, and 7% will put off or drop the purchase. Another 26% will pay a different way but are less likely to come back. In total, 57% say there is a negative result for the business.
Tap-to-Pay Is Now an Everyday Habit
Newer ways to pay have become routine. 81% of consumers now use tap-to-pay regularly, and 89% of people who try it keep using it. Digital wallets and peer-to-peer apps, which let people send money directly to each other, also see strong repeat use at 61% and 60%. Customers expect these options to work every time, especially when lines are long.
What Online Shoppers Want Most
Online, shoppers have two clear priorities. Free shipping matters to 74% of shoppers, and being able to pay the way they want matters to 72%. Gift cards remain popular too, with 71% planning to buy at least one this season. A smooth online checkout with familiar payment options can be the difference between a completed order and an abandoned cart.
Getting Ready Before Black Friday
With Black Friday just weeks away, now is the time to check that payments are ready for the rush. Make sure terminals accept tap-to-pay and digital wallets, and test them before the busiest days. Review which payment methods are available online and whether they match how customers actually pay. Most importantly, know who to call if something stops working mid-rush, because a payment issue on a peak day costs more than any other time of year.
More Than a Transaction
Payments don't stop when a transaction is approved. When issues arise, businesses need real support, fast answers, and teams that take ownership.
Kubera provides payment infrastructure backed by real support and accountability.
- No automated phone tree
- End-to-end issue ownership
- Continuity of support
Contact our team at sales@kuberapayments.com or 604-484-9278
A recommended payments partner of the BC Chamber of Commerce
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