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Match.com: 63% of Singles on Santa's "Naughty List"

(onlinedatingmagazine.com - December 12, 2003) Santa is making his list and checking it twice, and according to a December 2003 Match.com poll of more than 9,000 singles, 63% said that this year they have been naughty, not nice.

As people across the country map out their holiday gift-giving plans, online dating site Match.com surveyed more than 1,000 single adults living in the U.S. to find out the latest in gift-giving trends. Thirty-seven percent of men and 29% of women said they plan to spend $100 or more on the Christmas gift they will give to the person they are dating this year, while only 10% of men and 15% of women expect their dates to spend $100 or more on gifts for them this year.

When asked how much they expected the person they are dating to spend on them for Christmas this year, 51% of singles said that it's not about money so the amount doesn't matter, down from the 63% of singles who reported this last year.

In the November research, 3% of singles said they would break up with someone who gave them a cheap or thoughtless Christmas or Chanukah present, 18% were unsure and 78% said they would not break up.

"Whether they are feeling naughty or nice, holiday gift giving can be challenging for singles who are only casually, or very recently, dating someone, as a gift can be perceived as an indication of the depth of romantic attraction one feels," said Trish McDermott, Vice President of Romance and resident dating expert at Match.com. "It is not as important to spend a great deal of money on a gift as it is to understand the message that an inappropriate gift -- whether overly expensive, insultingly cheap or in any way distasteful -- could potentially send to the recipient."

Still, for some singles, the countdown to Christmas may be more daunting than exciting, as the November Match.com research indicates that Christmas rivals Valentines Day as the most challenging and stressful holiday to celebrate as a single person.

Match.com's Guide To Appropriate Gift-Giving For Dates

* Even if you are only casually dating someone, any invitation to your date's home, or to the home of your date's friends or family for a winter holiday activity, requires a gift. Bring along candy, alcohol, a winter floral arrangement or any other small yet thoughtful gift.

* If you are casually dating someone, even if you are each seeing other people, and make a date specific to one of the gift-giving holidays (attending midnight mass together, lighting the menorah, decorating a Christmas tree), then a gift is in order.

* Domestic appliances, lingerie, sexual toys and gift certificates are generally holiday gift-giving no-no's for a romantic interest. The perfect holiday gift for the person you're dating should compliment his or her unique personality and should convey selfless, intuitive consideration for your date's wants and needs.

* 'Tis the season to be appropriately sentimental, romantic, warm, affectionate and merry. Consider making a gift for your romantic interest, writing a short story, painting a picture, building a jewelry box and giving a gift of your time and emotional and creative energy. Most singles say they would prefer something meaningful and homemade over something generic and impersonal purchased at a store.

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