Denver – Tis’ the season for gift-giving, but what are the gifts that really matter most? Digital money transfer service,WorldRemit, polled 1,000 U.S. adults and its own customers worldwide to find out – discovering that the gifts wrapped up and placed under the tree often pale in comparison to gifts without a price tag.
The survey results highlight which gifts were appreciated most and the methods by which people prefer to give thanks in today’s fast-paced world.
Funding for an education was the most appreciated financial gift – More than one-third of respondents consider money toward their education to be the most valuable financial gift they’ve ever received (35 percent), followed by money towards a car (19 percent) and a down-payment for their home (17 percent).
“Education is the greatest gift I’ve ever had in my life and with the help of WorldRemit [I get] all my tuitions and allowances promptly,” said one customer.
Life gifts matter more than financial gifts – While an education and a new car are thoughtful and generous gifts, the best gifts can’t be purchased with money. A vast majority of respondents (85 percent) prefer life gifts – gifts that come from the heart and truly impact their lives – over financial gifts.
Support through tough times is the best gift of all – Respondents were most thankful for the personal support and cherished relationships in their lives. The most desired life gift was support through difficult times (28 percent), followed closely by companionship (25 percent). When “it’s the thought that counts,” the best gift this holiday season is friendship and support.
The best way to say thank you is in-person – An in-person thank you is the top method people use to express gratitude to a gift-giver for both financial and life gifts (59 and 57 percent respectively).
As in-person appreciation is so highly valued, a gift that allows the recipient to see a loved one is typically well-received. “A flight ticket back home to the Philippines was the best gift ever given to me,” said one respondent.
A hand-written note goes a long way – While technology provides the opportunity to speak to loved ones in distant places regularly via phone, social media or messaging apps, 67 percent of respondents favor personal and written thank yous over digital thank yous. Though 33 percent of the people surveyed believe technology has improved the frequency and convenience of giving thanks, the majority prefer to receive a more personal method of appreciation for their acts of kindness and generous gifts.
WorldRemit is a money transfer app – handling 300,000 transactions per month – helping people to send vital funds to their loved ones overseas. With the holiday season upon us, people are increasingly thinking of their loved ones and sending more money transfers than any other time of year – to pay not only for everyday essentials, but valued gifts like medical expenses and college tuition.
When asked about the greatest gifts they’ve ever received, WorldRemit customers volunteered, “I can help my parents in Africa every time in [case of] an emergency,” while another customer exclaimed, “[I’m most thankful for my] Education Master’s degree. Thank you friends in Sweden for wiring fees promptly via WorldRemit.”
