Delaware, Kentucky, and Mississippi Top List of Biggest Holiday Bargain-hunting States

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This story was produced by Virgin Red and reviewed and distributed by Stacker.

Delaware, Kentucky, and Mississippi top list of biggest holiday bargain-hunting states

Delaware is home to America's biggest bargain hunters this holiday season, with 85% considering themselves one, Virgin Red reports.

A new nationwide poll of 5,000 adults who celebrate Christmas found 70% of those in the Blue Hen State like finding festive deals—specifically when buying gifts (59%), chocolates (33%), and food (26%)—while 43% have bought holiday presents strategically this year, to maximize their balance of loyalty points.

Kentucky narrowly took second place for people identifying themselves as having an eye for a deal, followed by Mississippi with 83%. Kentuckians typically spend four and a half hours each week searching for bargains.

And 64% of those in Mississippi dread having to buy anything full price—with 73% of residents from Kentucky also feeling that way.

The Virgin Red research went on to find using loyalty programs was among the nation's favorite ways of saving money around the holiday season (38%), with the average American having signed up for three different loyalty programs to help their cash go further.

As many as 40% have accrued loyalty points that they haven't yet redeemed— estimated to be worth as much as $546, with 55% planning to save up for something big, rather than spending points as soon as they receive them.

However, 43% base many of their everyday purchases on whether they can get some sort of reward from their spending while others like comparing prices online before buying (49%) and taking advantage of free delivery offers (41%), according to the research carried out through OnePoll.com.

This comes as 56% are worried about the cost of the holidays this year and 83% are trying to be savvy due to the ongoing high prices in the U.S.