IKEA has launched its first Christmas ad, ‘Silence the Critics’, in which objects around a couple’s home come to life and rap about their ‘rubbish’ cluttered house. By acknowledging the stress that comes with having family around, the retailer is hoping that ‘home shame’ will drive customers to buy.

Christmas may be the happiest time of the year among those who celebrate it, but it comes with plenty of stressors – whether that’s money, family, or gift-giving. Canvas8 spoke to 20 people from across the US to find out what tends to worry them around the festive season and how they plan to cope.

Gone are the days of grabbing a $1 bag of pretzels for a quick treat – Americans spend more than $3,000 on gourmet snacks every year. As snacking becomes a more accepted way for people to treat themselves, self-confessed ‘foodies’ are willing to pay big bucks to try the latest snack trends.

TV is more than just America’s favourite pastime. On-demand services like Netflix and Hulu are devouring hours of people’s waking life, while other screen activities, such as watching YouTube and scrolling Instagram, are filling shorter gaps. So how is “zombie eating” changing the dining landscape?