According to the report titled “Poles’ Holiday Savings. December 2024”, over 49% of Poles plan to cut back on holiday spending more than they did last year. This trend mainly affects seniors and people with monthly net incomes below 1,000 PLN. Nearly 40% of the population does not intend to tighten their belts further. Among those who aim to be more cautious with their spending, 44.3% plan to save a little on everything. Other top areas of cost-cutting include alcoholic beverages (37%), Christmas decorations (34.8%), food items (29.2%), holiday trips (26%), and gifts for family (22.3%).
The report, conducted by UCE RESEARCH and Offerista Group, shows that 49.4% of respondents plan to save more this year on shopping, gifts, and travel. Robert Biegaj, co-author of the report, explains: “Poles are aware that inflation is rising again, even though it is lower than last year. Despite some improvement in consumer sentiment, many people prefer to save cautiously.”
Researchers from UCE RESEARCH note that Poles are careful with their finances due to economic uncertainty. Predictions of rising energy and gas costs, along with increasing retail prices, are driving the desire to save. Biegaj adds: “People will only change their habits when they see real improvement in their wallets, which is a long-term process.”
The survey also revealed that 39.6% of Poles do not plan to cut back on holiday spending compared to last year, while 9.5% are undecided. Only 1.5% do not plan to celebrate Christmas at all. “Inflation does not impact everyone equally. Some are financially stable or better off than a few years ago. Many still aim to celebrate in style, even if they struggle daily. Visits from distant family or friends can also influence spending,” says Biegaj.
Women are more likely to plan budget cuts than men (55.4% vs. 42.7%). The highest percentage of those saving more includes individuals aged 75-80 (64.3%), those with net monthly incomes under 1,000 PLN (65.7%), and residents of small towns (5,000-19,000 people) at 59%. “Women typically manage household budgets and know the cost of holiday preparations. Seniors with low pensions and residents of smaller towns are more inclined to save,” explains Biegaj.
Among those who plan to spend cautiously, 44.3% intend to save on everything. “This reflects the need for overall savings. Many look for promotions or cheaper product alternatives. With careful planning, holiday expenses can drop by up to 20% without sacrificing favorite dishes or gifts,” says Biegaj.
In terms of specific spending categories, 37% plan to cut back on alcohol, 34.8% on decorations, 29.2% on food, and 26% on holiday trips. “Alcohol and new decorations are not essential, making them natural areas to cut costs.”
Additional cuts include food (29.2%), holiday trips (26%), and family gifts (22.3%). “People who must save often reduce spending on essentials like food and gifts, which are core parts of holiday celebrations. This shows the challenging situation many face. Few want to skimp on food, especially during Christmas,” Biegaj concludes.
Methodology
The report “Poles’ Holiday Savings. December 2024” is based on a public opinion survey conducted on December 5-6, 2024, using the CAWI (Computer Assisted Web Interview) method by UCE RESEARCH and Offerista Group. The survey included 1,019 Polish adults aged 18-80.
Source: managerplus.pl
