Bulgarians spend BGN 100-200 on Christmas gifts in 2010 - poll

Almost a third of Bulgarians living in large cities will allocate or have already spent BGN 100 to BGN 200 on average for Christmas gifts this year, according to a research of financial company Visa Europe. The survey was conducted among 300 people aged between 18 and 55, living in Sofia, Plovdiv, Varna, Bourgas, Stara Zagore, Rousse, Blagoevgrad, Pleven and Montana. Residents of cities along the Black Sea coast will earmark the highest Christmas gift sums, with most lavish turning out to be Bourgas citizens, who will spend BGN 276 on average, the largest amount among the cities included in the survey. As much as 26% of the respondents say they will buy presents worth between BGN 200 to BGN 299, while 65% of them will spend the same amount for gifts or even allocate more money than in the previous year. Bulgarians planning to shave their Christmas presents budgets accounted for 9% of the total. "
Some sectors will have reasons for joy, such as retailers of clothing, toys and cosmetics, according to our research,"
Visa Europe's head, Krasimir Raicheva, said. Some 25% of Bulgarians will give clothes for Christmas, 15% of them will stake on toys and 14% will buy cosmetics. Christmas souvenirs and books are the least attractive presents, preferred by 9% and 6% of the respondents, respectively.

How much money do Bulgarians spend over Christmas?

Some 25% of the Bulgarians claim they would be spending on Christmas presents this year.

Over half of the Bulgarian households will spend some 130 Euro on Christmas presents, findings show. Around 10% of the Bulgarians, however, have decided to spend over 250 Euro on gifts. Men appear to be more generous, being ready to spend 25 Euro on a single present, while women are willing to pay no more than 17 Euro. It should be noted, however, that on the average women buy presents for 7 or 8 people, while men rarely give presents to more than 5 people. Surveys also show that Bulgarians do not like surprises very much. Why? Because merely 11% prefer to surprise their closest people, while the rest would rather know in advance what to give as a present. What are Bulgarians fond of giving over Christmas? First come clothes, accounting for 64% of the gifts, followed by cosmetics (49%) and electronic products (45%). Needless to say that the stores for electronic products and mobile phones attract mostly men, while the clothes and toy shops are appealing to women.

Where is Bulgaria’s place in the EU? According to GfK Bulgaria Market Research Institute, over half of the Bulgarians will cut costs on presents this year, and every 4th Bulgarian will not buy any gifts at all. People in other EU states will be also cutting down on Christmas presents. If in Bulgaria 55% of the people will reduce expenses, in Romania and Portugal these figures will be respectively around 67% and 54%. Western Europeans are estimated to spend more on Christmas presents than Central and East-European households, the reason being that the incomes of recent joiners are far below than old Europe’s earnings.

Although store-keepers are eagerly expecting the Christmas holidays, Bulgaria’s consumption so far has not justified their optimism. People are looking for low-price products, while weighing up carefully everything they buy. Most stores have already started Christmas discounts of up to 70%, hoping for bigger turnover.

The Active Consumers Organization has given ten tips on how to cut expenses. Here are a few:
1. Make a preliminary plan of expenses to prevent spontaneous spending
2. Do on-line shopping.
3. Buy reduced price food and drinks from cheap supermarkets.
4. Do not buy too much food.
5. Do not throw away the presents you do not like since you can sell them on the Internet or exchange them for other products.
The last tip proves to be very important since the residents of EU are expected to receive unwanted gifts to the tune of 20 billion Euro, which are later to be sold, thrown out or given to another person.

We should not forget, however, that the crisis will pass away, while Christmas remains the brightest and biggest holiday in the Christian world. Therefore, let us be kind to each other and bring joy to our relatives and friends.
Merry Christmas!

I wonder if the Bulgarians see Christmas the same as the western world? the amount they spend is very little compared to other countries but I suppose it was like this in the uk a long time ago but now its a case of who can spend the most

scott wrote:

I wonder if the Bulgarians see Christmas the same as the western world? the amount they spend is very little compared to other countries but I suppose it was like this in the uk a long time ago but now its a case of who can spend the most

Got to agree with you here scott I think the Bulgarians still look at Christmas as we all did in the uk so many years ago buy as you quite rightly say its all about who spends the most and keeping up with the Jone's which our children are happy to go along with since its them that generally benefit from this game of who has the biggest car or house so now we are breeding a generation of children that are nothing more than materialistic

Carmen wrote:

scott wrote:

I wonder if the Bulgarians see Christmas the same as the western world? the amount they spend is very little compared to other countries but I suppose it was like this in the uk a long time ago but now its a case of who can spend the most

Got to agree with you here scott I think the Bulgarians still look at Christmas as we all did in the uk so many years ago buy as you quite rightly say its all about who spends the most and keeping up with the Jone's which our children are happy to go along with since its them that generally benefit from this game of who has the biggest car or house so now we are breeding a generation of children that are nothing more than materialistic

Have to agree with you both there - However, we cannot blame our children for our mistakes and believe me we all fall into that category. We have spoiled them. We all want/wanted the best for our children and grand children. Now there is no surprising them. They ask and get the most expensive gifts ie a £65 pair of football boots and we still do not learn, why because we love them and do now want them to struggle in any way. But the sad truth is they expect help, where as we would never ask our parents for anything unless we were truly desperate.

Gone are the days when children have to work to earn their pocket money or even considering buying Mum or Dad a bar of chocolate - I remember our £1 birthday money that was sent to us First thing we all did was buy Mum a mars bar or packet of snowballs and to see the smile on her face was pure magic. That smile would make it the best birthday ever. Our Mum had 12 children and she never seemed to have any little treats herself but she never complained the children always came first. She is a fantastic lady. How times have changed.

Oddy

[size=200]Wanted!!!! Bulgarian woman that only spends 100-200 Lev on Christmas presents each year as we don't have these women in England! Must be good with a Mutika and be able to make Compot! Apply via PM........Oh and Good looking,slim and youngish would be an advantage!

In you dreams ABC I am sure I have told you before about these cat naps during the day WAKE UP man :Very funny 2:but a nice try

Oddy

Funny you should say that Oddball.I have had a nap today! Mind you I was up at 5am getting the fire going! I think I look OK in Mrs ABC'S bright red with white polka dot fluffy Christmas dressing gown! (it's warmer than my male cotton one!) There is a method in my madness as there are no women about at 5am! Mrs ABC is still catching the ZZZZ's at that time!

ABC Property Surveyors.BG wrote:

Funny you should say that Oddball.I have had a nap today! Mind you I was up at 5am getting the fire going! I think I look OK in Mrs ABC'S bright red with white polka dot fluffy Christmas dressing gown! (it's warmer than my male cotton one!) There is a method in my madness as there are no women about at 5am! Mrs ABC is still catching the ZZZZ's at that time!

My word ABC you are a brave man coming on here and telling everyone you dressing up preferences (now before we kicks off I would just like to say Admin ABC started it) ie I think I look OK i in Mrs ABC'S bright red with white polka dot fluffy Christmas dressing gown!

Oddy

Oh dear! Have I opened a can of worms? I guess it's Winter when we all have too much time on our hands! Oh and the Mrs's dressing gown.Trust me it probably isn't a pretty sight 16.5 stone in a dressing gown way too small for someone.Having said that I am a fairly large person in height!