Kiwi shoppers smarter this Christmas

A survey showed 32 per cent of Kiwi shoppers saved throughout the year to buy gifts. Photo / Michael Craig

More than half of Kiwis are saving and buying Christmas presents throughout the year to ease the pressures coming up to the festive season, a MasterCard survey revealed.

The survey showed 32 per cent of Kiwi shoppers saved throughout the year to buy gifts while another 31 per cent bought gifts during the year to spread the cost.

MasterCard New Zealand country manager Peter Chisnall said it was great that Kiwis took practical steps to ease the pressure at the end of the year.

"The holiday season is a busy time of year where household expenditure tends to rise with Christmas parties, presents and summer holidays, and the more prepared we are financially, the better," he said.

The survey also revealed Kiwis felt less financially stressed with Christmas this year than they had in previous years with only a quarter saying they felt more financially stressed compared to 33 per cent last year.

Mr Chisnall said the festive season should be a time to recharge and celebrate rather than getting caught up with the stress of buying presents.

"The best way to manage additional expenses that come with the festive season is to create a strategy and budget that works for you and stick to it.

"Research results this year are encouraging, as it appears Kiwis are adopting sensible Christmas spending habits as they head into the holiday season."

The survey showed women were the biggest gift-givers and twice as likely as men to purchase gifts for 16 or more people.

Men were "slightly more prepared to spend big on their partners this year with 21 per cent of those surveyed saying they will spend between $251 and $300".

However when it came to siblings, 37 per cent of men wouldn't spend more than $50 on each sibling.

Women were similar with 34 per cent not prepared to spend more than $50 on a sibling.

As a total household, most people said they would spend between $251 and $500 on items such as food, travel, presents and decorations.

Christmas shopping

• Three quarters of Kiwis plan to buy up to 10 presents this festive season.
• Women are the biggest present givers and are more than twice as likely as men to purchase gifts for 16 or more people.
• Men are slightly more prepared to spend big on their partners this year with 21 per cent of those surveyed saying they will spend between $251 and $300. This is compared with 16 per cent of women who plan to spend that much.
• Thirty-seven per cent of men will not spend more than $50 on each sibling.
• Women are similar with 34 per cent not prepared to spend more than $50 on a sibling.
• Kiwis spend the least amount of money on friends and extended family members, with 66 per cent saying they will spend between $50 and $150 on their parents and in-laws, and 20 per cent saying they will spend $1 to $50.
• Overall, 64 per cent are planning to spend the same amount on Christmas this year as last year.
• As a total household, most people say they'll spend between $251 and $500 on items such as food, travel, presents and decorations.