Economic woes won't dampen festive season: eBucks

5 Dec 2012

Despite challenging economic conditions‚ South Africans are not going to be stopped from spoiling their loved ones this festive season‚ according to the results of the eBucks 2012 Festive Survey released today, 5 December 2012.

Of the survey's respondents 54% said they were planning to spend up to R500 per gift‚ while 29% were prepared to spend between R500 and R1‚000 per gift‚ and 17% said they intended splashing out R1‚000 or more per gift.

The festive survey was conducted online during October by eBucks - the FNB and RMB Private Bank rewards programme.

It aimed to track South Africans' festive shopping plans‚ including who they were shopping for‚ how and when they planned to carry out their shopping and how much they planned on spending per gift.

eBucks CEO Jolandé Duvenage said: "It's no surprise that a substantial 95% of respondents said that the festive season is their favourite time of year to show their loved ones how they feel by giving a special gift or two‚ or even three."

"We know that South Africans work hard all year round and that the summer holidays and festive season are the perfect time to share the fruits of the year's labour with family and friends‚" Duvenage said.

When asked how many people they were going to buy presents for‚ 43% said between one and five‚ with the same percentage saying between five and 10‚ and 12% saying that they were buying presents for 10 or more loved ones.

"With the challenging economic conditions‚ we expect South Africans will manage their festive budget carefully by purchasing a number of smaller‚ more meaningful gifts for extended family and friends‚ and then splashing out on one more expensive item for their spouse or significant other‚" Duvenage said.

The survey results highlighted that when it came to gifts for the "significant other"‚ men were planning to outspend the fairer sex.

The most popular amount‚ at 26%‚ for women to spend on that all important gift was in the R250 to R500 budget range‚ compared to the finding that 31% of men said they were planning to spend R1‚000 or more on their "better-half".

"A startling 8% of women said they wouldn't even buy their partners a present at all‚" the survey said.

When it came to finding out what was on everyone's gift wish list‚ the survey revealed that on top of this list for the second year running were gadgets‚ with just under half of respondents (45%) saying this would be their ultimate gift to receive.

The next most popular gift on the festive season wish list was cash or vouchers at 13%. Other wish list items were fitness or sporting equipment (7%)‚ jewellery (6%)‚ clothing (6%)‚ and perfume/aftershave (6%).

Source: Financial Mail

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