The Dutch are cutting back a little more on December expenditures
For the fourth consecutive year, the Netherlands dangles at the bottom of December spending in the 2019 Ferratum Christmas Barometer. This survey, the largest edition ever with 31.000 respondents, compares consumer spending patterns for the month of December in 14 countries.
At nine percent, the percentage of disposable monthly income spent on December shopping has fallen slightly compared to the 10 percent in 2018. The money that the Dutch spend is mainly spent on clothing (18 percent), games and toys (15 percent) and sweets and treats (11 percent).
Convenience serves people, even during the holidays
The Dutch again reserve the lowest budget (12 percent) for holidays. The much shorter distances in our country, compared to much higher scoring countries such as Brazil, Australia, Romania and Sweden, may explain part of this outcome, but we are probably also just watching the money. We also make grateful use of modern technology around the holidays. For example, we do 30 percent of December shopping online. Within this survey, only the United Kingdom scores higher with 38 percent. Airbnb is almost as established, with more than a quarter (27 percent) of respondents in the Netherlands booking their holiday accommodation this way. We are now almost completely dependent on mobile banking. In both the Netherlands and Sweden, 91 percent of respondents use this during the holidays. As a result, a malfunction here can put a considerable damper on the fun.
Shopping aficionados and sweet tooth
By far in the lead in terms of Christmas spending, the Brazilians are going to spend no less than 91 percent of their disposable monthly income on Christmas this year. Almost a quarter (23 percent) of that budget goes to shopping in general, another 21 percent goes to clothing. Twelve percent Brazilians spend on domestic travel to spend Christmas with family. In second place in terms of spending is Poland, where 36 percent of disposable monthly income is spent on Christmas. Christmas has to be especially sweet here, with the largest part of the budget (18 percent) reserved for sweets and treats.
In 2020 more time for loved ones and chores
When asked about resolutions for 2020, nearly a quarter (23 percent) of respondents say they want to spend more time with loved ones. Renovating one's own home is in second place for good intentions with 15 percent. Twelve percent want to travel more in the new year and eleven percent want to do more sports.
In the shops there is little evidence that the Dutch are more frugal in December. In the big cities you can hardly walk due to the crowds. And almost everyone walks packed and with their bags. Of course there are people who do not have much to spend. shopkeepers are doing good business.
Perhaps the comparison with other countries about December expenditures is flawed. In the Netherlands, a lot is already spent in November in connection with Sinterklaas.