Almost a third of Latvian residents plan to spend the same amount as last year on Christmas gifts this year, most often budgeting from 50 to 200 euros. This was found out in a population survey commissioned by the international shipping company “Venipak”, which was conducted in all three Baltic states.
Over the last few months, energy resources have become significantly more expensive, thus the prices of goods and services are also constantly increasing. Therefore, “Venipak” decided to ask the people living in the Baltic States whether this year, compared to last year, they plan to spend less or more money on Christmas gifts. In 32% of cases, Latvian respondents indicated that they were going to spend the same amount as the previous year. This answer was also indicated as the most popular by the residents of Estonia and Lithuania – respectively 35% and 34% of cases. The second most popular answer was that they would spend a little less, which was chosen by 19% of respondents in Latvia and Lithuania, and by 17% in Estonia.
Analyzing the answers, it can be concluded that a relatively large number of residents have not yet made a decision about how much money they will spend on Christmas gifts, which was expressed by 16% of respondents in Latvia, and 15% in Estonia and Lithuania. 15% of Estonians, 13% of Latvians do not plan to buy gifts this year, but only 6% of Estonians indicated this.
“Although it seems that Christmas is still far away, sales both online and in stores will start soon, so it is important to understand in time how much money everyone will be able to allocate for their purchases this year, so that they can both save and understand their options. ” says the manager of “Venipak” Justas Šablinskas, who adds that this is also a relatively stressful time for the company to make all deliveries on time, “we have built a new parcel sorting terminal so that we can provide the fastest service on both sides of the Daugava in Riga, also reducing traffic jams, which tend to form during the holidays.”
When asking residents how much money exactly they plan to spend on Christmas gifts, respondents in Latvia most often, or 30%, indicated that from 51 to 100 euros, while the second most popular answer in 29% of cases was from 101 to 200 euros. It must be admitted that Estonian residents most often, or 35%, said that they would spend between 101 and 200 euros, while Lithuanians in the same amount, or 31%, said that they would spend between 51 and 100 euros and between 101 and 200 euros.
Interestingly, a significantly larger number of Latvian residents plan to spend up to 50 euros, expressing this in 24% of cases, while only 12% of Lithuanians and Estonians chose this answer.
“Venipak” also wanted to find out according to what principle the residents plan to choose and buy gifts this Christmas. Respondents from all three Baltic states said that they would carefully plan their shopping list and look for the best offers and discounts. This was indicated by 35% of the population of Latvia, 39% of Lithuania and 34% of Estonia. A third of the population of our country also said that they will wait for discounts at retail outlets in person and then buy everything they need, while another 25% plan to make purchases in online stores.
It is interesting that it is the residents of Latvia who are most anxiously waiting for utility bills when the colder weather arrives, because only then are they ready to make a decision about how much they will spend on buying gifts. This answer was chosen by 19% of respondents in our country, as opposed to Estonia and Lithuania, which indicated 13% and 11%, respectively.
“This winter will be challenging for many households in the Baltic States, so we invite you to prepare for the holiday season in time – make a list of people to buy for and suitable gifts, follow the sales, as well as make purchases on the Internet in time so that you don’t have to worry about the delivery time,” says J. Šablinskas.
