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Post by earl on Nov 13, 2007 13:33:57 GMT
People in Northern Ireland spend more on presents than they do on themselves at Christmas, a new report claims today.
An average of £450 will go on gifts this year, just behind Wales (£453) and Scotland (£496), according to a retail survey by business advisory firm Deloitte.
The West Midlands sits at the foot of the UK-wide table with a predicted spend of £307.
Northern Ireland outstrips all regions when it comes to year-on-year increases in gift spending with this year's outlay up £102 (approx 30%) on 2006.
While the region spends among the most on presents, they pay out the least when it comes to socialising and buying food and drink over the festive season, according to the survey.
People will shell out £138 on socialising which is just below the UK average of £143. The £166 spend on food and drink is £12 below the national average.
Senior Partner in Deloitte Belfast, Paul Clarke, said: "We're big on giving but comparatively light on the self-indulging - a mix that will be well received by loved ones and by medical practitioners.
"Overall, we're predicted to spend £127 more per person on Christmas than last year. This is a significant turnaround that is more pronounced given recent concerns over the financial sector and the much talked about credit crunch. Evidently it takes more than this to dent Northern Ireland's Christmas spirit."
"Our findings may be suggestive of a more confident, settled and affluent society that's happily embracing a period of enhanced stability," he added.
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Post by earl on Nov 13, 2007 13:35:01 GMT
Irish to top Christmas spending list
Irish people will be the top European Christmas shoppers again this year, according to Deloitte's annual consumer survey of Christmas spending.
Irish households will spend €1,431 on average on Christmas this year, an increase of 6.9% on last year, despite uncertainty surrounding our economic future.
The UK is second behind Ireland on the list, with each household there set to fork out €1,007 on the festive period.
Households here will spend €720 on gifts, €431 on food and €279 on socialising.
The survey also found that Irish consumers believe that because of rising food prices they will have to spend less money on gifts in order to buy the same volume and quality of food.
52% of those surveyed said they intend to shop online, which puts us the second to Germany in terms of internet purchases.
The results of the survey came as independent business organisation ISME predicted that €4.2 billion will be spent here in the run up to Christmas.
ISME has reacted to the anticipated 7% increase by calling on shoppers to buy Irish.
ISME chief executive Mark Fielding has claimed even small changes to consumers' behaviour would have a major effect on Irish firms' fortunes.
'If even one item per customer was switched from imported to Irish-produced goods it would go a long way to sustaining Irish jobs and would provide Irish manufacturers and producers with a huge boost after what has been a very difficult year,' he said.
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Post by Jim on Nov 13, 2007 13:40:12 GMT
My bum. I barely spend 50 quid.
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Post by Wasp on Nov 13, 2007 18:27:54 GMT
I have spent about £800 on my eldest son alone. But I save all year to do so and have been working 7 days a week most weeks since July. The way I look at it is that God only knows if I will be able to do it next year and the year after etc. So while I have breath in me I make sure my kids enjoy Christmas to the best of my ability.
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Post by earl on Nov 15, 2007 15:07:30 GMT
I have spent about £800 on my eldest son alone. But I save all year to do so and have been working 7 days a week most weeks since July. The way I look at it is that God only knows if I will be able to do it next year and the year after etc. So while I have breath in me I make sure my kids enjoy Christmas to the best of my ability. Good man yerself WASP. My mother was the same. She'd pour her heart ansd soul into Christmas and spend her last penny on presents for the rest of us. I intend on continuing that tradition when the time comes. |
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Post by Jim on Nov 15, 2007 15:34:13 GMT
We couldnt afford to do that and I never expected to get what I wanted, when I was a kid. I rarely did get what I wanted either haha.
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Post by earl on Nov 15, 2007 16:13:37 GMT
We couldnt afford to do that and I never expected to get what I wanted, when I was a kid. I rarely did get what I wanted either haha. I remember, when I was really young, one Christmas I wanted the A-team van. Not a toy of it, the actual van. Needless to say, I was a little disappointed on Christmas morning not to see it parked outside the front door, rather parked under the tree instead, and considerably smaller than I had imagined! |
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Post by bearhunter on Nov 15, 2007 19:15:57 GMT
Oh God it's Angela's Ahses time again isn't it? "We were poor, but by Christ we were unhappy...." :-)
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Post by Jim on Nov 15, 2007 20:09:51 GMT
I ordered angela's ashes the other day on dvd from amazon, not seen it in years.
Good film innit
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Post by Jim on Nov 15, 2007 23:19:56 GMT
For fuck sake, how can you compare a yank cartoon in irish to a film showing the harsh realitys of blah blah.
Suppose it is depressing.
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Post by Wasp on Nov 15, 2007 23:55:53 GMT
Earl I remember when I was a kid calling to my best friends house to see what they got for Christmas, he got nothing nor did his brother and sister. I went home and told my mum that santa never went to their house, so my mum got a few of my presents and other things and put their names on them explaining to me that santa made a mistake and drooped some of their presents at our house.
It wasn't until a few years later when I stopped believing that I was told their dad would rather spend his money on his pigeons and the bookies (wanker) and I felt like shite because I thought of all the times I went down to their house on Xmas day and boasted of what Santa had brought me. Now I never throw anything out, instead I give all to charity shops etc in the hope that no kids or rather as few as possible wake in Christmas morning with nothing.
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Post by earl on Nov 16, 2007 10:07:30 GMT
Earl I remember when I was a kid calling to my best friends house to see what they got for Christmas, he got nothing nor did his brother and sister. I went home and told my mum that santa never went to their house, so my mum got a few of my presents and other things and put their names on them explaining to me that santa made a mistake and drooped some of their presents at our house. It wasn't until a few years later when I stopped believing that I was told their dad would rather spend his money on his pigeons and the bookies (wanker) and I felt like shite because I thought of all the times I went down to their house on Xmas day and boasted of what Santa had brought me. Now I never throw anything out, instead I give all to charity shops etc in the hope that no kids or rather as few as possible wake in Christmas morning with nothing. Fair play WASP, and your mother would be considered a saint if she were that way inclined!  My next door neighbour, Lord rest her soul, said that when she was young, one Christmas, 'Santa' left a cinder in her sock as a Christmas present. Her father was a bit of a pr*ck. Of course, when we were younger, my mother and neighbour would tell the story that if you were bold, Santa would do the same to us! |
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Post by Shades40 on Nov 19, 2007 13:52:02 GMT
The other half and I have decided that this year we will not buy each other presents and instead chip together and buy things we both want in the sales, big LCD T.V is on the list ;D
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Post by Jim on Nov 19, 2007 16:00:44 GMT
I'm gonna buy my brother, my da and my ma something and thats it. Havent a clue what to get my da, he doesnt like anything. Maybe a litre of vodka will do.
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My next door neighbour, Lord rest her soul, said that when she was young, one Christmas, 'Santa' left a cinder in her sock as a Christmas present. Her father was a bit of a pr*ck. Of course, when we were younger, my mother and neighbour would tell the story that if you were bold, Santa would do the same to us! 