Consumers expect to take on additional debt over Christmas period

“While one in three consumers feel that their financial wellbeing has deteriorated post-Covid, many also feel the urge to take on substantial levels of debt to celebrate the upcoming holidays together with their nearest and dearest. We know that Christmas is a time when many people feel pressured by expectations and spending, and this year we see that this is the case more than ever before – especially among young adults,” says Eddie Nott, Managing Director for the UK and Ireland at Intrum, Europe’s leading Credit Services Management company.

Families and young adults most likely to increase their debt during Christmas

Households with children are more likely to take on debt to buy presents and food than those without. Two in five UK parents say they take on more debt during Christmas, and a similar number expect to be in more debt by the end of Christmas 2021 than ever before.

However, young adults are most prone to getting into more debt to meet the expectations of buying Christmas presents – despite their limited capacity to borrow. Among Generation Z consumers, (age 18-21), 43 per cent say that they expect to be in more debt than ever before at the end of 2021, compared to only 5 per cent of their grandparents’ generation (age 65+).

Considerable geographical differences between European consumers

In terms of geographical differences, consumers in Ireland and the UK are most likely to take on debt in order to meet holiday expectations.

• As many as one in four Irish (26 per cent) and British (25 per cent) consumers take on debt during Christmas to meet expectations, (compared to the European average of 16 per cent). This figure decreases significantly in the Baltic countries, where less than one in 10 consumers borrow money to pay for food and presents.
• Romanian consumers expect to be in a difficult financial situation by year end, with 29 per cent believing that they will be more indebted than ever (compared to the European average of 17 per cent).
• Estonians are least likely to take on debt, with  only 6 per cent of Estonian consumers saying that they expect to start 2022 in more debt than they have had historically.

“Many consumers feel the additional stress of an expensive festive season. With many people taking on additional debt, we know from experience that some will struggle to repay what they owe and therefore risk falling into financial difficulty. Our advice to such consumers is to contact their creditor as soon as possible to find a solution together,” Nott concludes.

About The European Consumer Payment Report 2021

The European Consumer Payment Report 2021 is an instrument for gaining insights into European consumers’ everyday lives, their spending, and ability to manage their household finances on a monthly basis. The report is based on an external survey conducted by market research provider Longitude in 24 Europeans countries. A total of 24,012 consumers participated in the 2021 survey, which was conducted between 21st  July and 26th August, 2021.