24th November 2005
Brits are set to spend £15.4 billion1 on Christmas gifts this year, but the spoils won’t be distributed equally among our nearest and dearest.
Grandfathers will draw the short straw, receiving presents worth an average of just £14 each, according to the Relative Values Christmas League published today by Direct Line Home Insurance.
This compares with the league leaders, wives and girlfriends, who will pick up gifts worth an average of £117 and £102 respectively from their men-folk this year.
The research also reveals that traditional gifts appear to be making a comeback. Nearly three-quarters (74 per cent) of respondents intend to buy books and one of five (19 per cent) will be giving socks, compared to one in twenty (5 per cent) giving i-Pods or digital cameras (6 per cent).
Other Christmas losers include husbands, who should think twice before tying the knot, with 16 per cent of wives admitting they spend less money on gifts for them than before they were married.
Brothers and mothers-in-law are also set to lose out, both netting £24 a present, in contrast to boyfriends and daughters, who rack up a hefty £101 each per item.
In addition, the Direct Line Home Insurance Research reveals that the value of the presents received will vary considerably according to where you live.
The supposedly thrifty Scots are by far the most generous present givers, expecting to spend an average of £409 on all their gifts this Christmas, however it appears that Londoners don’t intend to share their Christmas bonus with relatives, with each planning to spend £342 on all their presents, less than any other region in the UK.
Overall, there is set to be a decline in present buying this Christmas, with adults predicting that they will spend nearly £950 million less in 2005 than they did in 20042.
In spite of this belt-tightening, our kids will do better than ever this year, netting an impressive £1.5 billion worth of presents3. The average British parent predicts they will spend £137 on each child - that’s 60 per cent more than today’s over-50s spent on their youngsters at Christmas4.
Simon Ziviani, Direct Line Home Insurance spokesperson, comments:
“Christmas 2005 looks set to be one of the biggest ever with the average British household spending £540 on presents - some lucky relatives are set to do particularly well, especially our children."
“Our research tells us that large numbers of people will be leaving their homes vacant in the period between Christmas and New Year, with 34 per cent away on Boxing Day and 33 per cent elsewhere at New Year."
“With their houses full of expensive items, it’s more important than ever that people ensure that their home contents are fully covered and that they take sensible precautions to secure their home.”
Direct Line tips for keeping your home and contents secure this Christmas:
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Ensure that valuables, including Christmas presents, are not left visible from the exterior of the home
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If visiting family or friends, inform a trusted neighbour who can keep an eye on the property while you are away
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Install a movement-activated lighting system at the front and back of the home and a timed lighting system inside the house
Relative Values Christmas League
| Relative |
Average Spend/£ |
| Wife |
117 |
| Girlfriend |
102 |
| Boyfriend |
102 |
| Daughters |
101 |
| Sons |
99 |
| Husband |
89 |
| Grandson |
48 |
| Granddaughter |
45 |
| Daughter-in-Law |
42 |
| Mothers |
38 |
| Son-in-Law |
34 |
| Fathers |
32 |
| Sister |
26 |
|
Mother-in-Law
|
24 |
| Father-in-Law |
24 |
| Brother |
24 |
| Grandmother |
16 |
| Grandfather |
14 |
For further information please telephone 0845 246 0355 or buy online at www.directline.com
-ends-
Simon Ziviani / Direct Line Press Office
Tel: 0845 878 2270 / simon.ziviani@directline.com
Mark Lowe /Band & Brown Communications
Tel: 0207 419 7341 / mark@bbpr.com
Notes to editor
Research –
The research was carried out online from 21-26 October 2005. YouGov interviewed a total of 2,032 UK adults aged 18 and above. Results were weighted to be representative of the UK population.
1Brits predict they will spend an average of £349.71 on presents in 2005 = £15,457,182,000
2Brits spent an average of £371.03 each on presents in 2004. Total UK population = 44.2million, therefore total spend was £16,399,526,000. Brits predict they will spend an average of £349.71 on presents in 2005 = £15,457,182,000. Difference = £942,344,000
3Children under 16 will receive presents worth an average of £137 each. There are 11,646,000 children under 16 in the UK (ONS 2004). Therefore total spend = £1,595,502,000
4Over-50s with children now aged over 18 estimate they spent £86 per child on Christmas presents in a typical year
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