A Christmas full of high expenses
As
Christmas approaches, Italians are faced with a holiday period characterized by a significant increase in expenses. According to a joint report by Facile.it and Consumerismo No Profit, families are expected to spend almost 11 billion euros just on gifts, with an average of 256 euros per person. However, despite the magnitude of the spending, as many as 6.2 million consumers said that they will spend less this year than in the past. Among these, 47% will do so because of the increase in other expenses, while 40% are in economic difficulty.
The expenses for lunch and decorations
Christmas lunch represents another significant item of expenditure. Italians will spend an average of 83 euros on lunch or dinner, bringing the total expenditure to more than 3.5 billion euros. But it’s not just food that weighs on the Christmas budget. Christmas tree decorations saw an increase of 16%, with an average expenditure that went from 233.33 euros in 2023 to 270 euros in 2024. This increase translates into an additional outlay of about 37 euros for Italian families
.
Travels and holidays during the holidays
Many Italians choose to travel during the holidays. It is estimated that between Christmas and New Year, about 11 and a half million compatriots will take a vacation, with an average expenditure of 335 euros. However, to finance these holidays, many are turning to personal loans. Facile.it’s analysis revealed that those who applied for travel financing tried to obtain, on average, almost 6,000 euros, an increase of 5% compared to the previous year. In addition, the costs of flights and trains have increased dramatically, with increases of up to 300% in some
cases.
Bills and energy costs
The impact of energy bills on Christmas spending cannot be ignored. Italians will spend an average of 1,190 euros on heating their homes during the winter. This additional cost is added to the already high expenses for gifts and lunches, creating a budget situation that is increasingly difficult to manage. Families must therefore plan their expenses carefully to face a Christmas that promises to be
expensive.