Italians’ savings habits
Italians have historically distinguished themselves for their propensity to save, an aspect that clearly emerges from a survey conducted by the N26 digital bank. Despite this inclination, more than a third of the respondents said they did not have the necessary resources to save. This figure is particularly significant at a time when World Savings Day is being celebrated in Italy, highlighting the economic challenges that families face
.
The distribution of the family budget
According to research by Acri, almost half of Italian families are able to save in 2024, with a rate of 46%, down from 48% in 2023. The majority of Italians (84%) allocate the most significant part of their budget to ordinary expenses, such as rent, bills and groceries. Only 63% of the interviewees are able to reserve a share for savings, a figure that exceeds the European average. Discretionary expenses, such as travel and leisure, represent 61% of budget choices, showing a certain priority towards entertainment despite economic difficulties
.
Trust in financial management
Despite the high propensity to save, Italians’ confidence in managing their finances is surprisingly low. Only 47% of respondents feel confident in their financial abilities, and 33% have clear goals. This places Italy in last place among the countries analyzed in terms of financial awareness. In addition, about half of Italians experience anxiety and stress when managing their finances, a worrying sign that indicates a lack of economic preparation. Only 3 out of 10 Italians have sufficient savings to face unexpected expenses, highlighting a vulnerability compared
to the European average.
Investments and financial planning
When it comes to investments, the situation is not improving. Only 1 in 6 Italians feels updated on strategies to increase their wealth, a figure that is lower than the European average. Active financial planning is rare: only 1 in 8 sets concrete financial goals and only 9% have a detailed plan for achieving them. This is a clear indication of how Italians, despite having a strong inclination to save, are unable to translate this propensity into effective and proactive financial
management.