Irish families tighten festive budgets amid cost of living crisis
According to the Cpl Christmas FM Survey 2024, Irish people find their partner the hardest to buy a Christmas gift for
Print20 December 2024
Over half of Irish people (51%) will be spending less and budgeting more this Christmas as a result of the cost of living crisis, according to the Cpl Christmas FM Survey 2024.
Four in ten (42%) plan to spend the same as last year, while just 7% plan to spend more and go all out this festive season.
Gift giving
The Cpl Christmas FM Survey 2024 also reveals that Irish people find their partner the most difficult person to buy a Christmas present for, with one third (32%) struggling to find the perfect gift.
Despite this, over half (52%) of those surveyed said they prefer to give presents rather than receive them.
Four in ten people (40%) also admitted to regifting an unwanted gift – but only if it’s a present they know the recipient will love.
When it comes to adding festive touches to the house, over four in ten (44%) said decorating the Christmas tree is their favourite Christmas job, with over seven in ten (71%) hanging a mix of tinsel, baubles, fairly lights and homemade decorations from children on the tree.
Artificial trees
Almost four in five people (79%) also said they now use an artificial tree as it is less messy and better value for money.
Over half (56%) of those surveyed say they will try to be as environmentally conscious as possible this Christmas with four in ten (40%) buying as many gifts as possible from Irish businesses.
Almost seven in ten (67%) are most looking forward to spending time with family and loved ones this festive season with almost half (47%) of Irish people attending a religious service on either Christmas Eve or Christmas Day.
Nicola Coughlan is the Irish celebrity people would most like to have around for Christmas dinner, followed by actors Saoirse Ronan and Paul Mescal.
‘Home Alone’ has once again won the battle for the most festive movie for the third consecutive year, with three in ten people (30%) saying it puts them in the Christmas Spirit, while only 7% consider ‘Die Hard’ to be a Christmas classic.
Further insights
Further interesting insights from the Cpl Christmas FM Survey 2024 include:
- Almost nine in ten (88%) say a Christmas swim is NOT for them
- Six in ten (60%) start decorating for Christmas in early December
- 42% plan to buy between five and ten gifts for close family and friends, 26% plan to buy ten – 15 gifts and 16% will buy 15+ gifts for their large extended family and friends
Christmas FM
Christmas FM, which is celebrating its 17th year on air this year, has raised more than €3.5 million euro for a range of charities since it began broadcasting.
Christmas FM are continuing with the hugely successful Magic of Christmas Appeal – raising funds for three of Ireland’s leading children’s charities – Barnardos, Barretstown, and Make-A-Wish Ireland, along with a range of children’s charities across Ireland making a difference in local communities through Community Foundation Ireland.
The Magic of Christmas was launched in 2022, with the aim of raising €1,000,000 over a three-year period for the charities.
The Magic of Christmas fundraising appeal raised almost €325,000 last year for the charities, with donations raised between 2022 and 2023 totalling €618,706 overall. The amount raised in 2024 will be announced early next year.
By donating to The Magic of Christmas, you will give the gift of childhood to those who need it most, because every child deserves magic at Christmas.
Devoted volunteers
The station is presented on air each year by a team of volunteers who devote hundreds of hours of their time assisted by a core management team.
Meanwhile, the costs of running Christmas FM are covered by various sponsors, ensuring listener donations go directly to the fundraising initiative.
This year the station’s premier FM sponsors are Coca Cola, An Post and Cadbury.
Christmas FM is broadcasting from The Clayton Hotel, Liffey Valley who have kindly donated their studio space again this year.
The main FM radio frequencies for Christmas FM are:
- Cavan 92.8 FM
- Clare 105.2 FM
- Cork City, Part County 106.7 FM
- Cork North, Part County 87.7 FM
- Drogheda & Dundalk 104.2 FM
- Dublin City & County 105.2 FM
- Galway City 87.9 FM
- Kildare North 88.1 FM
- Kilkenny City 104.3 FM
- Letterkenny 106.2 FM
- Limerick City 105.5 FM
- Longford 99.8 FM
- Sligo Town 95.0 FM
- South East 103.8 FM
- Tralee/Killarney 105.0 FM
- Waterford City 105.9 FM
- Wicklow – Bray area 99.5 FM
- Wicklow – Wicklow Town 106.6 FM
Read more: Trim singer Siobhán McAleese wins Spar Christmas FM Song Contest 2024
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