Santa Claus is coming to town and with just over a month to go until Christmas, new research from Sainsbury’s Bank Credit Cards reveals that partners, over any other gift giver, find the best presents for their loved ones at Christmas time.
However, over a third (35%) of gift givers find their significant other the hardest person to buy for. Men struggle more than women, with two fifths (41%) identifying their partner as the trickiest person to purchase presents for, compared to 29% of women(1).
Yet taking the time to find the perfect gift pays off, with a third (33%) of UK adults saying last year they received the best Christmas present from their partner. This is followed by a fifth (20%) receiving the best present from their child or children and one in eight (13%) from a parent. Surprisingly, one in 10 (10%) felt their worst Christmas gift last year was from a friend(1).
Rewarding your spending
Some UK adults are particularly savvy when it comes to their seasonal shopping, with one in six either having saved money or even purchased items throughout the year (16% respectively). However, for many cash still remains king, with 40% using this for their festive spending, followed by 32% using a debit card and 23% using a credit card(1).
Sainsbury’s Bank offers a range of credit cards(2) for purchases, balances transfers or a combination of both, all of which enable shoppers to earn Nectar points wherever they shop(3). Sainsbury's Bank credit card customers who take out a Nectar credit card get 750 bonus points on each £35-spent in store, up to ten times in the first two months meaning those using their card in store over the holidays are rewarded points worth up to a maximum of £37.50(4).
David Buxton, Head of Banking at Sainsbury’s Bank, said: “Spreading the cost of Christmas with a purchase credit card can be a sensible option especially if you opt for one that gives you a reward every time you shop. We offer two of the four cards currently on the market that offer 0% on purchases for 27 months or more as well as a reward(5). Budgeting is essential though so make sure that you can pay off the balance before incurring any interest.”
Christmas gift averages
Across the nation, UK adults who are planning on buying Christmas presents will be purchasing an average of seven this year. While women will be checking their list almost twice as much compared to men, buying gifts for nine people on average, compared to six(1).
Consumers will be spending the most on gifts for their children, with those buying for them planning to spend £103 on average, followed by their partner (£87). Some will also be ensuring their furry friends aren’t left out of the Christmas spirit, spending on average £19 on gifts for their pets(1).
Top five people UK adults are buying for this Christmas(1)
Gift recipient(1)
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Average spend (£)(1)
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Children
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£103
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Partner
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£87
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Parents
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£50
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In-laws
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£39
|
Nieces / nephews
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£35
|
With gifts to organise, hosting or attending parties and having the Christmas dinner to prepare, the festive season can be incredibly hectic. So it’s not surprising that an item or two might fall off the shopping list. Food and drink for Christmas day are the items UK adults who are buying Christmas gifts this year are most likely (14%) to be making last minute trips for (1).
ENDS
For further information, please contact:
Sainsbury’s Bank press office 0131 286 0010 / [email protected]
Notes to editor:
This press release is information for journalists only and is not intended to be a promotion to be acted upon by consumers.
Rates and information correct at date of issue.
(1) Sainsbury’s Bank commissioned Opinium Research to survey 2,005 nationally representative UK adults aged 18+ between 2 and 4 October 2018 and 2,005 nationally representative UK adults aged 18+ between 26th and 29th October 2018. Opinium Research is a member of the British Polling Council and abides by its rules.
(2) Sainsbury’s Bank Nectar Credit Cards are available to new Sainsbury’s Bank Credit Card customers only. We treat all our customers and their applications for a Sainsbury’s Bank Nectar Credit Card on an individual basis. The interest rate and credit limit we offer are determined by the details you supply, along with an independent verification of credit and repayment history.
To keep your promotional rate you must pay at least the minimum payment by the due date and stay within your credit limit. Nectar points collected using your Credit Card are in addition to the points you collect from swiping your Nectar Card or using it online during a transaction.
Representative example
Purchase rate is
|
With a representative
|
Assumed Credit limit:
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20.95%
p.a. variable
|
20.9% APR
variable
|
£1,200
|
Your interest rate and credit limit will vary depending on your individual circumstances.
(3) 2 Nectar points are collected on each full £1 of each separate shopping or fuel transaction at Sainsbury’s when you use your Sainsbury’s Bank Credit Card. Excludes Argos, Habitat, Sainsbury’s Bank, Sainsbury’s Energy and any other Sainsbury’s service which will be treated as non-Sainsbury’s purchases. For non-Sainsbury’s purchases, 1 Nectar point is collected on each full £5 of each separate transaction. Travel Money purchases are not eligible for points. Nectar points are awarded to you by Sainsbury’s Supermarkets Ltd and Sainsbury’s Bank plc, who reserve the right to alter or terminate the offer at any time. Please allow up to 60 days from your credit card statement date for the points to be credited to your Nectar account. Sainsbury's Bank reserves the right to alter or stop this offer without notice.
(4) Earn 750 bonus Nectar points on each of your first 10 transactions when you use your Sainsbury’s Bank credit card to spend £35 or more on Sainsbury’s shopping in your first 2 months. Offer is available to new Sainsbury’s Bank credit card customers. Remember to add your Nectar card number to your application. To get your points you'll need to stay within your credit limit and make the minimum payment on your account by the due date. Spend with Argos, Habitat, Sainsbury’s Energy, Sainsbury’s Bank (including travel money) Sainsbury's Petrol Stations (including non-fuel purchases) and any refunded transactions are excluded. Your account will be opened within 2 working days of us receiving your signed agreement and we will allow 10 days for you to receive your card before the 2 months begins. Your points will appear in your Nectar account 60 days after the end of your 2 month period. Sainsbury’s Supermarkets Ltd award the points from this offer. Sainsbury's Bank reserves the right to alter or stop this offer without notice.
(5) Figures taken from research by Andrew Hagger on 12.11.18, personal finance expert, Moneycomms. http://moneycomms.co.uk/
About Sainsbury’s Bank
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Sainsbury’s was the first major British supermarket to open a bank, commencing trading in February 1997. Benefiting from a fantastic, trusted brand that enables us to combine the shopping experience with personal finance, Sainsbury’s Bank provides a range of quality products including insurances, credit cards, savings and loans. Our proposition is to make shopping more rewarding by offering customers great products at fair prices, while consistently rewarding shoppers for their loyalty and being easy to do business with at all times. Our products consistently top best buy tables and regularly win awards for quality, price and service.
Sainsbury's Bank plc. Registered Office, 33 Holborn, London EC1N 2HT (registered in England and Wales, no 3279730) is authorised by the Prudential Regulation Authority and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority and the Prudential Regulation Authority (register no. 184514). Sainsbury's Bank plc is covered by the Financial Services Compensation Scheme (FSCS).