More than half of European Gen Z and millennials will cut back on holiday spending

Amsterdam, December 21, 2022 - Only 14% of young Europeans don’t intend to cut their spending in any way this holiday season, according to a recent study by bunq, the second largest neobank in the EU. The bank surveyed millennials and Gen Z in the Netherlands, Germany and France on their financial habits during the upcoming holidays. In total, 74% of respondents aim to limit their spending to 200 euros on Christmas and New Year’s.

Although Gen-Zs are less likely to save on food and gifts than millennials, every fourth Gen Z will still invite fewer people over for Christmas dinner this year. Gen Z are also more likely than the older generation to send a payment request to their invited guests to cover dinner costs. In total, 76% of young Europeans intend to do exactly that.

Ali Niknam, founder and CEO of bunq, says:

More than half of young Europeans had to budget and set money aside in order to cover this Christmas and New Year’s. Unable to spend as much as they did last year, young Europeans look for ways to save: from bargain-hunting for affordable trips (74%) to buying second hand presents and making DIY gifts (49%).

In the midst of a cost-of-living crisis, most (73%) European Gen Z and millennials feel pressured into spending more than they would want to on holidays, while at the same time two out of three Gen Z and millennials in the Netherlands, Germany and France are uncertain about their financial standing in the year to come.