Gifts for Christmas: Why we spend more than 386 euros!

Gifts for Christmas: Why we spend more than 386 euros!

For the festival of love, there is a lot of scrounging at Christmas in Austria - and it shows! This year, Austrians plan to spend an average of 386 euros on gifts, the trade association revealed. In Lower Austria and Burgenland, even more is spent at 423 euros, while in Styria and Carinthia the celebrations are a little more economical at 355 euros. But what is at the top of the wish list? The undisputed favorites are vouchers, followed by “time together”, toys and cash, the survey shows. This festive activity is not just a modern phenomenon; according to paleoanthropologist Ariane Burke, symbolic gifts were exchanged among our ancestors as early as 35,000 years ago. These were often made of valuable materials such as bones or teeth and testify to the long tradition of giving.

The psychology of giving

But what drives us to give away valuable items year after year that we could just as easily use ourselves? The exchange of gifts has developed over the millennia into a deeply rooted custom that goes beyond religious holidays and personal occasions. It becomes clear that gift giving is not just an act of giving, but also a way to create social cohesion and maintain interpersonal relationships.

The math of giving also plays a role when it comes to calculating expenses. A simple online percentage calculator can help to keep an overview and make planning easier. If you want to know how much basic value corresponds to a certain percentage, you will find practical formulas for calculating it on Blitzrechner - a real insider tip during the hectic gift week! This makes giving gifts not only emotionally but also strategically appealing!