Don’t waste money on overpriced presents this Christmas

Yorkshire Building Society (YBS) warns against buying lavish, impersonal gifts for your loved ones this Christmas as the majority would prefer to receive an inexpensive, thoughtful and personal gift.

From research of 1631 adults across the UK, YBS found that, whether in a short or long term relationship, 54% of people find a partner who buys inexpensive but considered gifts desirable. Only 2% would like their other half to buy lavish and impersonal gifts.

Six out of ten women would want to date (59%) or have a long-term relationship (58%) with a man who gave thoughtful low cost gifts, whereas fewer than 3% say expensive and perhaps less personal, grand gestures make a man attractive.

While for men, 47% appreciate the more considered, less expensive present from a long term partner and 46% find this desirable in a short-term relationship. Only 2% or 1% appreciate costly, flashy gifts from a long or short-term partner.

YBS’s top ten gifts for men and women that will really show you care are as follows:

Gorgeous Gifts for Girls:

Give a home spa experience - bath with candles, massage and a glass of champagne
Make up a photo album or a memory / treasure box
Do a days work at partner’s favourite charity or buy a well in Africa
Give 'love vouchers' eg I'll wash up for a week/I’ll look after the kids for a day etc
CD compilation of favourite songs

Perfect Presents for Men:

Make breakfast in bed at the weekend
Hold a sports party for the boys (beer, food and all his friends for a match)
Give a signed photo of his favourite sports star
Subscription to his favourite car/sports magazine
Give ‘sex vouchers’

Tanya Jackson, Media Relations Manager at Yorkshire Building Society commented: “There is enormous pressure to buy bigger and better gifts each Christmas but it is better to save your money and get a smaller and less expensive present that will really be appreciated. Our research has shown that most people don’t want their loved ones to demonstrate how much they care by how much they can spend – they would rather have something that shows a little more thought and consideration.

“We weren’t surprised by these finding as they support our earlier research which indicated that men and women find debt and flashy spending a big turn off. Both want a partner who is careful with money and has a healthy savings habit.”