Health expenses come as a surprise to over half of Poles

The amount of health-related costs, including: the prices of medicines, private visits to doctors, or diagnostic tests are a surprise to nearly 60 percent. Poles – according to a study by Santander Consumer Bank. Vacation and recreation are, in turn, one of the respondents' biggest financial goals.

According to the study “Poles' Own Wallet: Hidden Priorities”, 58 percent respondents are most often surprised by the amount of health-related costs, including: prices of medicines, private visits to doctors and diagnostic tests.

More than half of the respondents (53%) mentioned utility bills. Every third person (33%) answered that they were surprised by the fees related to vehicle breakdowns, and every fifth person (20%) was surprised by the amount of fees for equipment repairs and specialist services in connection with home defects. Poles are also surprised by the costs of entertainment and spontaneous pleasures (19%), as well as the prices of subscriptions and subscriptions, including streaming and gym memberships (18%).

“The subjective assessment of the financial situation of households has a great influence on how surprising individual categories of expenses seem. As many as 82 percent of respondents who perceive it as bad indicated medical costs. This is almost 30 percentage points more than among those who consider it to be definitely good. In turn, bills gained the highest percentage among people declaring an average status (64 percent). Respondents who assessed their budget negatively were the least likely to respond this way (30 percent). Additionally, in most categories it was men who more often than women feel surprised by the amount of spending. The exception is entertainment, where women dominate,” said Tomasz Szwarc from Santander Consumer Bank, quoted in the press release.

What is the greatest satisfaction for Poles?

The study shows that Poles get the greatest satisfaction from traveling (31%), despite high costs. The next places were taken by expenses for children (13%) and gifts and financial assistance for loved ones (10%). “This shows that the pleasure of spending money is often related to relationships and experiences, and not only to consumption,” the study authors emphasized.

8 percent Poles chose entertainment, and 7 percent on beauty and wellness, including cosmetics, as areas that provide satisfaction despite high costs. Technology and electronics and education each received 6 percent. answers. The list is closed by eating out (3%), premium and better quality products (2%), and products from the home and interior category, such as furniture and decorations (2%).

Most Poles would like to spend more money on trips and recreation (33%), which – as the authors of the study emphasized – coincides with previous declarations of high travel satisfaction. 28 percent respondents would like to invest in hobbies more often, 15 percent – in small pleasures. Further places on the list of unfulfilled needs are occupied by interior design (14%) and beauty (13%), especially among women who would like to spend larger amounts on this purpose more often than men (21% vs. 6%). Less often, Poles mentioned health, ease of everyday life or support from loved ones in this context (7-10%). This last aspect is particularly appreciated by men – 11%. Many of them feel limited in financially supporting their family or friends. Among Polish women, this percentage was 3%.

At the same time, when there is a need to limit expenses, holidays often become an area of ​​compromise and search for savings – said the authors of the study. 61 percent Poles admitted that in such a scenario they would completely give up their holidays. Men (67%) are more inclined to this solution than women (54%), as well as people over 60 years of age (73%).

Every third respondent would choose a more economical option of travel in a crisis situation. This approach is dominated by women (36% vs. 28% of men), as well as by people in their 40s (43%) and 30s (40%). For 5 percent respondents, however, holidays are so important that even in a crisis situation, they would not reduce any costs related to this goal. This approach is most often declared by the youngest respondents, aged 18-29 (14%).

According to the authors of the study, raising children clearly influences how Poles react to the financial crisis when planning holidays. People who do not have minors to support are more likely to decide not to travel (65% vs. 50%). However, respondents from households with children are more likely to look for savings (39%) or do not limit their holiday spending at all (7%).

The research was carried out by the Institute of Market and Social Research (IBRiS) on behalf of Santander Consumer Bank, on a group of one thousand adult Poles, using the CATI method, on January 4-12 this year. (PAP)

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