Kiwis Take A “She’ll Be Right” View Of Christmas

Kiwis Take A “She’ll Be Right” View Of Christmas

Saving for the festive season throughout the year isn’t a high priority for many Kiwis, with most choosing to wear the costs of Christmas at the time, according to a new survey.

Less than a third (31 per cent) of those surveyed save money throughout the year for the festive season for items such as Christmas presents, the family meal and a summer holiday.

Females are the most organised, with 35 per cent tucking away money for Christmas compared to 25 per cent of men.

The survey, which marks the launch of a new Christmas savings card from New Zealand Post, also found that despite the tough economic environment in 2009, Kiwis spent the same amount on Christmas as they did in previous years (42 per cent). In fact, 18 per cent of us spent more this past Christmas, than in the past.

When it comes to stress levels, New Zealanders aged 35 to 44 years old are the most anxious about money over the festive season, with 55 per cent indicating that Christmas is stressful for them due to financial pressure.

While three per cent of Kiwis didn’t spend anything on Christmas in 2009, the survey illustrates New Zealand’s need for budget management and savings schemes to help make Christmas less stressful for the majority of us who spent on average $1100 each during Christmas 2009.

The ‘Loaded for Christmas’ prepaid Visa card enables money to be deposited onto a Visa prepaid card throughout the year, but is locked for spending with access to the funds from November – just in time for Christmas.

The card, which can be used at more than 29 million retail outlets worldwide that accept Visa, is available for purchase at any NZ PostShop and can be loaded via an automatic payment or through cash deposits in anyPostShop. The card also gives customers access to discounts at a number of major retailers.

Terese Tunnicliffe, New Zealand Post Group spokesperson said the card provides an excellent way to save for Christmas and is a secure way to maximise your spending power at Christmas time.

“The ‘Loaded for Christmas prepaid Visa card’ comes with the flexibility to shop around for bargains at Christmas and can be used in stores, at ATMs or even online. We think the ‘Loaded for Christmas prepaid Visa card’ will appeal to a wide range of New Zealanders, because a few dollars a week can make a big difference at Christmas time,” says Terese.

The card also has the backing of the New Zealand Federation of Family Budgeting Services, who believes it will help reinforce good savings habits on a regular basis.

“At that time of the year our budget advisors see many Kiwis that have spent beyond their means at Christmas. The Loaded for Christmas prepaid Visa card is a great saving tool that encourages consumers to prepare for the Christmas/holiday season throughout the year,” says Raewyn Fox, Chief Executive Officer, New Zealand Federation of Family Budgeting Services Inc.

Visa’s New Zealand Country Manager, Sean Preston, says the ‘Loaded for Christmas prepaid Visa’ card is a great savings tool.

“With all the convenience of a payment card including the ability to shop online, over the phone and via mail order, coupled with the security of Visa’s Zero Liability policy, makes this card the new way to save for Christmas,” says Sean

The beauty of the Loaded for Christmas card is it also gives the cardholder the freedom to choose what they like for Christmas – food for the family, Christmas presents, a holiday or a gift for themselves.

Loaded for Christmas also offers cash prizes for cardholders, with five draws of $200 every month throughout 2010 and five draws of $500 in December.

The ‘Loaded for Christmas prepaid Visa’ card costs $15 and because it’s a prepaid card, customers can only spend what they load.

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