Men save money, while ladies spend it. This was the manner of the Bulgarian households during crisis, according to 2009 data of the National Statistical Institute /NSI/. Researchers found out that Bulgarian men have totally given up their luxurious “toys”, such as TV sets, cars and expensive watches, thus shrinking their purchases to the minimum. However, ladies obviously do not care about this situation, experts say. We all know that women cannot save money and so they continue to spend, but on what? Despite the crisis they buy new cosmetics and clothes, statistical data shows. Women are often attracted by the total discounts at the shops, caused mainly by the crisis. A shirt can be bought at the price of three kilos of tomatoes. Who wouldn’t be tempted? But still, who spends more – men or women? We visited two shops, one for cosmetics and one for household appliances and electronics in order to find out whether experts are right when they say women drain the family budget. Listen to the interesting results from a poll, held at one of the Sofia Malls.
Who spends more for him/herself in your family?
“I spend more, but not on cosmetics. I prefer to buy books, to entertain myself, to meet my friends – says Veronika Hristova, shop assistant at a beauty shop. – My husband votes against, but sometimes he also takes part in the entertainment, so things are balanced. We agree on spending money on my personal needs and desires. Consensus is necessary after 22 years of marriage, otherwise things can get a bit rough.”
Do men continue to buy expensive electronic appliances, as they used to?
“They do it more rarely, women do more shopping. However, they buy mostly small and cheap pieces of domestic appliances and less IT, computers above all – Svilen Grigorov, manager of a household appliance and electronics shop resumes. – Men now buy expensive TV sets, cameras or sound systems of world famous brands not so often.”
Gergana Stoimenova, cashier at the same shop also took part in the survey. She disagreed on the saying that women spent more in times of crisis on clothes and cosmetics than men.
“People buy anything they might need. Some men buy stuff, far more expensive than the one of women.”
A young family with a baby is focused on the prices of laptops. We ask them the same question: “Who spends more in your family?”
“My husband definitely spends more from the family budget on appliances – the young mother smiles. – We buy more things now, we also repair our house…”
A couple of well-dressed young men discuss something at the lobby of the Mall. Who “blows away” the family budget during crisis? We receive an unexpected answer.
“Let’s put it straight – men – they say. – Men spend more on their cars, but also on their family and children… Well, they spend on whimsies too…”
The purchasing ability of the Bulgarians has risen for the past 10 years, according to data of the NSI. Only a decade ago the average Bulgarian could buy some three TV sets with his annual income, while now they are seven. And here is another example. Ten years ago we could buy 13 suits with our annual income, while now we can buy 23. Data of the NSI also shows something else – the crisis and the shrinking of our purchase abilities haven’t affected our dining manners. On the contrary – the Bulgarians eat more and more delicious food, they also eat more rationally and in a healthier manner. Statistics says that we have increased the consummation of meat, fruits and vegetables at the expense of bread.
English version: Zhivko Stanchev
