Croatian citizens set aside HRK 549 in savings a month on average, 15 percent more than last year, according to the findings of a survey done by the IMAS agency this past July and August.

The survey covered a little over 500 respondents and was commissioned by the Erste Group.

The findings show that men save HRK 593 a month on average and women HRK 507.

Eighty-two percent of men as well as women consider saving important or very important.

One of the aims of the survey was to find out how the long period of low interest impacted people’s saving habits. According to the findings, 25 percent of respondents keep the money saved in their current account, 15 percent invested by buying real estate, and 37 percent did not change anything.

As for the reasons for saving, 67 percent respondents save for unexpected situations, 43 percent to have financial resources for themselves and their families, 18 percent for retirement, 16 percent for major purchases such as a home, car or mobile, 15 percent for travel, and 10 percent for education.

Forty percent of respondents save using savings accounts, while 3 percent invest in real estate.

In central and east Europe, Austrians save the most per month with €344 on average, €72 more than last year, followed by Slovaks with €123 and the Czech with €119, both €10 more than in 2020.

Besides Austrians, Hungarians had the highest annual increase in monthly savings, by €19 to €82.

Croats save €72 on average, Romanians €58 and Serbs €47. In all countries most respondents save for a rainy day, including 94% of Slovaks.

The findings show that the pandemic has not significantly impacted saving habits, with 77 percent of respondents saying they save about as much as before COVID-19, including 87 percent of those aged 15-34.

As to the impact of the pandemic on their general financial situation, 50 percent of respondents said it was mildly negative, 35 percent said it had no impact, and 10 percent said the impact was strong.

Seventy-one percent of Austrians and 67% of Czechs believe the pandemic had no impact on them, while 18% of Hungarians and Serbians as well as 13% of Romanians said it had a strong negative impact.