Cash is still king for communion and confirmation gifts, research reveals

Eva Osborne

As families across Ireland prepare for communion and confirmation season, cash remains the top choice for gifting.

New research from An Post Money reveals that cash is seen as a practical yet thoughtful gift that is here to stay.

According to the survey conducted by Empathy Research, over half (56 per cent) of Irish adults gift €50 or more to a niece or nephew for their communion or confirmation, while a generous two-thirds of consumers would give the same amount to a godchild.

In contrast, €20 is the go-to gifting amount for a family friend’s child, with 42 per cent choosing this sum for communions and 37 per cent for confirmations​.

Speaking on the prevalence of cash for these occasions, director of distribution at An Post, Brendan Moran, said: “Communions and confirmations are significant moments in a child’s life, and cash has always been a valued and practical gift, offering recipients the chance to save up for a big purchase.

"These milestones are often a child’s first experience of managing money. Our research confirms that despite digital advancements, Irish families continue to trust and rely on cash to mark these special occasions."

The go-to gift

The research also revealed that cash is not just the gift of choice for communions and confirmation celebrations, with 38 per cent of Irish adults choosing cash as their gift of choice across all occasions, particularly birthday gifting.

80 per cent of 35-44-year-olds would opt for cash for a child’s birthday while two in five adults (40 per cent) always gift cash for a teenager’s birthday.

Half of adults prefer cash as a present for an adult’s birthday.

When it comes to weddings, one in three adults say the appropriate amount of cash to give as a wedding gift is €100 per person.

A further 36 per cent believe the appropriate amount to gift is between €100 - €200

55-64 year olds are happiest to splash the cash on a wedding, with 17 per cent of this cohort gifting at least €200 per person.

Emergency cash

Despite the rise of digital payments, 82 per cent of Irish adults keep emergency cash on hand, with nearly half carrying at least €50 for unforeseen situations​.

Additionally, the study found that:

• One in three consumers (31 per cent) prefer cash over card to avoid transaction fees;
• While one in four people use cash for budgeting purposes;
• And 41 per cent of consumers say they would spend less if they could only use cash for a week​.