According to a Kruk survey, more than two-fifths of Czech households spend between 10 and 30 percent of their income on entertainment, restaurant visits and hobbies.
Most often, people spend their time on travel and various weekend trips, which was mentioned by 28 percent of respondents. In a year-to-year comparison, these people are roughly the same number.
Visits to restaurants or hanging out with friends are less frequent, although it ranks second on the list of recreational expenses. While last year a fifth of people mentioned them, this year it’s 16 percent.
Nearly two-thirds of Czechs save money on food
Finance
Just like last year, gardening ranked among the expenses for hobbies, which was mentioned by roughly one in eight respondents. However, people spend less than last year on sporting activities, such as visits to gyms, swimming pools, etc. (eight percent versus 12 percent last year), and cultural events (seven percent versus five percent).
However, the share of households that spend nothing on entertainment and hobbies has more than doubled (from 12 percent to 24 percent today).
Even people with past-due obligations often spend 31 to 50 percent of their monthly budget on entertainment. And the same is true for households whose financial income is only sufficient for the most basic needs.
“It turns out that the Czech people are very aware of the rising prices for energy and consumer goods, and therefore save more on entertainment and other activities that are not absolutely necessary,” adds Jaroslava Palendová of the Kruk company.
Men spend mainly on hobbies
Spending on entertainment and hobbies is closer to men than women, at the same time only a fifth of them (compared to 28 percent of women) do not invest in their hobbies at all.
Sitting in restaurants especially attracts young people aged 18 to 24, who also spend a larger portion of their monthly budget on entertainment than people of any other age group.
People spend the least on lunch in Olomouc, and the most in Prague
Finance
People between the ages of 35 and 64 spend the majority of their time commuting, and families with children – regardless of their number – do. College students, who also travel the most, invest more often and a larger portion of their budget in entertainment.
“Czechs generally do not borrow for vacations, entertainment or various leisure activities, so their household income decreases, spending on entertainment and hobbies also decreases. But at the same time, we also found that even people with past obligations maturity often spend 31 to 50 percent of their monthly budget on entertainment. And the same goes for households whose financial income is only sufficient for the most basic needs,” adds Palendová.
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