The people in Edinburgh have been revealed as the most festive in the UK, with 90% buying a colleague a Secret Santa gift and attending at least one party.
According to research by short term loan provider Wonga, tradesmen are the most generous workers when it comes to Secret Santa with plumbers, builders and electricians spending the most on Christmas gifts for their colleagues.
The research found that more than one in five tradesmen spend between £21 and £25 on a Secret Santa gift, compared to the national average of £13.
On average the people who spend most on Secret Santa gifts are Plumber,
builder or electrician who spend around £18. The thriftiest profession who spend £5 or less on a gift, are teachers
Plumbers, builders and electricians also spend the most overall on seasonal workplace festivities, with 19% spending £76 – £100 on everything including Christmas parties, lunches, decorations, gifts and treats.
Lawyers, meanwhile, tend to have the largest number of Christmas meals and parties to look forward to. Almost a third have four such occasions coming up this year, while 19% have five. Workers across the country will attend two parties on average.
More women participate in workplace Christmas activities than men, though almost half (48%) said they feel more pressure to spend money in the workplace during the festive season, compared to just over a third (35%) of men.
James McMaster, Wonga’s Head of Marketing in the UK, said: “Christmas can be an expensive time – it’s easy to forget about work events and that these costs can easily build up, as our research shows.
“We’ve put together tips on how to control your Christmas spending and organise your own Secret Santa at work.”
For advice on budgeting during the festive period, visit Wonga’s Cash Smart hub for tips on planning a Secret Santa.
