How do savers in the Netherlands, China and India differ from those in Spain, Poland, China, Canada, the United Kingdom and elsewhere? How has the global financial crisis altered savings behaviour? ING International Survey on Savings polled more than 18,000 people in 19 countries to find out.

1. Overview of results concerning savings
attitude
To what extent do international attitudes differ?

2. ING – International Surveys
Overview of results
Comparisons across countries worldwide concerning savings attitude
Graphical illustrations of notable
differences
TNS NIPO
Author(s)
Robbert Keller
Frans van der Horst
ING
Client contact
Ian Bright, Andrea Hansal
21 December 2012 | © TNS

3. Consumers in Luxembourg and the Netherlands feel most
comfortable in Europe with their savings
Looking at countries that feel (very) comfortable with their level of accumulated savings, it shows that
consumers in Luxembourg and the Netherlands feel most comfortable. Discomfort is noticeably high in
Spain.
Thinking about the savings you have identified above, which one of the following best describes
your level of comfort with the amount of money you have available in savings?
100% 3% 2%
3% 4%
8% 7% 9% 8% 8% 9% 7% 7% 8% 10%
10% 13% 10%
90% 18%
25% 30% 29%
28% 25%
80% 28% 27% 23%
31% 29% 30%
34% 34% 24%
43% 35%
70% 43%
32%
60%
17% 63% Very comfortable
38% 43%
50% 27% 37% 39%
29% Comfortable
32% 47%
54%
32%
40% 31% 52% Neither comfortable
41% 22% nor uncomfortable
30% 51%
Uncomfortable
30% 40% 41%
18% Very uncomfortable
18% 18%
18% 18%
20% 18%
17% 20%
14% 19%
14% 26% 17%
10% 10% 9% 15%
15% 18%
6% 14% 12% 15% 7%
7% 10% 10% 12% 9%
6% 6% 5% 6% 4%
0% 2% 3% 3% 1% 2%
0%
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Due to the low internet penetration rates in China, India and Thailand, results in these countries should be interpreted with caution.
Overview of results concerning savings attitude > Feelings of (dis)comfort concerning savings
2

4. Large differences between countries in readily accessible
money
Eastern European countries seem to have low amounts of readily accessible money. India and
Thailand also have low levels.
How much money could you readily access in case of an emergency within one week to pay for a
sudden expense such as a car break down or repair of a home heating system?
100%
4%
10% 10% 2%
16% 13%
18% 17%
90% 21% 7%
29% 6%
32% 31% 5% 10%
36% 34% 34%
80% 40% 38% 7% 7%
43% 11%
11% 11%
55% 13% 15%
70% 59% 15% 34%
16%
10% 13%
9% 10%
7% 9%
60% 6% 9% 27% 29% 18% More than 1500 Euro*
7%
8% 10% 11% 13% 16%
10% 12% 27% 1001 - 1500 Euro
50% 10% 22%
10% 28% 501 - 1000 Euro
13% 29% 101 - 500 Euro
6% 15%
40% 13% 17% 0 - 100 Euro
14% 17%
10% 14% 21%
9% 23% I don't know
32%
30% 44%
15% 29%
11% 7% 26% 39%
29%
16%
19%
18% 16% 22% 21% *For countries not
20% 16%
9% 10%
11% 17% 14%
22% using the Euro,
11%
equivalent local
10% 5%
12% 13% 14% 13% 15%
12% 12% 12% 13% 14% currency amounts
10% 9% 9% 8% 9% 8%
7% 6% 5% were used.
0%
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Due to the low internet penetration rates in China, India and Thailand, results in these countries should be interpreted with caution.
Overview of results concerning savings attitude > Accessible money
3

5. Asian nations plus Germany and the Netherlands are least
affected by the current economic situation
Inflation seems to be the main reason for weakened finances in all countries. The relatively large share
of respondents of Spain and Romania who report a weakened financial position due to losing their jobs
is disturbing. More than half respondents in Asia, the Netherlands and Germany report no great effect
or an improved financial position.
Thinking about the current economic situation - has this affected your finances? (select all that apply)
100% 3% 3%
7% 7% 6% 6% 6% 5% 5% 5% 4% 4%
9% 8% 8% 8% 3% 3% 11%
1% 5% 3%
7% 3% 6% 10% 9% 5%
6% 7% 7% 7% 10% 12% 25%
90% 8% 12% 5% 9% 27%
4% 6% 6% 6% 7% My financial position has improved
7% 5% 3% 6% 9% 8% 11% 3%
9% 8% 11%
80% 7% 9% 12% 7%
10% 14% 9% My financial position has weakened as I am
12% 7%
16% 16% supporting children or relatives who are facing
18% 15% 6%
19% 6% difficulties
70% 32% 32% My financial position has weakened because
24% 25% 8%
40% 11% my partner has lost a job or has had their pay
reduced
60% 38% My financial position has weakened because I
38% 40% 43%
have lost a job or my pay has been reduced
36% 48% 56%
47% My financial position has been weakened
50% 39% 41% 31% because prices are rising more quickly than
51%
49% 55% my income
41% It has not affected me greatly
40% 46%
48% None of the above
30% 52%
44% 46%
39%
34% 37% 43%
20% 29% 42%
30% 29% 42%
26%
25% 27% 24%
22% 21%
10%
9% 9% 11% 11%
7% 7% 6% 6% 5% 7% 5%
4% 4% 4% 4% 4% 4% 3% 5%
0%
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Due to the low internet penetration rates in China, India and Thailand, results in these countries should be interpreted with caution.
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Overview of results concerning savings attitude > Economic effects on personal finance
4

6. Saving behaviour has changed, lowering saving in all
countries
In all countries there are more respondents saying they are saving less than more. Nine of the 19
countries in the survey report more than half respondents saying they are saving less.
Thinking about the current economic situation - how has this affected your savings behavior?
100%
10% 9%
14% 12% 12% 11%
17% 17% 15% 15%
90% 20% 20% 18% 18% 18% 17%
24%
31% 33%
16%
80%
24% 22%
18% 30%
70% 36%
32% 32% 37% 50%
24% 35% 36%
60% 38%
42% 48% 51%
23%
23%
50% I am saving more than previously
It has had no effect on how much I save
I am saving less than previously
40%
74%
64% 64% 63%
30% 58%
52% 51% 52% 53%
48% 49%
47% 46% 44%
20% 42% 41%
38%
35% 34%
10%
0%
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Due to the low internet penetration rates in China, India and Thailand, results in these countries should be interpreted with caution.
Overview of results concerning savings attitude > Economic effects on savings behaviour
5

7. Large differences between countries concerning attitude
towards spending
Besides feeling the least comfortable with regard to their saving behaviour, Italian consumers also feel
least comfortable with their spending behaviour.
Thinking at the moment about your personal spending only, which one of the following best
describes your level of comfort with the amount of money you spend on a regular basis?
100%
8% 8% 6% 7% 7%
9% 9%
15% 12% 12%
15%
90% 22% 19% 20% 21% 21%
23%
28%
34% 25% 20% 20%
80% 25% 23%
28%
34% 27%
32%
70% 32% 32%
27%
33%
33% 35%
60%
40% 43%
27% 36% 39% 37% I am very comfortable with it. I can easily pay my bills and
30%
50% 34% still have money left over to save and have some fun with
28% 33% 39%
30% I am comfortable with my spending. I can pay my bills
40% 25% 27% 33% and still have some left for saving but have to budget to
28%
20% 23% buy special items
23% Neither comfortable nor uncomfortable. I manage to pay
30% my bills each month but don't have much left over for fun
28%
27% 25% 26% 26% 23% I am uncomfortable. I manage to pay my bills each month
22% 20% 26%
20% 24% 17% but I have to budget very carefully to avoid running up
17% 18% 20%
19% 17% 19% 16% debts
16% I am very uncomfortable with my spending. I often run out
10% of money by the end of the month and am running up
14% 9%
6% 8% 11% 10% 9% 11% 11% 11% 11% 7% debts
6% 6% 8% 9% 8%
5% 3% 4%
0% 2% 2% 2%
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Due to the low internet penetration rates in China, India and Thailand, results in these countries should be interpreted with caution.
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Overview of results concerning savings attitude > Savings attitude
6

8. Housing & food are the largest regular monthly spending
items
Housing and food are most often considered to be consumers largest regular monthly spending items.
There are some striking differences regarding the distribution of these. In the Netherlands, people
spend by far the most on housing, while Italians report spending more on food. Also the Eastern
European countries, China and India report spending relatively more on education.
What are your biggest personal regular monthly spending items?
100%
3% 3% 3%
5% 3% 7% 6%
5% 3% 4%
3% 7% 3%
6% 7% 8% 6% 4%
90% 6% 9%
10% 10% 16% 14% 4%
7% 7% 20% 6%
8% 7% 5% 6%
7% 6% 7% 18% 7%
2% 8% 17%
80% 5% 5% 6% 4%
4%
9% 8% 5% 17%
3%
16% 15%
70% 9% 6% 9%
23% 28% 30% 31% 36%
30%
60% 33%
46%
33% 35%
51% Education
50% 56%
50% Medical billsHealth insurance
46% Leisure & entertainment (such as
40% 51% 48% 50% 54% cinema, dinning out, gym fees.)
Telecommunications (including
mobile phones) & Internet
65% Utility bills (e.g. gas, electricity,
30%
water)
54% 53% Petrol and transport fares
51% 50% 48% 47% 45%
20% Food
39% 39% 36%
Rent, mortgage and other housing
26% costs
23% 21%
10% 20%
16% 17% 15% 13%
0%
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Due to the low internet penetration rates in China, India and Thailand, results in these countries should be interpreted with caution.
Overview of results concerning savings attitude > Biggest monthly spendings
7

9. Family most trusted for financial decision making
Family is most trusted for financial decision making. Trust in professional financial advisors and banks
varies greatly between countries. Only a small numbers of Europeans have confidence in government
information sites.
250%
Who do you trust to help you make a major financial decision?
7%
12% 17%
200%
8%
15%
41% 21% 3%
2% 2% 12% 8%
3% 4%
10% 16% 4% 11%
26% 15% 3% 11%
7% 13% 8%
150% 5% 4% 1% 4% 5% 7% 33%
12% 3% 7% 20% 21%
11% 13%
7% 14% 22%
29% 1% 18% 23% 5%
5% 5% 33% 36%
18% 6% 12% 2% Government and public information advice
19% 6% 5% 16%
45% 22% 7% 7% 4% 11% 3% 6% services such as charities
24% 8% 19% 3% 4%
1% 31% 15%
12% 8% 9% 13% Specially qualified financial advisors
41% 14% 11%
8% 3% 25% 4% 5%
16% 3% 4%
100% 8% 31% 32% 39% 9% 36% Online sources such as money advice websites
25% 28% 6% 17% 11%
8% 17% 7% 26% 6% 22% and social media sites such as Facebook
4% 9% 28% Media (TV, radio, print)
28% 27% 4% 5% 3% 37%
22% 3% 24%
17% 19% 27% 6% 34% Banks and other financial institutions
18% 18% 22%
12% 19% 4%
4% Work colleagues
18%
50% 19%
Friends
82% 81% 80% 83%
69% 68% 67% 74%
65% 64% 62% 62% 62% 61% 60% Family
58% 57%
44% 41%
0%
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Due to the low internet penetration rates in China, India and Thailand, results in these countries should be interpreted with caution.
Overview of results concerning savings attitude > Financial desicion making
8