Global research firm Synovate recently released the findings of its global money and finance survey which supported previous observations that the recession had dramatically and possibly permanently altered the spending and saving patterns of people. Some of the findings of the survey which questioned 11,400 people in 16 countries include:
-- An overall 6% of respondents say they have changed their bank in the past six months. This was led by 15% in South Africa, 11% in Spain and 10% in New Zealand.
-- One in twenty respondents has taken money out of retirement accounts, topped by 24% in Denmark.-- One in ten has closed a credit card account, led by 21% in Brazil, 17% in South Africa and 16% in the United Kingdom.
-- A hefty 22% of all respondents have written or revised their budgets, topped by more than half of South Africans (52%), 43% of Brazilians and 41% in New Zealand.
-- On the lifestyle front, one in five respondents have put off an overseas holiday in the past six months, topped by 37% of New Zealanders, 35% of Russians and 32% of Spaniards.
-- Fifteen percent of respondents say they have postponed, or spent less, purchasing a car. This was topped by 34% of Brazilians.
-- 10% of the total respondents have postponed purchasing a home, led by 22% of Brazilians, 18% of Russians and 16% of New Zealanders.
-- One in four people agreed they were glad the world had an economic crisis as it has helped them realise their priorities; over half (55%) have permanently changed their attitudes to the importance of saving money.
-- 58% say they will do their best to not go back to spending what they used to before the economic downturn, led by 80% of Malaysians and 79% of both Taiwanese and South Africans.
-- Seven in ten do not want their neighbours to know if they have economic challenges, topped by 83% of Brazilians and 80% of both Taiwanese and Hong Kong respondents.
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