Cost of First Communion drops to just under €750
Spending on First Holy Communions in Ireland in 2015 has dropped in comparison to 2014 and the amount of money children received for the occasion also decreased, a new survey has revealed.
The annual Ulster Bank Communion Survey found that parents spent an average of €749 on their child’s Communion this year, a decrease of 2% from last year’s €764.
While children received an average of €543 for their Communion this year, which is 8% lower than in 2014, when the average was €591.
The breakdown of spending costs the party/celebrations/ food and drink at €326.74 (a decrease of two per cent from 2014); the child's outfit for the day at €175.37 (up three per cent); outfits for other family members at €192.22 (down two per cent), and children's entertainment at €118.93 (down three per cent).
Interestingly, 13% of children have not yet spent any of their Communion money, opting to save it instead, while 15% have spent all of the money they received.
The most popular items bought with Communion money were toys (44%), followed by computer games (36%), closely followed by clothes (34%).
The study also revealed that girls received more money than boys for their Communion this year, with girls receiving an average of €570, whereas boys received an average of €512.
Girls also appear less likely to have spent a large portion of their Communion money at this point, with over a third (35%) of parents with girls citing they had only spent 5% of their Communion money to date compared to 20% of parents with boys.
Meanwhile, the most popular items among boys this year are computer games (52%), toys (40%) and sports equipment (34%), while girls are most likely to purchase toys (47%) and clothes (44%).