With International Women's Day fast approaching, the sentiment surrounding gift-giving is heating up. According to recent analytics from Avito, many women have shared their gift preferences, leading to interesting insights about what they do and don’t want this March 8. Simultaneously, men were surveyed on their gifting intentions, highlighting the disconnect between expectations and reality.
One of the most substantial findings is the belief among men about what constitutes the ideal present. A significant majority, almost half (47%), assert they believe the best gift is one of surprise. Surprisingly, only about 20% of these men plan to directly inquire about what their partners wish to receive. Such assumptions can lead to miscalculations; as revealed through the survey, common unwanted gifts include gym memberships, household items, and even books.
Among responses gathered from women residing primarily in St. Petersburg, the top gift choices were predominantly traditional. Roughly 43% of women expressed they would prefer receiving flowers, which solidified the notion of bouquets as timeless favorites. Notably, nearly half of the men (48%) surveyed indicated they intend to provide flowers as well, indicating some consensus around this classic gift.
Interestingly, cash has emerged as another favored option, particularly among younger generations. Approximately 27% of women specified money as their preferred gift, highlighting practicality over sentiment. Yet, only 16% of men acknowledged plans to gift cash, illustrating another gap between what women desire and what men think they should gift. Followed closely, 31% of women would appreciate cosmetics or fragrance, and 30% would welcome jewelry.
While men are often optimistic when it concerns their gifting choices, reality seems skewed. Many expressed their intent to give household items—these, according to around 20% of women, are gifts to avoid. Other common unwanted presents included sporting goods or fitness memberships, which 22% of women would rather not receive, and household gadgets, which 15% found unappealing.
Psychologist Elena Tsybulskaya shares valuable insights concerning actual preferences: "Observing what she likes is one of the best ways to not mistake the surprise. Pay attention to her conversations; you may discover she wants to learn to paint, read specific books, or join workshops. It’s about choosing something meaningful."
When younger women (aged 18-24) were polled, many reported wanting gifts with intrinsic value rather than utility; about 37% preferred cash, reflecting their youthful and practical outlook. Further emphasizing generational differences, older women were more inclined to appreciate traditional gifts such as elegant pastries or experience-based gifts like spa days. Reflecting this, 31% indicated they would gladly accept lifestyle-related experiences, likely valuing them more than just another kitchen appliance.
Most significantly, survey results delineate how much men plan to spend on gifts this year. Men estimate their budgets to average approximately 5,800 rubles, though women believe this benchmark should be 6,000 rubles. Approximately 31% of men indicated they would stick to spending between 1,000 to 3,000 rubles, with 22% planning to allocate between 3,000 to 5,000 rubles. While these figures showcase varying expectations, they also reveal the consistent engagement with affordability.
Interestingly, only 7% of men have indicated they plan to craft their gifts manually. Conversely, merely 3% of women mentioned they'd appreciate handcrafted items. While surprises may be the favored approach, nearly one-fifth of men (20%) and women alike believe any gift genuinely conveys attention to details; sometimes the essence of gifting is less about the gift itself and more about the thought behind it.
Finishing up their preparations, men have devised various methods to select suitable gifts. About 47% believe their partners favor surprises, hence opting out of confirming their choices with the women directly. Conversely, 21% plan to consult the women or ask them directly what they prefer to avoid any faux pas. Insights garnered show those within the older demographics, particularly men over 65, prefer gathering preferences direct from their partners, emphasizing the considerate approach to gifting.
Overall, most respondents agree on the important phenomenon during International Women’s Day: how gifts originate not merely through materials but through emotional significance and consideration. With the day drawing closer, this year’s theme presents not only the significance of appreciation but reinforces recognizing and valuing women’s desires, highlighting how combining surprise with thoughtfulness can lead to the ultimate gifting experience.