Cash is Still King for Communion and Confirmation Gifts - An Post Money Research Reveals
11 March 2025
As families across Ireland prepare for Communion and Confirmation season, new research from An Post Money confirms that cash still leads the way as the gift of choice for these milestone occasions. Cash remains the top choice for Communion and Confirmation gifting as a practical yet thoughtful gift that is here to stay.
According to the survey, conducted by Empathy Research, over half (56%) of Irish adults gift €50 or more to a niece or nephew for their Communion or Confirmation, while a generous two-thirds of consumers would give the same amount to a godchild. In contrast, €20 is the go-to gifting amount for a family friend’s child, with 42% choosing this sum for Communions and 37% for Confirmations.
Speaking on the prevalence of cash for these occasions, Brendan Moran, Director of Distribution – Retail at An Post commented: “Communions and Confirmations are significant moments in a child’s life, and cash has always been a valued and practical gift, offering recipients the chance to save up for a big purchase. These milestones are often a child’s first experience of managing money. Our research confirms that despite digital advancements, Irish families continue to trust and rely on cash to mark these special occasions.
As Ireland’s leading provider of cash services, we are proud to support communities and businesses with cash withdrawal and lodgement services six days a week at every post office nationwide.”
Cash – A top choice for all gifting
The research also revealed that cash is not just the gift of choice for Communions and Confirmation celebrations, with 38% of Irish adults choosing cash as their gift of choice across all occasions, particularly birthday gifting:
- 80% (4 in 5) of 35-44-year-olds would opt for cash for a child’s birthday
- Whilst 2 in 5 adults (40%) always gift cash for a teenager’s birthday
- Half of adults prefer cash as a present for an adult’s birthday
Cash Gifting for Weddings
The research also provided insights to gifting habits around weddings in Ireland, with 1 in 3 adults stating the appropriate amount of cash to give as a wedding gift is €100 per person.
- A further 36% believe the appropriate amount to gift is between €100 - €200
- 55-64 year olds are happiest to splash the cash on a wedding with 17% of this cohort gifting at least €200 per person
Despite the rise of digital payments, 82% of Irish adults keep emergency cash on hand, with nearly half carrying at least €50 for unforeseen situations. Additionally, the study found that:
- 1 in 3 consumers (31%) prefer cash over card to avoid transaction fees.
- While 1 in 4 people use cash for budgeting purposes.
- And 41% of consumers say they would spend less if they could only use cash for a week.
An Post Money Ensures Easy Access to Cash Nationwide
Through An Post’s Everyday Banking service, AIB, Bank of Ireland and An Post customers can lodge and withdraw cash at over 900 post offices nationwide - 6 days a week. With 540 Post Offices that that have no bank branch within a five-kilometre radius, An Post is ensuring that communities and small businesses across Ireland can still get their hands on cash when they need it.
Brendan Moran, Director of Distribution – Retail at An Post, added: “As digital payments continue to grow, our research proves that cash is still very much alive and kicking, especially for those big moments in life like birthdays, Weddings, Communions and Confirmations.”
“Whether for a special occasion, everyday budgeting, or in case of emergency, cash continues to provide flexibility, security, and independence for consumers across Ireland giving them the freedom to choose how they spend their money, without the hassle of fees or restrictions.”