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Limited money for friends, family and leisure





People in the European Union have limited money to spend with friends, family and leisure according to a 2014 study. Across the entire European Union Member States, 13% of the population said that they were not able to get together with friends for a drink or meal at least once a month due to the lack of resources. Additionally, 17.8% said that they could not financially afford to regularly participate in leisure activities. But there were differing results for different countries and age groups.

The Financial (finchannel.com, 5 December 2016) indicated that people in the working age group of 25-64 were most affected. Young people aged 16-24 reported that 11.0% were not able to meet with friends or family at least once a month and 16.3% said that they could not afford to regularly participate in leisure activities. The 25-64 year olds reported that 13.9% were not able to meet friends, with 19.6% who could not afford to regularly participate in leisure activities. Older people aged over 65 years reported that 11.2% were not able to meet friends and 13.5% said that they could not afford to partipate in leisure activities.

The most affected countries where citizens could not afford to meet with friends or family at least once a month for drinks or a meal were: Hungary (36.5%), Romania (35.7%), Bulgaria (30.0%), Greece (20.7%), Malta (19.2%), Ireland (18.4%), and Lithuania (17.4%). The elderly in Romania were the worst affected at 43.0%, whereas the youth were the worst affected in Hungary (40.0%).

The following countries were better off: Sweden (below 1%), Finland (1.5%), Denmark (3.2%), the Netherlands (3.3%), the Czech Republic (3.4%), and Luxembourg (4.1%).

The most affected countries where citizens could not afford regular leisure activities were: Romania (56.1%), Bulgaria (37.5%), Lithuania (35.2%), and Hungary (32.4%). The following countries were better off: Finland (3.2%), Luxembourg (4.0%), and Sweden (4.2%).

However, with leisure time, the working age group between 25-64 were the most affected for all countries except Denmark, Ireland, and the United Kingdom where youth were the most affected. In Estonia, Romania, and Latvia the elderly were most affected.

There have been studies that show that being with friends and family for social activities creates a conducive environment for healthier, longer living. And leisure time too has health benefits. Yet increasingly people in European Union countries have limited money for friends, family and leisure.


MARTINA NICOLLS is an international aid and development consultant, and the author of:- The Shortness of Life: A Mongolian Lament (2015), Liberia’s Deadest Ends (2012), Bardot’s Comet (2011), Kashmir on a Knife-Edge (2010) and The Sudan Curse (2009).


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