Male Financial Habits in Poland: Balancing Stability and Debt

New survey and registry data from BIG InfoMonitor and BIK provide a nuanced picture of men’s financial behavior in Poland, showing that most manage day-to-day expenses without tapping into savings, even as a significant share of overdue household debt remains concentrated among men.

According to a survey commissioned by BIG InfoMonitor, 72 percent of male respondents said they do not need to use their financial reserves to meet regular expenses. Only 28 percent reported drawing on savings, suggesting that most men manage their household budgets from current income. When savings are used, they are typically spent on necessities: groceries (34 percent), utility bills (32 percent), medical services (31 percent), and medicines (26 percent). Less frequently, savings are directed to discretionary spending such as hobbies (14 percent), entertainment (13 percent), or pets (9 percent).

BIG InfoMonitor’s analysts note that men appear less likely than women to dip into savings for daily needs, though comparative figures for women were not disclosed in the current release. “Statistically, men in Poland still more often occupy higher-paid positions and earn more in the same roles, which may translate into greater liquidity and less frequent use of reserves,” said Dr. Waldemar Rogowski, chief analyst at BIG InfoMonitor, citing national pay gap data from Statistics Poland (GUS) and Eurostat.

The data also highlight debt pressures. As of the end of July, more than 1.5 million men in Poland had overdue liabilities totaling nearly PLN 60 billion, representing around 70 percent of the country’s total arrears held by individuals. While the number of male debtors has fallen by over 110,000 in the past three years, the value of outstanding debt has risen by nearly PLN 3 billion. On average, male debtors now carry around PLN 38,000 each, up over PLN 4,000 compared with July 2023.

Experts caution that this indicates a concentration of financial stress among a smaller group of men with higher arrears. “Gentlemen are balancing between common sense and risk,” said Paweł Szarkowski, president of BIG InfoMonitor. “The number of men with overdue payments has gone down, but the scale of obligations among those who remain in debt is increasing.”

BIG InfoMonitor’s survey also found that roughly one in five men report using savings to repay loans or other liabilities. Analysts suggest this may reflect a more cautious approach to debt management, with men turning to personal reserves rather than taking on new borrowing.

Taken together, the findings underline a mixed picture. Many men appear able to cover everyday costs from income and maintain liquidity, but a significant share continues to struggle with arrears, highlighting the ongoing tension between financial prudence and exposure to risk.

Source: BIG InfoMonitor and BIK