More South Africans are expected to do their Christmas shopping online this year with a majority of people looking to receive a gadget of one form or another as a gift.

This is according to a research survey conducted by First National Bank and Rand Merchant Bank (RMB’s) eBucks rewards programme.

And the ‘eBucks Rewards Festive survey’ found that 9.5% of South African shoppers surveyed plan to do all their festive season shopping online this year.

According to the survey this is an increase compared to the 2012 festive survey result of 8%.

The survey also found that what most South Africans (43.4%) would like as a gift for this holiday season is an electronic gadget of one form or another. Second on the collective wish list is cash or a voucher at 14.6%.

To determine what gifts people want for this festive season, eBucks Rewards surveyed 2588 South Africans on their expected festive shopping behaviour and looked at how much they plan to spend on gifts for their loved ones.

The survey was conducted online and ran from 16 October 2013 to 8 November 2013.

“We know that South Africans work hard all year round and for those who can afford it, the festive season is the perfect time to share the fruits of the year’s labour with family and friends”, said Jolandé Duvenage, chief executive officer of eBucks Rewards.

She added, “With the challenging economic conditions, we expect South Africans will manage their festive budget carefully by purchasing a number of smaller, more meaningful gifts for extended family and friends, and then splash out a bit on one more expensive item for their spouse or significant other.”

Other results revealed in the survey show that 43.2% of shoppers’ surveyed plan on buying between five and eight gifts, and two out of 10 would be buying more than nine gifts.

People will also be spending generously too as more than a quarter of those surveyed, plan to spend in excess of R1,000 on gifts.