Less than half of Romanians manage to save regularly, survey finds
Roughly 48% of Romanians are able to put away money every month or most months, while a quarter manage to put money aside only occasionally, when they have funds left, according to a survey conducted at the initiative of tbi bank on a sample of 1,223 employees nationwide.
The survey, published on Friday, August 21, shows that Romanians’ real savings capacity remains limited and vulnerable to increasing pressures on the monthly budget.
Roughly 22% of respondents currently do not save at all or are forced to draw on previously accumulated reserves. Moreover, about 46% manage to save no more than RON 500 in a typical month, and 16% are unable to set aside any money at all.
The ability to save remains moderate even among those who manage to put money aside: almost 22% save between 11% and 20% of income, and just over 22% manage to keep between 6% and 10%.
“For many Romanians, saving remains the result of a fragile balance at the end of the month rather than a consistent financial plan. The increase in essential costs limits the amounts available, and this makes financial discipline, access to simple and safe products and the formation of savings habits increasingly important,” said Gergana Staykova, Market Leader, tbi bank Romania.
The ability to save has deteriorated for an important part of Romanians in the last period. Almost 42% say they save less than last year, and over 9% managed to put money aside previously, but currently they can no longer do so. At the same time, more than 29% save primarily for unforeseen situations or emergencies, and about 20% aim to build more security and financial independence.
Over 36% say they save only what they have left after covering expenses, while only about 15% set aside a fixed percentage of their monthly income. At the same time, almost 23% could cover their expenses for less than a month if they lost their main source of income, and about 22% could cover their expenses for between one and three months.
Romanians keep their savings mainly in forms perceived as safe and easy to access. Over 23% keep most of their savings in their current account, and almost 22% choose bank deposits. At the same time, more than 26% point to the increase in the price of food and basic products as the main obstacle to saving, and almost 25% say that income is too low in relation to expenses.
Savings are used both for planned experiences and needs, and as a reserve for unforeseen expenses. Almost 19% of Romanians have used or would have liked to use their savings for vacations and personal experiences, and over 14% for home or car repairs. The financial targets for 2026 are mainly geared towards strengthening reserves and protecting personal stability, amid fears related in particular to health and income. Almost 20% of Romanians aim to save more than last year, and almost 15% want to protect their existing savings. At the same time, more than 30% point to health problems as their biggest financial fear, and 21% primarily fear losing their job.
The tbi bank survey on how Romanians manage their money in 2026 was conducted online in July this year, on a total sample of 1,223 internet users in Romania, of which over 53% are men, 68% work in the private sector, and over 31% have a net income of over RON 6,000.
(Photo source: Sarinya Pinngam|Dreamstime.com)
