Across the population, 59 percent of Russians prefer spending now rather than saving for the long term. This finding comes from the third wave of the Russians’ Savings and Investment Activities Index ISIAR, a continuous measurement tool designed to track how many Russians engage in saving and investment and to gauge how investment activity might evolve within the country.
Another notable result shows that roughly one in four respondents believes it is easier to secure a loan for essential purchases or to reach new goals than to save toward them independently.
Vera Podguzova, Senior Vice President of External Relations at PSB, commented that the prevailing spending-first mindset, coupled with a tendency toward financial fatalism, reveals gaps in knowledge and experience when it comes to effective money management.
During the briefing, researchers noted that 66 percent of Russians favor ruble investments, with these holdings predominantly owned by women or individuals over 60. In contrast, 27 percent prefer the US dollar, mainly among men aged 18 to 43 who possess higher education and strong incomes. Twenty-five percent opt for the euro, typically younger people aged 18 to 34. An additional 11 percent favor the yuan (RMB) and 5 percent prefer the dirham.
Exploring barriers to investing, ISIAR findings indicate that about one in three people report a lack of information, half lack sufficient financial resources, and one in four fear losing money. At the same time, around 19 percent of Russians express concern about scams. Widespread myths about investing persist in society, such as the belief that starting to invest requires a large sum of money. The study, however, highlights positive shifts by showing that initial investments can be modest and accessible for many households.
Podguzova pointed out that even though many poll participants assume hundreds of thousands of rubles are needed to begin investing, a clearer picture emerges for those who understand the minimum. The initial investment can be as low as 25 thousand rubles, and within six months the share of people starting with that amount rose by five percentage points to 48 percent. Additionally, a common misconception that investing demands specialized training persists, with 56 percent of respondents holding that belief and 48 percent thinking it requires a great deal of time.
She also noted that about 40 percent of Russians have their own savings, while roughly one third prefer to save without earning income. She explained that this segment holds potential for growth in investment as attitudes shift and confidence increases. It is within this portion of the population that readiness to invest using existing funds can grow alongside changes in mindset.
Guzelia Imaeva, General Manager of the NAFI Analytical Center, observed that investors generally take a balanced approach to financial instruments and tend to favor a conservative strategy. Only about 10 percent can be classified as “aggressive” investors, with a tendency for this approach to be more common among men.