On average almost €1,500 will be spent by families on presents, food and drink and socialising - much the same amount as they spent last year, a new survey shows.
Two thirds of those surveyed said they do not intend upping their Christmas outlay.
The survey results confirm that the economy may be back in growth but households have yet to feel any better off.
20% to cut back
One in five families said they plan to cut back spending on gifts, with less food and drink to be bought.
Others plan to reduce expenditure on home decorations, socialising and clothes.
Gifts
Gifts are set to be the biggest cost, with the average family expecting this to come in at around €620, a survey commissioned by insurance giant Aviva and carried out by Empathy Research found.
Food & drink
Food and drink will set families back around €340, with socialising expected to consume around €230.
Other costs
Home decoration and ad hoc costs such as Christmas crackers, carol singing donations, and clothes for Christmas Day are expected to cost €210.
Fear of burglary
The average household has gifts to the value of between €350 and €500 under its Christmas tree during the festive season.
And one of the biggest fears people have at this time of year is that their house will be burgled. Almost a third of those surveyed said it was their number one concern.
Cathy Summers of Aviva Home Insurance said: "We didn't need research to tell us that Christmas is an expensive time for Irish households but what our findings do confirm is that the biggest fear of more than a quarter of those surveyed was of being burgled."
Aviva Home Insurance automatically applies a 10pc increase to contents cover for the month of December, Ms Summers said.
She advised householders to check their policies.
