While the pandemic has impacted the way people shop, it hasn’t influenced their spending habits as 63 per cent of Aussies say their Christmas spending plans are unaffected by Covid, spending a combined average of $1059 on gifts, according to research by Savvy. Thirty-two per cent will do most of their shopping online this year.
“Despite mail delays and shortages for electronics, Australians have taken to online shopping with vigour,” says Bill Tsouvalas, managing director at Savvy.
“Some may be used to it due to extended lockdowns, others just like the convenience.
“Thirty-two per cent say they want to avoid crowds, saying the pandemic has influenced their method of shopping, while 30 per cent say they will shop anywhere there are bargains. Not even pandemics can stop Australians from hunting down a bargain.”
Thirty-seven per cent say that they’ve taken to Black Friday sales to save on purchases and 36 per cent say they’ve looked online for cheaper prices. Only 20 per cent are looking forward to Boxing Day bargains. The best spending curb is not spending at all―44 per cent say they have set an agreed limit to what they’ll spend overall.
So what are Aussies spending their money on? Forty-five per cent say they’re getting gift cards or vouchers for friends and family―47 per cent of men and 44 per cent of women respectively.
Forty per cent said they would be buying toys, 31 per cent say clothing or apparel, 21 per cent say inexpensive novelty gifts and 20 per cent say money. A quarter (24 per cent) may actually get ‘what they want or need’ under the Christmas tree.
As for their spending habits, 33 per cent said they will spend less than last year, while eight per cent won’t buy gifts at all. However, 47 per cent will spend the same amount on gifts as last year, while 13 per cent will spend more.
“It seems like Australians are content to make a happy Christmas time and forget about the year that’s gone by,” Tsouvalas says. “It’ll be music to the ears of retailers who have done it so tough, too.”
