Save
Does a bad mood stop you from saving?
A negative mindset is just one of the reasons Australians are struggling to save, with “buy now, pay later” services and social media also blamed for their impact on savings goals, a new report has indicated.
Does a bad mood stop you from saving?
A negative mindset is just one of the reasons Australians are struggling to save, with “buy now, pay later” services and social media also blamed for their impact on savings goals, a new report has indicated.
In a new study released by MyState Bank, six out of 10 Australians stated that a poor mood is having a negative impact on their savings habits.
Survey results showed that an individual’s emotional state, which is impacted by factors such as having a bad day or simply being bored, has a negative or very negative impact on the majority of Australians’ bank balances.
As a result, the avoidance of emotional decision-making will help Australians in a low wage environment that is making saving harder, according to MyState Bank’s managing director and CEO, Melos Sulicich.
“Aussies are feeling the pinch at the moment – wage growth is stagnant, savings interest rates are at all-time lows, and the cost of living continues to rise,” said Mr Sulicich.
What is stopping Australians from saving
The research further highlighted that more than one in four Australians don’t have a budget in place to track expenses, while almost one in three indicated that they are saving less now than they did two years ago or have never managed to save any money.
Buy now, pay later services, including Afterpay, has topped the list for Australia’s biggest savings roadblock, according to the survey, with two-thirds of individuals surveyed admitting these products have a negative or very negative influence on their ability to resist impulse purchases.
More than one in five Gen Xers thought their ability to save was very negatively impacted by buy now, pay later services, a figure closely followed by Gen Zers.
Mr Sulicich commented on the phenomenon of consumers buying into the buy now, pay later effect, stating that individuals now “don’t need to wait to buy something when they have instant access to credit”.
“The ease at which anyone can sign up to these buy now, pay later services is concerning, and it is easy to lose track of your spending. If you are cash-strapped, the service can help, but it can compromise your long-term goals,” said Mr Sulicich.
MyState Bank’s findings showed that 57 per cent of Australians are negatively influenced by friends or co-workers, while 61 per cent also think that social media influencers are having a negative impact on their savings.
“More people have access to social media platforms than ever before and as a result, are exposed to influencers, retailers and friends showing off clothes, holidays and gadgets. Social media users in Australia are some of the most active in the world, with recent data showing there are now 15 million active Australians on Facebook and 9 million on Instagram,” Mr Sulicich flagged.
“As humans, we can’t seem to help but compare ourselves to what we see on social media and may feel like we have to spend more to appear to be keeping up with the Joneses,” he said.
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
About the author
About the author
Savings account
Saving more during the pandemic? Here’s where that money should go
If you’re finding that you’re saving more during the pandemic, you’re not alone. ...Read more
Savings account
Aussie savings goals put on hold due to COVID-19 pandemic
The COVID-19 pandemic has seen Australians being forced to dip into their life savings, which is impacting their ability to achieve financial goals, new research has found. ...Read more
Savings account
The 4 types of COVID-19 consumers: Which one are you?
Australians are still living in fear of worsening economic conditions, with a study revealing changed spending behaviours across the board despite varying levels of individual financial impact. ...Read more
Savings account
Are you a victim of financial abuse? 22 questions to consider
An “invisible” form of abuse, family violence that uses money as a method of control and coercion, is a real issue in Australia. ...Read more
Savings account
Another $750 payment on way for pensioners
From today, the second cash payment that has formed part of the Australian government’s economic response to the coronavirus will be made available. ...Read more
Savings account
Big 4 bank busts out 3 per cent savings interest rate
But not everyone is eligible for the new rate, which is far beyond anything else on offer from an Australian bank. Are you? ...Read more
Savings account
Bank balances reveal Aussies are prepping for life post-COVID
Australians are bunkering down for life post-COVID-19, with new analysis revealing median bank balances are up 45 per cent from the pre-pandemic period. ...Read more
Savings account
What might Virgin’s administration mean for your Velocity points?
Virgin’s administration isn’t likely to spell the end of the airline’s Velocity program, so it’s still worth holding on to those points balances, a credit card expert has advised. ...Read more
Savings account
Saving more during the pandemic? Here’s where that money should go
If you’re finding that you’re saving more during the pandemic, you’re not alone. ...Read more
Savings account
Aussie savings goals put on hold due to COVID-19 pandemic
The COVID-19 pandemic has seen Australians being forced to dip into their life savings, which is impacting their ability to achieve financial goals, new research has found. ...Read more
Savings account
The 4 types of COVID-19 consumers: Which one are you?
Australians are still living in fear of worsening economic conditions, with a study revealing changed spending behaviours across the board despite varying levels of individual financial impact. ...Read more
Savings account
Are you a victim of financial abuse? 22 questions to consider
An “invisible” form of abuse, family violence that uses money as a method of control and coercion, is a real issue in Australia. ...Read more
Savings account
Another $750 payment on way for pensioners
From today, the second cash payment that has formed part of the Australian government’s economic response to the coronavirus will be made available. ...Read more
Savings account
Big 4 bank busts out 3 per cent savings interest rate
But not everyone is eligible for the new rate, which is far beyond anything else on offer from an Australian bank. Are you? ...Read more
Savings account
Bank balances reveal Aussies are prepping for life post-COVID
Australians are bunkering down for life post-COVID-19, with new analysis revealing median bank balances are up 45 per cent from the pre-pandemic period. ...Read more
Savings account
What might Virgin’s administration mean for your Velocity points?
Virgin’s administration isn’t likely to spell the end of the airline’s Velocity program, so it’s still worth holding on to those points balances, a credit card expert has advised. ...Read more
More articles
Website Notifications
Get notifications in real-time for staying up to date with content that matters to you.
