Australians are expected to loosen the purse strings this Christmas, according to new research by Finder.
A Finder survey of 1011 respondents reveals that the average Australian plans to shell out $1750 this Christmas on gifts, food, alcohol, dining out, and travel. That’s $37 billion nationwide, and a 29% increase from the $1357 spent by individuals last year.
Finder money expert Rebecca Pike says households are planning to increase their Christmas spend by $393 this year.
“Aussies are relaxing the purse strings this Christmas – this surge in festive spending is a sign that consumer confidence is creeping back,” she says.
“After years of cutting back, many families are finally feeling like they can breathe again and they’re choosing to celebrate in style.”
Finder’s research shows over one in three surveyed Australians (35%) are planning to getaway over the holidays. On average, Australians are expected to spend $706 on flights and accommodation, a 62% increase from 2024.
Gift-giving remains a priority, with Australians projected to spend $438 each on presents, up 22% from $359 last year. That’s $9.4 billion that will be spent on gifts nationwide, with 80% of respondents planning to buy presents.
Food and dining out remain a focus, too, with Australians budgeting an average of $269 for food and $215 for eating out – that’s $4.6 billion nationwide.
Three in five surveyed Australians (60%) are planning a “boozy” Christmas. The average spend per person has, however, dropped to $123 – the only spending decrease (15% drop) across all categories. This brings the national total for alcohol spending to $2.6 billion.
