Christmas contrition: 5.5 million Australians have festive regrets
Millions of Aussies' budgets will be stretched thin this Christmas, according to new research by Finder.
A Finder survey of 1,009 respondents revealed 26% of Australians – equivalent to 5.5 million people – say they regret not stashing money aside for their end of year expenses.
The research shows a further 14% of Aussies have saved money for Christmas, but don't think it will be enough to afford everything they need.
Sarah Megginson, personal finance expert Finder, said getting prepared is key to avoiding money stress this Christmas.
"Many families have very little wiggle room in their budgets this festive season after a surge in living costs.
"When you're in this situation, planning and comparing to get the best deals and discounts is crucial."
Megginson said it's not too late to prepare for spending this year.
"Avoid extending yourself and ending up with a credit card balance you're struggling to pay off once the tree has been packed away.
"You could suggest cheaper alternatives for family gatherings to cut costs, such as secret santa presents to cut down the amount of shopping each person has to do, and pot luck get-togethers where everyone brings a plate."
Finder's research found women (31%) were more likely than men (19%) to regret not stashing away money for Christmas.
"While it might be too late to build up a buffer for this year – it's a great time to start planning for Christmas 2025.
"The earlier you start, the less you have to put away each pay. Even just stashing $10 a week away can make a big difference," Megginson said.
One third of Aussies (34%) say they don't need to put money aside to afford their holiday spending, while 26% have diligently put money aside for Christmas, reducing money stress in the process.
Have you been putting money aside/saving money to afford the Christmas season this year?
| No, but I should have done this | 26% |
| Yes, and I think I will have enough saved | 26% |
| Yes, but I don't think I will have enough saved to afford everything | 14% |
| No, I don't need to | 34% |
| Source: Finder survey of 1,009 Australians, November 2024 |  |
Methodology
- Finder's Consumer Sentiment Tracker is a monthly recurring nationally representative survey of more than 60,000 respondents.
- Figures in this release are based on 1,009 respondents from November 2024.
- The Consumer Sentiment Tracker is owned by Finder and operated by Qualtrics.
- The survey has been running monthly since May 2019.