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Sense of Us 2026.

"No worries": ING finds Australians are cutting back, but saving with purpose

Australians are still feeling the weight of cost-of-living pressures, but new research from ING, Australia's most recommended bank*, reveals a more nuanced picture - one where optimism, adaptability and a focus on saving are reshaping how people manage their money.

The Sense of Us report is based on a nationally representative survey of more than 2,000 Australians, providing a comprehensive view of how households are navigating money in today's environment.

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Common money-saving travel tactics include:

  • Booking through online travel agents (14%).
  • Travelling domestically instead of internationally (16%).
  • Waiting for sales to book flights/hotels (15%).

Groceries: A battleground for cost control

  • One in five are willing to swap any product for a cheaper version to boost their savings and 55% saying they've changed dietary habits to cut costs.
  • 83% are taking measures to reduce their weekly outgoings by proactively shopping at cheaper supermarkets (31%) or buying products in bulk (26%).

Loyalty Programs: A deliberate strategy to stretch every dollar

  • This year's survey findings suggest the estimated national average of stored value across loyalty programs is approximately $255.

Digital-first approaches

  • Australians are diversifying where they store their savings by actively using multiple banking apps as they look to get the most out of their money and accumulate small wins along the way.
  • 62% of Australians use multiple banking apps, (with 52% using 2-3 apps.)

This research pertains to ING's Sense of Us 2026 report. These online surveys were conducted by YouGov on behalf of ING in 2026: Part 1 (Feb 26-Mar 11, n=2,045) and Part 2 (Apr 10-20, n=2,075), both nationally representative of Australians aged 18+. Part 2 was conducted following global events to understand their impact on sentiment. References to 'Australians' or 'Aussies' reflect survey respondents. Results are weighted, subject to standard sampling tolerances and survey limitations. Any references to the past 12 months relate to the period prior to each survey.

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