More Australians willing to use credit to shop than pre-COVID

When local Coronavirus transmissions are up and restrictions are put into place, people begin to rethink how they buy things. As seen during 2020, COVID impacts Australian consumer habits.
The Australian Statistics Bureau (ABS) impacts of COVID-19 reports showed that by the end of 2020, there was a meaningful shift from in-person shopping to online:
- One-third of people reported turning to online retailers more than they did before the pandemic
- 40% felt somewhat uncomfortable shopping in a shopping centre or mall due to the risk of infection.
- Total online sales experienced an average annual rise of almost 70% from March to October 2020.
When people are isolated to their homes, there is typically a shift to online shopping, leading to increased utilisation of credit cards and buy-now-pay-later services.
According to Roy Morgan data on Australian finance and shopping attitudes, in the 12 months to March 2021, 38.8% of Aussies agreed with the statement that ‘Credit enables me to buy the things I want’ – an increase of 12.4% points from a year ago pre-COVID-19.
Additionally, the research shows that 72.4% of Australians report being aware of buy-now-pay-later services - an almost 100% increase over the last three years.
Roy Morgan chief executive, Michele Levine suggests that new forms of ‘credit’ such as the ‘buy-now-pay-later’ services Zip and Afterpay are now driving a change in these attitudes alongside the financial challenges driven by the pandemic.
“The increasing uptake of new digital payment services that defer immediate payment plays into the changing attitudes of shoppers,” she says.
Until recently, Australians enjoyed post-COVID life - maskless, holidaying around the country, dining at packed restaurants - but this did not lead to a sudden reversion to old pre-pandemic shopping habits.
“The changing attitudes of Australians is being driven not only by the forced restrictions of the COVID-19 pandemic with lockdowns and stay-at-home orders, but also the increasing availability of new technology that enables frictionless banking and shopping without having to even leave one’s house,” said Levine.
Want to find out more about new payment options available to you? Head to Mozo’s Buy Now Pay Later hub and Credit Card hub to see provider comparisons and a rundown of what you should know!
Check out the some top credit cards options below:
Compare credit cards - last updated 16 August 2022
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Apply By 31 Oct 2022
Westpac Low Rate - Cashback Offer
Enjoy a super low rate of 13.74% with 55 days interest free plus up to $200 cashback - $50 cashback for each month you spend $1,000 or more on eligible purchases in the first 4 months from card approval. New Cards only. T&C's and exclusions apply.
Purchase rate
13.74% p.a.Balance transfer rate
6.99% p.a. for 12 months and then 21.49% p.a. (1.00% balance transfer fee)Annual fee
$59Rewards program
-CompareCompareLow Rate - Cashback Offer
Enjoy a super low rate of 13.74% with 55 days interest free plus up to $200 cashback - $50 cashback for each month you spend $1,000 or more on eligible purchases in the first 4 months from card approval. New Cards only. T&C's and exclusions apply.
- Purchase rate
- 13.74% p.a.
- Balance transfer rate
- 6.99% p.a. for 12 months and then 21.49% p.a. (1.00% balance transfer fee)
- Annual fee
- $59
- Rewards program
- Purchase rate
- 13.74% p.a.
- Intro purchase rate
- -
- Balance transfer rate
- 6.99% p.a. for 12 months and then 21.49% p.a. (1.00% balance transfer fee)
- Cash advance
- 21.49% p.a.
- Interest free days on purchases
- 55
- Intro fee
- Foreign exchange margin
- 3.00%
- Annual card fee
- $59
- Late payment fee
- $15.00
- Cash advance fee
- 3%
Read our Mozo Review to learn more about the Low Rate - Cashback Offer
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Virgin Money No Annual Fee Card
Virgin Money No Annual Fee for the life of the card. 0% p.a. for 12 months on purchases (reverts to ongoing purchase rate) and balance transfers (reverts to cash advance rate).
Purchase rate
0% p.a. for 12 months then 18.99% p.a.Balance transfer rate
0% p.a. for 12 months and then 20.99% p.a.Annual fee
$0Rewards program
-CompareCompareNo Annual Fee Card
Virgin Money No Annual Fee for the life of the card. 0% p.a. for 12 months on purchases (reverts to ongoing purchase rate) and balance transfers (reverts to cash advance rate).
- Purchase rate
- 0% p.a. for 12 months then 18.99% p.a.
- Balance transfer rate
- 0% p.a. for 12 months and then 20.99% p.a.
- Annual fee
- $0
- Rewards program
- Purchase rate
- 0% p.a. for 12 months then 18.99% p.a.
- Intro purchase rate
- 0% p.a. for 12 months
- Balance transfer rate
- 0% p.a. for 12 months and then 20.99% p.a.
- Cash advance
- 20.99% p.a.
- Interest free days on purchases
- 55
- Intro fee
- Foreign exchange margin
- 3.30%
- Annual card fee
- $0
- Late payment fee
- $30.00
- Cash advance fee
- 2.7%, Min $2.70
Read our Mozo Review to learn more about the No Annual Fee Card
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Mozo experts choice awards won:
- Credit Card Provider of the Year - 2021
American Express Qantas Ultimate Card
Earn up to 100,000 bonus Qantas Points (75,000 bonus Qantas Points when you apply online by 23 August 2022, are approved, and spend $3,000 on your new Card within the first 3 months, plus an additional 25,000 Qantas Points in your second year upon fee renewal). T&Cs apply. New Card Members only.
Purchase rate
20.74% p.a.Balance transfer rate
No current offerAnnual fee
$450Rewards program
Qantas Frequent FlyerCompareCompareQantas Ultimate Card
Earn up to 100,000 bonus Qantas Points (75,000 bonus Qantas Points when you apply online by 23 August 2022, are approved, and spend $3,000 on your new Card within the first 3 months, plus an additional 25,000 Qantas Points in your second year upon fee renewal). T&Cs apply. New Card Members only.
- Purchase rate
- 20.74% p.a.
- Balance transfer rate
- No current offer
- Annual fee
- $450
- Rewards program
- Qantas Frequent Flyer
- Purchase rate
- 20.74% p.a.
- Intro purchase rate
- -
- Balance transfer rate
- No current offer
- Cash advance
- Interest free days on purchases
- 44
- Intro fee
- Foreign exchange margin
- 3.00%
- Annual card fee
- $450
- Late payment fee
- $30.00
- Cash advance fee
Read our Mozo Review to learn more about the Qantas Ultimate Card
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Virgin Money Virgin Australia Velocity Flyer Card - Balance Transfer Offer
Get in the air with a $129 Virgin Australia Gift Voucher each year. 0% p.a. for 28 months on balance transfers.
Purchase rate
20.74% p.a.Balance transfer rate
0% p.a. for 28 months and then 20.99% p.a.Annual fee
$129 $0 in the first yearRewards program
Velocity Frequent FlyerCompareCompareVirgin Australia Velocity Flyer Card - Balance Transfer Offer
Get in the air with a $129 Virgin Australia Gift Voucher each year. 0% p.a. for 28 months on balance transfers.
- Purchase rate
- 20.74% p.a.
- Balance transfer rate
- 0% p.a. for 28 months and then 20.99% p.a.
- Annual fee
- $129 $0 in the first year
- Rewards program
- Velocity Frequent Flyer
- Purchase rate
- 20.74% p.a.
- Intro purchase rate
- -
- Balance transfer rate
- 0% p.a. for 28 months and then 20.99% p.a.
- Cash advance
- 20.99% p.a.
- Interest free days on purchases
- 55
- Intro fee
- 0.0
- Foreign exchange margin
- 3.30%
- Annual card fee
- $129 $0 in the first year
- Late payment fee
- $30.00
- Cash advance fee
- 2.7%, Min $2.70
Read our Mozo Review to learn more about the Virgin Australia Velocity Flyer Card - Balance Transfer Offer
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Apply By 31 Aug 2022
St.George Vertigo - Balance Transfer Offer
0% p.a. for 32 months on balance transfers requested at card application. 0% balance transfer fee applies. Rate then switches to applicable variable cash advance rate. No annual fee for the first year, $55 thereafter. New cards only, Eligibility criteria and T&Cs apply.
Purchase rate
13.99% p.a.Balance transfer rate
0% p.a. for 32 months and then 21.49% p.a.Annual fee
$55 $0 in the first yearRewards program
-CompareCompareVertigo - Balance Transfer Offer
0% p.a. for 32 months on balance transfers requested at card application. 0% balance transfer fee applies. Rate then switches to applicable variable cash advance rate. No annual fee for the first year, $55 thereafter. New cards only, Eligibility criteria and T&Cs apply.
- Purchase rate
- 13.99% p.a.
- Balance transfer rate
- 0% p.a. for 32 months and then 21.49% p.a.
- Annual fee
- $55 $0 in the first year
- Rewards program
- Purchase rate
- 13.99% p.a.
- Intro purchase rate
- -
- Balance transfer rate
- 0% p.a. for 32 months and then 21.49% p.a.
- Cash advance
- 21.49% p.a.
- Interest free days on purchases
- 55
- Intro fee
- 0.0
- Foreign exchange margin
- 3.00%
- Annual card fee
- $55 $0 in the first year
- Late payment fee
- $15.00
- Cash advance fee
- 3%
Read our Mozo Review to learn more about the Vertigo - Balance Transfer Offer
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