Black Friday, Cyber Monday: How literally MILLIONS of Aussies are drunk shopping online for bargains

Millions of Australians are drunk-shopping and blowing their hard-earned savings online on things they don’t need during Black Friday and Cyber Monday sales frenzies – snapping up round-the-world trips, sex toys and even animals.

More than 3.5million Australians have shopped online while drunk, according to a survey of 1,015 people by comparison website Finder.

The average amount dropped in one drinking session is $328.

When the generations are compared, Generation X was worst.

Millions of Australians are drunk-shopping and blowing their hard-earned savings online on things they don’t need during Black Friday and Cyber Monday sales frenzies

Boozed up online shoppers are regretting snapping up round-the-world trips, bucket list holidays to places like Easter Island, sex toys, adult dating memberships and even animals when they on the sauce

Boozed up online shoppers are regretting snapping up round-the-world trips, bucket list holidays to places like Easter Island, sex toys, adult dating memberships and even animals when they on the sauce

DRUNK SHOPPING LIST

COMMONLY-BOUGHT ITEMS 

More alcohol

Food deliveries 

Online dating memberships

Expensive designer label clothing and shoes

Pets to keep us company

Dating website memberships

Adult supplies including sex toys 

Air tickets 

Bucket-list holidays i.e. round-the-world trips, Easter Island, Antarctica, Nepal trekking, Brazil’s Carnival at Rio de Janeiro 

Expensive personal development courses

Must-have children’s toys

 

HOW TO STOP DRUNK SHOPPING

  • Make a list of what you need before shopping online
  • Try not to drink alcohol and shop!
  • Don’t shop while triggered with strong emotions 
  • If you must shop while drinking, stop when you save items to your online cart

 Sources: Finder, Lea Clothier

‘Gen X drunk shoppers are the worst offenders, spending $425 on average per sitting, compared to $299 for Millennials and $265 for Gen Z,’ according to Finder.

Australia Post figures show online purchases grew by 57 per cent year on year for the 12 months to 31 December 2020 as Australians spent a record $50.46 billion online.

That was up from $32.1 billion in 2019. 

Finder’s research found 1 in 8 (12 per cent) have drunk-shopped once or twice, and 6 per cent do it often. 

That equates to one million people who regularly shop online while under the influence.

Drunk shopping can be a big problem because it can easily become impulsive – diverting money you would have spent on settling debts or saving for things you really need. 

The most common drunk shopping purchases are more alcohol and food deliveries.

But it doesn’t end there, with alcohol-fueling people’s appetites for more expensive and exotic purchases. 

Lea Clothier, a Sydney money behaviour coach has counseled people over drunk shopping, with the habit on the rise across the country. 

‘The fact that because alcohol removes our inhibitions I see people more likely to purchase things they may not otherwise (when not under the influence).’

‘When you’re drunk and feeling relaxed or happy you tend to spend on more things you think will make you relaxed or happy.’

These include subscriptions to dating apps, relationship sites and adult sites, lingerie, sex toys, expensive overseas holidays, airfares and bucket list trips.

‘One of the most regretted drunk shopping buys is personal development and training programs because they can cost thousands, Ms Clothier says.

Drunk shoppers most commonly buy more alcohol or food but also go in for adult supplies, dating site memberships, holidays and pets

Drunk shoppers most commonly buy more alcohol or food but also go in for adult supplies, dating site memberships, holidays and pets

‘I had one woman purchase an “I will draw your soul mate” product from a person who was promoting themselves as a psychic and being able to draw their soulmate, really!’

Ms Clothier advises her clients who shop impulsively to either not shop while drinking, or if they can’t do that, to get offline before entering their card details.

‘If you are someone who gets online when drinking I’d recommend adding your purchases to the cart – but don’t hit buy.

Money behavioural coach Lea Clothier advises her clients who shop impulsively to either not shop while drinking, or if they can't do that, to get offline before entering their card details

Money behavioural coach Lea Clothier advises her clients who shop impulsively to either not shop while drinking, or if they can’t do that, to get offline before entering their card details

‘The cart will usually be saved for 24 hours. Your planned purchases will be there in the morning if you still want to buy them, then go ahead.

‘But give yourself space to allow logic to catch up.’ 

She suggests clients ‘check in with how they are feeling’ when they feel the urge to shop while drinking.

‘You could be doing it out of feelings you’re not comfortable with like jealousy, anger or boredom.’

Ms Clothier said people get into trouble shopping drunk without expecting to because they often browse social media with a glass of wine.

Kate Browne, a personal finance expert with Finder, said planning ahead helps people avoid drunk shopping.

‘The best way to avoid this is to make a wish list of the things you really want and compare retailers in advance,’ she said. ‘That way you can be sure that you buy what you need and don’t drink and shop.’ 

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