New research released by Honey, PayPal’s deal-finding shopping tool, finds that Aussies love a bargain, and want to date a bargain-hunter, with most (69 per cent) preferring their partners to be savvy shoppers.

The research shows the pandemic has boosted the importance of bargain hunting, with most Aussies seeking to reduce expenditure wherever possible.

Savvy shoppers are very appealing
It’s no secret Aussies love a sale, with 85 per cent of Australians saying they feel positive when they secure a great deal online.

However, Honey’s latest research shows they not only love bargains, they also class bargain hunting as a key talent they value in a life partner, with 69 per cent of Australians preferring a partner who is skilled at finding discounts. This quality is most appealing for men (72 per cent) in comparison to women (65 per cent).

Nearly half of all Australians (47 per cent), said they’d want to know if their prospective partner is a careful or thrifty shopper when they start dating. This was more prevalent for men, at 51 per cent, compared to women at 44 per cent.

The old adage ‘opposites attract’ seems not to apply for deal-hunting tendencies, with 86 per cent of Australians believing it is important for their partner to share the same financial values. This was particularly important for women (90 per cent), with men not far behind at 82 per cent.

“Being on the same page financially, particularly when it comes to bargain hunting, has emerged as an important attribute Aussies look for when they’re dating, with nearly than half of all Aussies wanting to know if their prospective partner is a savvy shopper,” says Jess Rix, consumer shopping expert at PayPal Australia.

Some Aussies are more dedicated to being thrifty
Most Aussies (62 per cent) spend up to an hour searching online for bargains a week, and almost a quarter (23 per cent) spend between two to five hours a week on the hunt.

As the impact of the pandemic continues it’s not surprising that Aussies say finding discounts is more important than ever.

Since the start of the pandemic, 71 per cent of Aussies said they shop with retailers they know will offer discounts. But this hasn’t stopped Aussies shopping with purpose, with 61 per cent saying they have been stepping up to support local businesses.

Two thirds of Australians (66 per cent) say they are making fewer impulse purchases and 63 per cent care more about finding a bargain during the COVID-19 era. Women were more likely to care (66 per cent) about securing a bargain than men (59 per cent).

COVID has also impacted our attitude to non-essential items and treats with over half of Aussies (57 per cent) saying they will only buy these non-essentials when there is a sale, discount, or coupon available.

Do you consider being thrifty an attractive trait in a partner?