Aussies controlling spending by foregoing plastic and more regular, smaller visits to the ATM
April
14, 2009
NCR research unveils: Tough
times don’t last, tough people do
‘Sensible’ Aussies keep the
purse strings in check during financial crisis
SYDNEY, Australia: A new study into Australian attitudes in light of the
global financial crisis by NCR Corporation (NYSE: NCR), the world’s leading provider of self-service
solutions, has found that over a third of Australians are using cash, as
opposed to credit and debit cards, as a way of controlling their spending.
Thirty six per cent of respondents to the study said they were using ATMs more
frequently, for smaller denomination withdrawals in order to manage their
day-to-day cash flow.
The results suggest that the days of the ‘borrow now,
pay later’ are fast coming to an end as Australians seek to get a firm grip on
their finances. The study, conducted by BuzzBack on behalf of NCR Corporation, shows that Aussies are becoming ever more mindful of
their cash and that financial prudence and sensible spending are navigating
them through the current economic climate.
A further example of this attitude can be seen in the
finding that nearly half of Aussies (49 per cent) are now leaving their bill
payments until the last minute, maximising the time money is in their account.
“Tough times require tough measures, and it appears as
if Australians are reacting in a sensible way to the current financial crisis,”
comments Ross Checkley, managing director for NCR, South Pacific.
“As the country slips ever closer towards recession,
Australians are choosing the sensible approach to making their money go further
and to keep their finances in check.”
Switch and save
Additionally, it’s not just the little measures that
are helping Australians deal with the tough economic climate. Nearly a third
(28 per cent) have taken out separate savings accounts to try to set aside
money for special items of expenditure, and over half (56 per cent) are
switching between retailers to get better value when they visit the shops.
When it comes to shopping, 4 out of 10 Australians are
using the internet more frequently to research products and prices, as well as
buying fresh food in smaller quantities, and more often so it doesn’t go bad –
hailing the age of the micro-shoppers. On the flipside however, an equal number
(40 per cent) of Aussie’s are making a name for themselves by stockpiling
non-perishable items that are available at knock-down prices to derive even
more value from their shop.
The
research, published annually, was conducted between December 2008 and January
2009. Results reflect input from 8,447 respondents in 16 countries and 6
regions, of which 505 were from Australia. All respondents were at least 18
years of age.
About NCR Corporation
NCR Corporation (NYSE: NCR) is a global technology company
and leader in automated teller machines, self-checkouts and other self- and
assisted-service solutions, serving customers in more than 100 countries. NCR's software, hardware,
consulting and support services help organizations in retail, financial,
travel, healthcare and other industries interact
with consumers across multiple channels.
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