Spending reductions will be more aggressive among those whose earnings have fallen below their pre-COVID-19 income levels, with 63% of those who took a cut in pay reducing spending in the last two months.

Women are also less likely than men to go back to their regular spending habits and feel less financially secure than their male counterparts according to new research that looks at the impact the pandemic has had on consumer spending. 

The report by Boston Consulting Group (BCG) and market research firm Dynata found that women across all age groups don't believe they have enough savings to survive an economic downturn caused by the coronavirus compared with men, who felt more positive. 

The survey of over 1,500 Australians found that more than a third (35%) of millennial women said they did not feel financially secure, compared to 26% of millennial men. 

Additionally, 37% of millennial women said they have enough savings to get by in an economic downturn compared with almost half (47%) of millennial men.

Need somewhere to store cash and earn interest? The table below features introductory savings accounts with some of the highest interest rates on the market.

Provider

4000$product[$field["value"]]$product[$field["value"]]$product[$field["value"]]More details
  • Bonus rate for the first 4 months from account opening
  • No account keeping fees
  • No minimum balance

High Interest Savings Account (< $250k)

  • Bonus rate for the first 4 months from account opening
  • No account keeping fees
  • No minimum balance
010000$product[$field["value"]]$product[$field["value"]]$product[$field["value"]]More details
  • Deposit at least $1,000 + each month from an external source
  • Make 5 or more eligible transactions
  • Grow your savings balance each month

Savings Maximiser (<$100k)

  • Deposit at least $1,000 + each month from an external source
  • Make 5 or more eligible transactions
  • Grow your savings balance each month
010000$product[$field["value"]]$product[$field["value"]]$product[$field["value"]]More details
  • No account fees
  • Total ongoing variable rate of up to 5.20% pa by depositing $1,000 in the previous month
  • Easy access to your money

Saver Account (<$250k)

  • No account fees
  • Total ongoing variable rate of up to 5.20% pa by depositing $1,000 in the previous month
  • Easy access to your money
4000$product[$field["value"]]$product[$field["value"]]$product[$field["value"]]More details
  • A high-interest online savings account with no monthly fees, easy withdrawals and award-winning digital banking
  • A great base interest rate of 4.75%

Savings Account (Amounts < $250k)

  • A high-interest online savings account with no monthly fees, easy withdrawals and award-winning digital banking
  • A great base interest rate of 4.75%
020001$product[$field["value"]]$product[$field["value"]]$product[$field["value"]]More details
  • Never miss out on your bonus interest with a little help from the Bonus Interest Tracker
  • $0 monthly account fee
  • Dip into your savings without losing your bonus interest

Home Saver

  • Never miss out on your bonus interest with a little help from the Bonus Interest Tracker
  • $0 monthly account fee
  • Dip into your savings without losing your bonus interest
02000$product[$field["value"]]$product[$field["value"]]$product[$field["value"]]More details
No monthly fees
  • Download the App to open your account
  • Get better visibility of your spending within App!
  • Deposit $200 per month to activate bonus interest
No monthly fees

Save Account

  • Download the App to open your account
  • Get better visibility of your spending within App!
  • Deposit $200 per month to activate bonus interest
020000$product[$field["value"]]$product[$field["value"]]$product[$field["value"]]More details

HomeME Savings Account ($0 - $100,000)

    02001$product[$field["value"]]$product[$field["value"]]$product[$field["value"]]More details

    Growth Saver ($1 - $25k)

      010000$product[$field["value"]]$product[$field["value"]]$product[$field["value"]]More details

      Target Saver

        010000$product[$field["value"]]$product[$field["value"]]$product[$field["value"]]More details
        For customers aged 14-35 years
        For customers aged 14-35 years

        Future Saver Account ( < $50k)

          05001$product[$field["value"]]$product[$field["value"]]$product[$field["value"]]More details
          • Maximum Age - 24
          • $0 monthly account fee
          • Earn bonus interest

          Goal Saver

          • Maximum Age - 24
          • $0 monthly account fee
          • Earn bonus interest
          010000$product[$field["value"]]$product[$field["value"]]$product[$field["value"]]More details

          Boost Saver

            00.011$product[$field["value"]]$product[$field["value"]]$product[$field["value"]]More details

            Reward Saver Account (31 years +) ($0-$100k)

              01000$product[$field["value"]]$product[$field["value"]]$product[$field["value"]]More details

              Bonus Saver Account (Amounts < $100k)

                0201$product[$field["value"]]$product[$field["value"]]$product[$field["value"]]More details

                Reward Saver Kick Start (Amounts ≤ $1m)

                  00.010$product[$field["value"]]$product[$field["value"]]$product[$field["value"]]More details

                  Life (< 30 years) (Monthly deposit)

                    5000$product[$field["value"]]$product[$field["value"]]$product[$field["value"]]More details

                    NetBank Saver

                      000$product[$field["value"]]$product[$field["value"]]$product[$field["value"]]More details

                      ANZ Save

                        050$product[$field["value"]]$product[$field["value"]]$product[$field["value"]]More details

                        Young Saver Account

                          0501$product[$field["value"]]$product[$field["value"]]$product[$field["value"]]More details

                          Save up

                            Important Information and Comparison Rate Warning

                            All products with a link to a product provider’s website have a commercial marketing relationship between us and these providers. These products may appear prominently and first within the search tables regardless of their attributes and may include products marked as promoted, featured or sponsored. The link to a product provider’s website will allow you to get more information or apply for the product. By de-selecting “Show online partners only” additional non-commercialised products may be displayed and re-sorted at the top of the table. For more information on how we’ve selected these “Sponsored”, “Featured” and “Promoted” products, the products we compare, how we make money, and other important information about our service, please click here. Rates correct as of December 8, 2023. View disclaimer.

                            Last week, Treasurer Josh Frydenberg confirmed Australia has entered its first recession in 29 years.

                            Despite the fact that Australia has escaped the worst of the pandemic compared with other parts of the world, Australians were more pessimistic than other countries with over half (59%) of those surveyed saying they believe life after the pandemic will never be the same. 

                            This is reflected in consumer predictions for their own spending habits once restrictions have completely eased, with nearly a third (30%) agreeing that their spending will never return to pre-COVID levels.

                            Over half (52%) of Australians say they plan to cut down spending on luxury products when the virus is over.

                            However, BCG Managing Director and Partner Monica Wegner said the group is starting to see a slight shift towards optimism as consumers want to look forward and plan for the future.

                            "They’re focusing on exactly where their money goes and constantly evaluating their spending patterns and as the situation evolves, they’re considering what they want to spend more, or less, on," she said.

                            “While we’re seeing people willing to part with money for essentials, with planned spending expected to remain stable over the next six months, one of the areas consumers are still looking forward to is travel.

                            "As soon as restrictions started to ease, around 40% of consumers started planning for air travel, and 44% plan to save for travel as soon as things return to normal.”

                            The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic is also evident in the way consumers buy products, with 35% of Australians focusing more on getting deals and discounted products than before, while 37% bought fewer luxury brands. 

                            “Consumers are trading down in order to manage budgets and adjusted incomes," Ms Wegner said. 

                            "Online trading still presents huge opportunities, and convenience, better deals, discounts and free home delivery will attract consumers, who will buy more online post-COVID in return for these services."