Digital Wallets are Making Us Splurge More on Takeaways and Other Impulse Buys

Digital wallets serve many purposes. They’re great for shopping in-person, allowing us to go without a chunky wallet when we’re out and about. They also help save time with auto-fill features when making online purchases.

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But this convenience is a double-edged sword.

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Choosi, a comparison website, recently carried out research into the ways that digital wallets are influencing spending patterns and financial management in Australia. Its findings were illuminating.

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According to the report, 44% of Aussies now use a digital wallet, like Apple Pay or Google Pay, to make everyday purchases.

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This is where it gets interesting: of those regular digital wallet users, around 4 in 10 indicated they were more likely to order takeaway food or impulse shop online. When that crispy grilled chicken burrito is only just a few clicks away, who can blame them?

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28% of digital wallet users also reported being more likely to get a ride share, while 27% said their digital payment capabilities make them more likely to buy a coffee or purchase snacks.

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Digital wallets can be a force for good, too. Many of these tools support financial tracking features and, encouragingly, 20% of Choosi’s respondents said that digital wallets make them more likely to contribute to “round up” savings.

Maybe we, rather than the digital wallets, are the problem here?