Health insurance, car insurance, and home-and-contents insurance are first on the firing line, as more than three quarters of Australians plan to make changes to their budgets this year in order to battle ongoing financial uncertainty, according to a price comparison website.
New research by comparethemarket.com.au found that households were more focused on managing their financial situation amid uncertainty around interest rates and housing markets.
“It’s hard for ordinary Australians to be comfortable that things are going to be easier,” Rod Attrill, Comparethemarket.com.au’s general manager of banking, told news.com.au. “The survey of almost 1,100 people found that almost two-thirds would review their health insurance, half would check their car insurance, and more than 40% would review energy plans and home-and-contents insurance.”
Attrill said “loyalty is not as strong as it used to be across financial services” because now people “have much more information than they ever had before,” making it easier for them to shop around for the best deals.
Findings also showed that 44% of people plan to cut back on personal spending on things like clothes and eating out, 41% plan to reduce energy usage, 35% will buy fewer groceries, and 19% will downgrade or cancel travel plans, news.com.au reported.
