Holiday dreamers beware! New research shows half a million Aussies admit to booking holidays online after a few drinks.
Shopping under the influence
New research by the team at comparison site Finder.com.au reveals Australians have spent $2.34billion on shopping while under the influence, including half a million Aussies admitting to purchasing holidays after a few bevvies.
The survey of 2,306 respondents shows almost one in five adults (18%) admit to purchasing goods under the influence, with $388 the most shoppers spent in one sitting.
When totalling all purchases, Australians have collectively spent $2.34 billion on transactions while intoxicated.
“It’s fair to say it’s best to plan and book your holidays when you’re in a sober state of mind,” says John Andrews, partnership manager with travel management company CT Connections.
“It’s easy enough to slip up while buying online as it is, let alone letting alcohol blur the lines. How easy is it to get the dates wrong when booking a holiday? I almost clicked through for a six week holiday in Bali the other day when I only wanted six days. So my advice is to stay off the booze and take your time when booking and buying your holiday online.”
Don’t drink and shop
Angus Kidman, editor-in-chief at finder.com.au says these days it’s all too easy to drink and shop.
“Between smartphones and laptops, we’re only ever one click away from making a purchase. A night in with a few glasses of wine can easily turn into an accidental shopping spree,” he says. “Sometimes all it takes is a scroll through Instagram, with many retailers inviting consumers to ‘shop now’ within their feed.”
The research shows it may be a good idea to switch off the gadgetry whenever you start dreaming of your next travel adventure.
“Half a million Aussies even admit to booking travel under the influence,” Kidman said. “That goes to show no idea is a bad idea once drinks and an internet connection mix. If you think you’ve shopped after a few too many, take a look at your credit card statement or better yet, check your inbox. The retailer will usually send you a confirmation email and depending on the store’s return policy, you might be able to contact them to cancel the order.”
The research also reveals that women spend more while inebriated: on average, the most they’ve spent in one sitting is $457 versus $308 for men. Respondents admitted to some pretty bizarre purchases – such as costumes for their dog and craft items – after shopping under the influence, but clothing was the most common drunk purchase.
Almost one in ten (8.5%) drunk shoppers bought clothes online after they’d been drinking, with home delivered food (6.3%) and alcohol (5.5%) rounding out the top three purchases under the influence. Other popular items among tipsy shoppers were shoes, food, lotto, and electronics.
Tips to avoid a boozed up shopping binge
Switch off your mobile data. If you’re going out and you know you’re prone to a little shopping under the influence, turn your mobile data off before you start drinking. You’ll still be able to text and make calls, but it makes it harder to indulge in an online shopping splurge after a few vinos that start making you drift off mentally towards the Caribbean.
Don’t save credit card details. A great tip in general for saving your hard earned $. It’s much easier to impulse shop when your details are already saved for your favourite retailer.
Breathe easy! Apps to the rescue. There are some apps that have actually been designg to help you curb drunk shopping. For example, DRNKPAY lets you link your bank cards to a Bluetooth breathalyser and once you hit your drink limit your cards are frozen for unnecessary purchases.
Keep your mobile at a distance. If you can’t reach your mobile, it’s unlikely you’ll be able to shop online. Leave it in your bag, or put it in a separate room if you think you might make a drunk purchase. The same goes with other devices, like laptops and tablets.
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