Sydney, 26 December 2025 – Australians are approaching this year’s Boxing Day sales with a new resolve, as according to new research from PayPal, nearly a third (30%) are planning to use the final sale event of the year to stock up on everyday essentials – with the post-Christmas discounts offering a unique way to manage household spending.
Boxing Day is a major sales moment on Australia’s shopping calendar with two in five Australians (38%) planning to shop the sales this year. Younger Australians are particularly keen – nearly half of Gen Z (48%) and 46% of Millennials say they’ll be hitting the Boxing Day bargains, showing the traditional sales moment holds strong appeal even as Black Friday continues to grow.
Nearly one in three Australians (31%) say they’re taking a “buy better, not more” approach this year to their sales shopping. And almost one-quarter (24%) say they’re now more cautious about what they buy during big sales events than they used to be.
“Australians are becoming far more intentional about how and when they spend, particularly as cost-of-living pressures continue,” said Danielle Grant, Consumer Spokesperson at PayPal Australia.
“Boxing Day is no longer just about impulse purchases for many households, it’s a chance to plan ahead, prioritise essentials and make smarter decisions with their money as they close out the year.”
Younger generations, however, seem to be bucking this trend with 30% of Gen Z and 28% of Millennials set to increase their spending this sales season, compared with just 14% of Gen X and just 3% of Baby Boomers.
Practical and personal purchases to lead this year’s Boxing Day spending
Australians are keen to grab a bargain for themselves this Boxing Day, with almost a fifth (19%) saying they’ll use it as an opportunity to shop for themselves, rather than buying for others.
Across the holiday sales period, fashion and accessories are the most popular purchase category (41%), followed by electronics and tech (35%), home and kitchen items (33%), and beauty and personal care products (32%).
There is a strong interest in essentials, with 30% planning to buy groceries or everyday items – highlighting how Australians are leveraging Boxing Day deals to lock in lower prices and reduce future household costs.
Online convenience supports smarter shopping
Online shopping continues to dominate the end-of-year sales, with 82% of Australians planning to do at least some of their sale shopping online. Almost 60% of Australians (59%) say they’ll do half or more of their sale shopping online, reflecting the role digital channels play in helping shoppers compare prices and shop more efficiently.
Convenience is the top benefit of shopping online during the sales, cited by 45% of Australians, followed by better deals and discounts (40%) and avoiding crowded stores (38%) and parking stress (32%).
Staying safe while shopping the sales
While Australians remain keen to take advantage of Boxing Day discounts, online safety remains a priority. More than half (55%) say they’re concerned about being scammed or falling for fake offers or websites when shopping online during the holiday period.
Encouragingly, 81% plan to take steps to shop safely, including shopping only on trusted websites (55%), avoiding unfamiliar links in emails, texts or social media (52%), and using secure payment options such as PayPal (46%), which offers buyer protection on eligible purchases.
Danielle Grant, Consumer Shopping Expert at PayPal Australia, says, “When people are shopping during busy sales periods, it’s understandable to be cautious. Taking simple steps like sticking to sites you trust, being careful with links, and choosing secure ways to pay can make a real difference and help shoppers feel more confident online.”
PayPal’s tips for safe and savvy sale shopping:
- Plan purchases: Before you join the virtual queue, make sure you’ve made a list and decided how much you’re happy to spend. Just because a price has been significantly discounted, doesn’t mean it’s the right purchase for you.
- Scrutinise suspicious sites: Fake versions of online retail websites can look very similar to the real thing. If you spot images that don’t resize properly, or anything that doesn’t look right, check the URL, navigate to the genuine site separately, and if in doubt, don’t check out.
- Check reviews: If other shoppers have had negative experiences with a specific online seller, including fraud, they may have posted about it online to warn others.
- Understand returns options: Make sure there’s a way out if the purchase isn’t 100% right and shop with retailers that offer a reasonable returns policy.
- Compare prices in real time: It’s good practice to compare product prices between different retailers on the day of your planned purchase, as things can change quickly.
- Keep your financial details safe: Using a secure payment method like PayPal can help protect personal and financial information from potential fraud with the added benefit of buyer protection.
ENDS
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About the research
All figures, unless otherwise stated are from YouGov. Total sample size was 1000 adults. Fieldwork was undertaken between 30th October – 1st November 2025. The survey was carried out online. The figures have been weighted and are representative of all Australian adults (aged 18+).
PayPal has been revolutionizing commerce globally for more than 25 years. Creating innovative experiences that make moving money, selling, and shopping simple, personalized, and secure, PayPal empowers consumers and businesses in approximately 200 markets to join and thrive in the global economy.
For more information, visit https://www.paypal.com, https://about.pypl.com/ and https://investor.pypl.com/.
PayPal Australia was established in 2005 and has more than 9.5 million active Australian customer accounts. PayPal enables Australian consumers and businesses to easily and securely send, receive, and manage their money. The PayPal service is provided by PayPal Australia Pty Limited (ABN 93 111 195 389) which holds an Australian Financial Services Licence number 304962. PayPal credit services are provided by PayPal Credit Pty Limited (ACN 600 629 258) which holds Australian Credit Licence 568848. For more information visit PayPal Australia Newsroom for more information and follow us on Instagram or Facebook.
Contact details:
Edelman for PayPal Australia
