More than half of Australians are dipping into their savings just to keep up with everyday costs, highlighting a growing pressure point for the property market.
New research from Finder reveals that 54% of Australians have accessed their savings accounts in the past 12 months.
That equates to almost 12 million people nationwide, with the average withdrawal totalling $7,274 – a staggering $85 billion collectively.
Rent and mortgage payments were a top reason for savings withdrawals, with 13% of respondents citing housing costs as the cause.
Everyday essentials (24%) and emergency expenses (19%) were the other major drains, followed by debt repayments (9%) and school fees (7%).
“Budgets are stretched to the limit and plenty of people are running into trouble and having to turn to their savings,” said Graham Cooke, head of consumer research at Finder.
“With everyday costs climbing again, many households are stuck in a cycle where they’re dipping into savings just to make ends meet, leaving little buffer for future shocks.”
The survey also highlighted a gender disparity, with 60% of women reporting they had withdrawn money from savings for non-planned expenses, compared with 49% of men.
Mr Cooke said achieving savings goals in the current economic climate is increasingly difficult.
“With fuel and borrowing costs blowing out again it’s becoming even more difficult to put away excess cash.”
Survey breakdown of savings withdrawals in the past 12 months:
- Everyday essentials: 24%
- Emergency expenses: 19%
- Rent/mortgage: 13%
- Debt repayment: 9%
- School fees: 7%
- Lending to friends/family: 5%
- Renovations: 4%
- Other: 3%
- Unexpected investment in shares, super, crypto: 2%
- No withdrawals: 46%
Source: Finder survey of 1,011 respondents, February 2026