Missed millions: 1 in 4 Aussies are leaving money on the table
Millions of Australians could be missing out on bonus cash and rewards simply by not knowing they exist, according to new research by Finder.
A Finder survey of 1,015 respondents revealed nearly 2 in 5 Aussies (36%) have switched a household bill in the past year – but many did so without cashing in on perks like cashback, points or gift cards.
Almost 1 in 10 (8%) Australians admit they switched providers without realising perks were even on offer. That's over 1.7 million people who effectively left money on the table.
Meanwhile, 13% say they only made the move because they were incentivised with a reward.
Finder's data shows nearly two-thirds (64%) of Aussies haven't switched a single household bill in the past 12 months, suggesting inertia is costing households potential savings.
Sarah Megginson, personal finance expert at Finder, said many Australians are unknowingly missing out on deals that could put money back in their pocket.
"Millions of households are already going through the effort of switching bills, but they're missing the chance to be rewarded for it.
"If you're going to switch your bills over anyway, you might as well take advantage of any cashback or bonus offers available – otherwise you could be leaving easy money behind."
Megginson said a lack of awareness is the biggest barrier stopping Australians from maximising savings, along with a lack of trust that the deal is actually as good as it seems.
"A healthy dose of skepticism is a must, but once you've checked out the details and compared like for like, you might be surprised at the value on offer.
"The data shows many don't realise that savings and perks are now widely available on everyday expenses like health insurance, broadband and mobile plans.
"I recently switched my NBN plan and I'm saving $30 per month, plus I scored a Visa gift card. It's a double win and I haven't had to cut back or sacrifice anything along the way."
Megginson warned Aussies not to chase rewards blindly.
"Ultimately, the best deal is one that saves you money long after the perk has been redeemed, so make sure the deal you're switching to stacks up.
"Compare 'like for like', which means look for competitors with the same inclusions, excesses or fees, so you can cleanly compare and switch to a better deal."
Have you switched a household bill without receiving a perk in the last 12 months
| Yes, but I didn't know perks were available | 8% |
| No, I only switched because I was offered a perk (e.g. cashback, points, giftcard) | 13% |
| Yes, and I'm happy with the move I made | 16% |
| No, I haven't switched any household bills in the last 12 months | 64% |
| Source: Finder survey of 1,015 Australians, March 2026 |  |
Methodology
- Finder's Consumer Sentiment Tracker is a monthly recurring nationally representative survey of more than 60,000 respondents.
- Figures in this release are based on 1,015 respondents from March 2026.
- The Consumer Sentiment Tracker is owned by Finder and operated by Qualtrics.
- The survey has been running monthly since May 2019.
Sources
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