The poll, run by The Daily Aus in partnership with CommBank Newsroom, shows housing was the most commonly cited savings priority. Travel and holidays followed closely behind, with other answers pointing to major life events, cars and day-to-day costs.
The results of the poll conducted on Instagram highlight how many financial priorities young Australians are trying to manage in 2026, as they balance long-term goals with still wanting to enjoy life, at a time when cost-of-living pressures affect nearly every financial decision.
That pressure also shows up in separate research from The Daily Aus, in The Future According to Us. This report found cost of living to be the single biggest concern for young Australians, ranking above every other issue they were asked about.
Aligning with those findings, separate CommBank research** shows financial resilience is front of mind for many young Australians. Among CommBank customers aged 18–34, 69% say building an emergency fund is one of the most important savings goals, reflecting a growing desire for buffers to manage rising living costs and unexpected expenses.
Housing tops the list
In The Daily Aus Instagram poll, housing came up more than any other topic, accounting for nearly half of all responses.
Many said they are saving for a house or apartment deposit, working towards buying their first home or managing the cost of an existing mortgage. Others pointed to rent, moving out of home or relocating interstate.
For people who already own a place, saving was less about getting in and more about staying on top of ongoing costs. Offset accounts, mortgage repayments and renovations, including kitchen and bathroom upgrades, all featured.
The poll suggests housing isn’t a one-off goal. It’s a constant financial focus, no matter where people sit on the renting-to-owning spectrum.
Travel is a close second
Very close behind after housing, travel and holidays were the next most mentioned savings goal.
Responses included overseas trips, gap years and long-delayed holidays, with destinations like Europe, Japan and South-East Asia coming up again and again.
CommBank economist Harry Ottley said the poll reflects the ongoing pull of both stability and experience.
“Travel is still a rite of passage, and the dream of owning a home is still there but housing has become far more expensive relative to income, which means it now dominates how young Australians think about saving,” he said.
Life milestones also feature
Savings tied to major life moments was another strong theme.
Weddings, having kids and parental leave were all mentioned, with around a quarter of people who took part pointing to upcoming life milestones shaping how they think about money in 2026.
While fewer people in the poll mentioned retirement or superannuation, broader research suggests long-term aspirations haven’t disappeared. The Future According to Us report found the vast majority of young Australians still expect or intend to have children, even as financial pressure pushes those milestones later in life.
Cars, debt and everyday costs
Beyond housing, travel and life events, some people pointed to more immediate financial pressures.
Saving for a car, managing car loans and covering petrol costs all featured. Others said their focus was on paying down debt, or simply keeping up with groceries, rent and bills.
Some people said they weren’t saving at all, instead directing what money they had towards covering day-to-day expenses. Others said their focus was on creating a small emergency buffer.
A snapshot of priorities in 2026
Overall, the poll and supporting research offer a snapshot of how young Australians are thinking about money in 2026.
Young Australians are navigating a packed financial landscape where long-term plans, life milestones and day-to-day costs all collide.
Young Aussies turn to digital tools to stay on top of their money
As young Australians work toward goals like an emergency buffer, a first home or a major trip, CommBank data shows many use digital tools that help manage their money, with usage of features such as Money Plan, Cash Flow, Goal Tracker, Category Budgets, Bill Sense and Smart Savings continuing to grow.
It points to how people are looking for practical ways to manage their money, and that growing value of digital tools is reflected in how widely they’re being used. More than nine million customers are using the CommBank app regularly and over 3.4 million are engaging with CommBank money management tools each month.
Among young adults, that engagement is even stronger. Cash Flow is especially popular among 18-25 year olds, helping them break down their spending into categories and better understand their habits. Bill Sense and Cash Flow now support around 1.6 million and 1.97 million customers each month, highlighting just how much customers are embracing CommBank money management tools as part of their financial lives.
*Results are based on between 210 and 230 responses to an Instagram Stories poll conducted by The Daily Aus.
**CommBank and Mastercard Everyday Transaction Banking Research 2025 (insights from 275 CommBank customers)
