As 2026 begins, Australians are tightening household budgets - but they are not retreating from life. Spending and redemption patterns reveal a clear shift in how people choose to use their time and money, with experiences increasingly prioritised over material purchases. Data continues to show growth across entertainment, dining and travel, even as cost pressures persist.
What began as a post-pandemic rebound has evolved into a more settled pattern of behaviour. Consumers are choosing shared, social moments as a way to stay connected in an increasingly digital world. Insights from CommBank’s Household Spending Index and CommBank Yello redemptions suggest Australians are seeking value in experiences that create memories, rather than accumulating belongings.
Entertainment points the way
Entertainment offers some of the clearest signals. Movie redemptions through CommBank Yello have tripled over the past year, highlighting the cinema as an accessible and affordable outing. Live entertainment shows a similar pattern, with more than 175,000 ticket redemptions across concerts, comedy and theatre, pointing to a sustained appetite for experiences outside the home.
Dining also plays a meaningful role. Around 10 per cent of all cashback activations in Yello now occur in restaurants, cafés and takeaway outlets. This places dining among the most consistent everyday experience categories, reinforcing food’s role as a social anchor - a way to mark occasions and spend time together without larger financial commitments.
Travel having a moment
Travel remains the standout category and the number one savings goal in the CommBank app. Between July 2024 and October 2025, customers redeemed more than $1.9 million in travel credits via the Travel Booking platform, indicating Australians are not only planning trips, but actively turning intent into action.
Taken together, these indicators point to a broader shift in consumer behaviour. The experience economy has moved beyond trend status and is shaping how Australians choose to live and connect, even as households navigate ongoing cost pressures.
For households balancing budgets with the desire to keep living fully, programs like CommBank Yello are helping bridge the gap, making it easier to access entertainment, dining and travel experiences without overextending.
A version of this article was first published at: Making memories: Why experiences are the new luxury
