Paws and paydays: 97% of Aussies spend guilt-free when it comes to spoiling their furry friends

Ubank helps customers budget better for their furry friends with automated savings and spending insights

New research from digital bank, Ubank, reveals that Australians are proudly prioritising their pets with 97 per cent reporting they feel no guilt about spending on their furry companions.

While many Australians admit to feeling guilty about discretionary spending on things like fashion (34 per cent), takeaway food (29 per cent), and eating out at restaurants (28 per cent), only 1 in 25 (4 per cent) feel the same when it comes to their pets, according to new Ubank research conducted by NAB Behavioural Economics.

It comes as separate research shows that around two-thirds of Australian households now own a pet^[1]— a financial commitment that can add up to thousands of dollars each year.

Andrew Morrison, Ubank’s Chief Customer Experience Officer, said pet-related purchases are a unique category of spending that Australians are comfortable with, despite today’s cost of living pressures.

“Some purchases make us feel guilty, but spending money on our pets doesn’t. Even as financial pressures rise, Australians continue to prioritise their pets—spending without guilt,” he said.

Spending paw-print

Pet-related costs driving the largest expenditure for Australians include pet purchase, adoption fees (which factor in care, micro-chipping, desexing and vaccination costs), wet and dry food, vet bills, grooming, daycare services and pet insurance^[2]. With annual inflation rising 2.4 per cent resulting in higher prices, including across pet-related products^[3], there is an increasing need for owners to plan for and keep track of their spending footprint – or pawprint.

“With the cost of living continuing to rise, managing pet expenses can feel overwhelming—but it doesn’t have to be. Creating a realistic household budget and using digital banking tools like Ubank’s app can take the bite out of pet ownership, helping Australians stay on top of their furry friends’ finances with confidence,” he said.

Ubank Everyday Banking customer pet spending

Sydney-based Jennifer Daniels, 34, is a financially savvy Ubank customer who uses the Ubank app to spend mindfully, save with bonus interest, and stay on top of living costs — including pet related expenses for her toy poodle, Hamlet who was diagnosed with a heart condition as a puppy.

Jennifer spends $200 a month on dog food, grooming costs of $75 every six weeks, plus pet insurance. “I feed Hamlet the best I can afford. I don’t feel guilty about it — it’s part of the commitment,” she said.

Despite the cost associated with owning her pet poodle, Jennifer says it’s a major investment in her wellbeing and spending time with Hamlet brings her joy.

To manage the costs of pet ownership, Jennifer regularly uses Ubank’s Pay Cycle feature to count down the days until payday, helping her plan ahead. She also relies on the Connected Accounts feature, which gives her a clear view of her bank and financial institution balances — conveniently displayed within the Ubank app.

“I have linked my four bank accounts and credit card so I can see the balances and activity within my Ubank app. I even log into Ubank instead of my other apps. It’s a simple and powerful way to manage my money, plus the countdown shows me how many days are left until my next pay,” Jennifer said.

From Frivolous to Financially Fierce

Jennifer says despite being a savvy teen, she started spending frivolously in her twenties and could blow her pay without thinking.

“I started spending so frivolously in my twenties with no concerns about budgets or savings,” said Jennifer.  “I started to realise I was spending almost everything I was making and had a lot of ‘stuff’ and not a lot of savings. I wanted to take charge of finances and did a lot of research on what I could improve”.

Today, Jennifer stays on top of her money and enjoys using her Ubank app to do a lot of the work for her.

“Today I have a money mindset, and I regularly check my banking app to keep motivated and to see that I’m spending with intention while taking small, consistent steps around saving and investing. Having control over my money gives me the peace of mind I need today and makes me feel more optimistic about the future”.

Andrew Morrison’s top tips for mindfully managing pet spending

• Set up your Pay Cycle – Our Pay Cycle feature lets customers add their pay date, amount, and frequency. Paired with Predicted Bills, it gives a clear view of how much money is left until next payday—taking the stress out of stocking up on chew toys or booking that grooming appointment.
• Create savings buckets for the unexpected – With the ability to open up to 10 savings buckets with no fees, plan for Fluffie’s unexpected pet expenses like emergency pet visits or specialist care. Regularly saving a little helps you be more prepared when big bills pop up.
• Use emojis to stay motivated – We’ve seen customers naming their savings accounts with emojis to make saving fun and personal. It’s a small thing, but it helps people stay motivated and reach their goals.
• Split your income – Ubank’s new Split Income feature lets you divide your pay on payday between Spend, Bills, and Save accounts. Put away money for those regular vet bills, put some money away in your savings, and know exactly how much money is left over so you can spend mindfully —whether that’s treating your fur baby to a day at the groomer or a new scratching post.
• Track your pet spending – Use the Spending Footprint feature to see how much you spend on your pet each month. It’s a great way to spot trends and adjust your budget.
• Stay ahead of recurring costs – Set up Predicted Bills to help you avoid being caught off guard by pet insurance renewals or subscription deliveries.

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For media enquiries, please email Jacqueline Dearle, Senior Manager, Ubank Communications at: Jacqueline.dearle@ubank.com.au.

For more Ubank Newsroom stories visit: https://www.ubank.com.au/newsroom

About Ubank
Ubank is a multi-award-winning digital bank on a mission to make daily money success achievable for anyone. We believe the way to get there is to give our customers better visibility of their finances, so that they can make more informed choices and build a more positive relationship with money. Ubank helps people to see the possibility in their money and gives them the tools to reach their goals. Expressed simply, our philosophy is that when you can see money better, you do money better.

NAB Behavioural Economics methodology
The research was conducted over the period 4-17 February 2025 by NAB Behavioural Economics and is based on the responses of a representative sample of 1064 Australians aged 18 years and over.