Did you know that more than 10 million Australians will reach for their credit cards and wallets in the upcoming Black Friday? This is a 14% increase from the prior year.*

Most of us have a different personality during the Black Friday and Boxing Day sales. Will you be the Impulsive Shopper, the Pragmatic Shopper, the Social Shopper, or the Online Deal Hacker Shopper during the holiday season? Take the quiz and find out today.

Q) What motivates you about the Black Friday and Boxing Day period?

1. The last-minute deals — the flashy signs — the colourful options — the passion of the crowd — EVERYTHING.
2. Not much. I’ll be happy if I can grab a reasonable deal on a product I’ve been eyeing for a while.
3. The day out with friends! I missed them so much. We have a tradition of shopping together this time every year.
4. Laying back on the couch and watching the deals fly through my laptop screen.

Q) What’s your plan for the shopping season?

1. Plan? What plan? I’ll take whatever I like, thank you.
2. I’ve been needing a new washing machine for a while. I’ll take that and walk out immediately.
3. Not sure. My friends and I will go with the flow of the day. But I know that it will involve a big lunch in the middle with lots of selfies.
4. Grabbing the hot deals without moving out of my seat. I want comfort and affordability.

Q) When a salesperson asks you if you need help, how do you respond? 

1. I talk a lot. I can’t help it. I get so excited. I collect all of their recommendations too!
2. I said, “No, thank you,” every time. I hate being bothered.
3. Why need help from a salesperson when I have friends with me?
4. Salesperson? I live in the 21st Century with the luxury of internet.

Q) What do you do when you spot a great pair of shoes but you can’t decide on the colour?

1. I buy them both! Life is too short to ponder over such decisions.
2. Decide which pair has the most practical colour. What’s the point of making a purchase if I can only wear my pair a few times a year?
3. Easy — I ask the experts, my friends!
4. Depends…Is there a two for 20% off deal available?

Q) When you see a large crowd in a store, what do you do?

1. I become very competitive. The adrenaline kicks in when I am surrounded by other passionate shoppers.
2. Bypass the mob by darting straight to the section you need to go to.
3. Crowd? Hell, my friends and I are the crowd.
4. This is why I don’t go into stores. I’d rather search for the store online.

Q) How important is a return policy?

1. Not much. I buy the things I love and even if I change my mind later on, I can’t be bothered to go back to the store for a return.
2. It’s important for practical reasons. But I hardly use it.
3. It’s important for me. Sometimes, I buy things in the heat of the moment because others have recommended me to make the purchase. It's not uncommon for me to change my mind afterwards.
4. It’s very important. What you see online does not always reflect the reality. I need the reassurance of a return policy.

Q) What do you do with your new purchases when you take them home?

1. I hide them. I don’t need my significant other or family judging me. They don’t understand my needs.
2. Use it. What else would I do with them?
3. I try everything on, take a selfie mirror shot and then send it on our group chat.
4. Check carefully if I received all items correctly.

If you answered mostly A: You are the Impulsive Shopper. You feel the rush when there is a big discount on the glass windows of stores, or when you see the flashing lights within a website. You feel complete and satisfied when you buy a new item. Be careful! Be cautious about buy now pay later products and remember to check your credit score.

If you answered mostly B: You are the Pragmatic Shopper. You are on top of your financial wellbeing and probably check your credit score on a regular basis. You don’t dawdle or have the time to browse in stores. You have a plan ready to tackle the holiday season and you make sure to differentiate between what is a ‘need’ and what is a ‘want’.

If you answered mostly C: You are the Social Shopper. You view shopping as a social activity which is best enjoyed with friends. You may take a coffee and cake break in the middle, chat more than shop and take a lot of selfies. You probably gather a round of opinions from your friends before completing a purchase. Make sure to not go overboard with your spending and remember to check your credit score.

If you answered mostly D: You are the Online Deal Hacker Shopper. You’re all about speed, efficiency and comparing deals. You may be scanning the site with a specific goal in mind using two computer screens at once. You are a pro at grabbing those deals and your secret is to get through the shopping season with the click of a button. Good luck and be careful of rising online shopping scams. If you suspect of identity compromise, request to put a ban on your credit report via SavvyShield and keep yourself safe from identity thieves.

*The Research Society