Paysafe’s annual Inside the Wallet report polled the spending and saving habits of 14,500 people across age groups from around the world
Over half of consumers worldwide (56%) have changed their spending habits from a year ago, not only becoming more price conscious but demanding payment choice, from debit cards and bank transfers to digital wallets and cash, according to new research from Paysafe, a global payment processor and digital wallet provider.
According to Paysafe’s report, ‘Inside the Wallet: How consumers are spending and saving in 2024’, 43% of consumers have abandoned their online shopping cart if a business didn’t offer their payment method of choice. With retailers increasingly adopting cashless policies, an overwhelming number of consumers (63%) expressed concern about losing cash as a payment option, with another 44% of people indicating that they want to be able to buy goods or services online and pay for them in cash at a local store.
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Security in payments was also top of mind for respondents. More than half of people (54%) said that security in a business’s payment process is an important factor when deciding how to purchase online. While two-thirds of consumers reported feeling better buying from a business if they know there are security steps in place to protect their data or if they see a payment option they recognize.
Payment Options for Diverse Consumer Needs
Spending preferences are growing increasingly diverse. Debit cards (53%) are the top payment method being used more frequently this year vs last year, but bank transfers (39%), credit cards (33%), and digital wallets (32%) have also increased in popularity, with new payment methods and platforms beginning to emerge. Over half (58%) of consumers have made an online purchase through social media, with 38% doing so multiple times a year. Another one-third (32%) of people are now using a wearable device, such as a smartwatch, to pay.
Attitudes to developing technologies vary by generation, with younger people more likely to embrace innovative payment options, such as AI-powered payments. Over a third (36%) of 18-43-year-olds are fully comfortable with AI being used to improve payments. This compares to 33% of those aged 60 and over who are not comfortable at all with the idea of AI in payments.
Bob Legters, Paysafe’s SVP Product, commented: “Consumers are comparison shopping more than ever, not only to find the best deal but the best payment experience that delivers choices, security, and speed, and keeps them coming back. As consumers’ financial situations and priorities shift, businesses need payment partners that have a track record of offering innovative payment options that attract a wide pool of consumers—from younger to older and every age in between.”
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