MSE News

Nearly two-thirds of MoneySavers do most of their shopping online, new MSE poll finds

Almost two thirds (61%) of MoneySavers do most of their shopping online, compared with just over a quarter (27%) who prefer to shop in store (and the rest said they didn't have a preference), a new MoneySavingExpert.com poll has found. 

Our latest poll, which surveyed 4,702  people, ran between 31 August and 7 September 2021 and asked respondents to tell us how much of their shopping they do online, in the shops or if there is a mix of both. While not a representative sample of the UK population, the poll offers a snapshot of where people shop as Covid-19 restrictions continue to ease and life for many slowly returns to 'normal'.

Responses vary by age and gender, but 49% of those aged 25 to 34 do most of their shopping online, for example, compared to 17% who do most in store (the rest do roughly half their shopping in store and half online). Meanwhile, 57% of over 80s do most of their shopping online compared to 38% who do most in store (and the rest who do half and half). The 10 tables below detail the overall findings, plus the findings by age and gender.

If you're looking for discounts when shopping online, check out our Cheap Online Shopping guide for tips and tricks on how to save money and read our Haggle on the High Street guide.    

Poll results in full - How much of your shopping do you do online vs in store?

See the tables below for a full breakdown of our findings. 

MSE Poll: How much of your shopping is online vs in store? - Overall results

Value (number of votes out of 4,702) Percent
Over 80% online by value (2,121) 45%
60%-80% online by value (740) 16%
Roughly half online and half in store by value (552) 12%
60%-80% in store by value (335) 7%
Over 80% in store by value (933) 20%

MSE Poll: How much of your shopping is online vs in store? - Responses from men

Value (number of votes out of 1,411) Percent
Over 80% online by value (632) 45%
60%-80% online by value (219) 16%
Roughly half online and half in store by value (157) 11%
60%-80% in store by value (100) 7%
Over 80% in store by value (303) 21%

MSE Poll: How much of your shopping is online vs in store? - Responses from women

Value (number of votes out of 3,207) Percent
Over 80% online by value (1,460) 46%
60%-80% online by value (518) 16%
Roughly half online and half in store by value (387) 12%
60%-80% in store by value (229) 7%
Over 80% in store by value (613) 19%

MSE Poll: How much of your shopping is online vs in store? - I'm a different gender or I'd prefer not to share my gender

Value (number of votes out of 20) Percent
Over 80% online by value (11) 55%
60%-80% online by value (1) 5%
Roughly half online and half in store by value (4) 20%
60%-80% in store by value (1) 5%
Over 80% in store by value (3) 15%

MSE Poll: How much of your shopping is online vs in store? - Under 25s

Value (number of votes out of 35) Percent
Over 80% online by value (15) 43%
60%-80% online by value (2) 6%
Roughly half online and half in store by value (7) 20%
60%-80% in store by value (5) 14%
Over 80% in store by value (6) 17%

MSE Poll: How much of your shopping is online vs in store? - 25-34 year-olds

Value (number of votes out of 329) Percent
Over 80% online by value (173) 53%
60%-80% online by value (59) 18%
Roughly half online and half in store by value (42) 13%
60%-80% in store by value (27) 8%
Over 80% in store by value (28) 9%

MSE Poll: How much of your shopping is online vs in store? - 35-49 year-olds

Value (number of votes out of 827) Percent
Over 80% online by value (467) 56%
60%-80% online by value (162) 20%
Roughly half online and half in store by value (91) 11%
60%-80% in store by value (45) 5%
Over 80% in store by value (62) 7%

MSE Poll: How much of your shopping is online vs in store? - 50-64 year-olds

Value (number of votes out of 1,568) Percent
Over 80% online by value (697) 44%
60%-80% online by value (237) 15%
Roughly half online and half in store by value (200) 13%
60%-80% in store by value (119) 8%
Over 80% in store by value (315) 20%

MSE Poll: How much of your shopping is online vs in store? - 65-79 year-olds

Value (number of votes out of 1,756) Percent
Over 80% online by value (702) 40%
60%-80% online by value (259) 15%
Roughly half online and half in store by value (200) 11%
60%-80% in store by value (130) 7%
Over 80% in store by value (465) 26%

MSE Poll: How much of your shopping is online vs in store? - 80+

Value (number of votes out of 140) Percent
Over 80% online by value (60) 43%
60%-80% online by value (20) 14%
Roughly half online and half in store by value (7) 5%
60%-80% in store by value (3) 2%
Over 80% in store by value (50) 36%

MSE weekly email

FREE weekly MoneySaving email

For all the latest deals, guides and loopholes simply sign up today – it's spam-free!