Diwali sees rise in high-ticket credit card spends; 42% crossed ₹50,000 mark, reveals Paisabazaar survey

Over 42% of credit card users spent more than ₹50,000 on festive shopping this year, highlighting a growing tendency for high-value purchases, according to a survey by  Paisabazaar, a marketplace for consumer credit and other financial products.

Around 22% of respondents spent between ₹50,000 and ₹1 lakh on their credit cards during Diwali, while 20% spent over ₹1 lakh.

The survey with over 2300 respondents revealed that home appliances (25%), mobiles, gadgets & accessories (23%), and apparel (22%) were the top three spend categories on credit cards in the festive season, followed by furniture and décor (18%). Gold and jewellery also accounted for 12% of credit card spending during Diwali. The survey indicated an increase in the use of credit cards to make high-ticket purchases more rewarding.

Santosh Agarwal, CEO of Paisabazaar, said, “The surge in high-ticket festive purchases through credit cards reflects a growing affinity towards value and convenience. Consumers are using credit cards more strategically, timing their big-ticket buys to coincide with festive season deals and card-specific rewards. Our survey clearly shows rising consumer awareness along with the growing popularity of credit cards.”

The survey findings also showed that over 91% of credit card users planned their purchases around card offers. In contrast, less than 10% said they shopped without waiting for specific deals and relied on their card’s standard cashback or rewards structure. This indicates that festive buying decisions are becoming increasingly driven by value, with consumers aligning their larger purchases to maximise benefits from credit card deals and ongoing promotions.

Credit card benefits remained a key motivator for festive spending. A majority (71%) of respondents had shopping-specific credit cards offering cashback and rewards. An additional 15% received festive offers even without owning such cards, while 14% did not receive any shopping-related benefits.

With nearly 20% of respondents choosing it, cashback became the most popular credit card incentive. Co-branded offers (19%) and accelerated reward points (18%) were other main motivators. Among those selecting EMIs, No-Cost EMI remained the top choice, with 56% opting for it, followed by 29% attracted to better discounts and 10% using EMIs solely to spread payments over time.

The survey also revealed that 48% of respondents preferred a mix of online and offline shopping, signalling a clear shift in how cardholders approach festive spending. Channels no longer limit consumers; instead, they seek savings and convenience – often using e-commerce platforms for better offers and offline stores for product experience before purchase.

Rohit Chhibbar, Head of Credit Cards at Paisabazaar, said, “This year’s survey reflects the rise of the strategic and value-conscious shopper, who plans their purchases around credit card offers and feels comfortable with both online and offline channels, aiming to maximise the value of the cards they hold. Cashback, rewards, no-cost EMI, and merchant discounts continue to make credit cards essential for festive shopping.”

Furthermore, 83% of respondents said they found the best deals and discounts on e-commerce platforms like Amazon and Flipkart, compared to only 7% of cardholders who saw more value at physical stores.

The survey confirmed that Amazon and Flipkart remain the top e-commerce platforms, with 43% of respondents preferring them. Myntra and Meesho followed closely at 15% and 10%, respectively, while Ajio, Nykaa, Zepto, and Tata Cliq combined accounted for a 32% share.