First-time homebuyer plans Afterpay Day shopping spree for Samsung Frame TV and furnishings

Carl Hemberg moved into his first home in Flemington at the start of July with his partner, and within weeks the reality of homeownership had already begun to settle in. Every few days brought a new realization: they needed a fridge, a vacuum, proper lighting. The costs accumulated quietly. But there was something else he wanted—something he'd been thinking about for months but deliberately held off buying. A Samsung Frame TV. So he decided to wait.

Hemberg's patience reflects a broader pattern in how Australians approach big purchases. Data shows that 45 per cent of the country delays buying major items until a sale arrives, a figure that climbs to 61 per cent among higher spenders. For someone freshly settled in a new home, the math is straightforward: wait for Afterpay Day in August, and the discounts—typically ranging from 20 to 70 per cent across homewares, furniture, and electronics—could save hundreds or even thousands of dollars.

At 31, Hemberg has already mapped out his strategy. He's been tracking prices across retailers, building a list of items he wants to buy when the sale begins on August 13. The Samsung Frame TV remains his priority. He likes the idea of it as more than just a screen—it's a canvas for rotating art displays, a way to fill wall space without buying more physical artwork. The teak wooden frame appeals to him too, fitting the aesthetic he and his partner are building in their new space. But the Frame TV is just the beginning. He's also eyeing a drinks bar cart, a floor lamp from Beacon Lighting, a cookware set from Myer, and a dog bed for his dog, Morty. Christmas shopping might happen then too.

What makes Hemberg's approach notable is how deliberate it is. He's not impulse buying during a sale; he's using the sale as a tool to afford things he's already decided he wants. "Buying a home was a huge milestone, and there are ongoing costs that continue to add up after you get the keys," he explains. The first month has been about necessities—the fridge, the vacuum, the things that make a house functional. Afterpay Day is his window to buy the things that make it feel like home.

Hemberg is also a longtime user of Afterpay, the buy-now-pay-later service that lets customers split purchases into instalments. He finds the app useful for tracking payments and staying aware of his spending, which he says keeps him from feeling stressed about the debt. It's a tool that fits neatly into his plan: he can spread the cost of these big-ticket items across several weeks, rather than paying everything upfront.

The August event, running from August 13 to 16, attracts more than a million shoppers across Australia and New Zealand. For Hemberg and others like him, it's not just about getting a discount—it's about timing a major life expense to align with a retail moment. His mates might be saving their Afterpay Day budgets for travel or concert tickets, but for him, right now, the priority is clear: a comfortable home, a good TV to relax in front of after a long day, and the peace of mind that comes from not rushing into purchases he hasn't thought through.