From everyday budget management to major projects: nearly two in three French people have recently used a financing solution
- 84% of French people have already used a financing solution, and nearly two in three (64%) have done so in the past two years.
- 61% of recent users believe that their most recent use of financing had a positive impact on their situation.
- 75% of French people would consider using a financing solution in the next two years if the need arose.
Croix, 12 October 2026 – As the economic environment is prompting households to manage their finances ever more carefully, Oney, a leading European provider of instalment payment and retail financing solutions, is unveiling the findings of its study conducted with IFOP.
For more than one in two users, financing helps them manage or protect their budget more effectively
The study shows that while financing can make major projects possible or help cover unexpected expenses (12%), it is primarily used as a way to stay in control of the household budget.
Among recent users, 56% say they used their most recent financing solution for reasons related to managing or protecting their budget. Nearly one-third (32%) wanted to spread the cost to avoid paying a large amount all at once, while 24% wanted to preserve their savings or maintain a financial safety buffer.
This desire to preserve savings is not limited to households facing the greatest financial pressure. It is cited more often by people who are able to save each month (29%) and by those whose household has a monthly income of at least €3,000 (29%). The figure rises to 43% among people with financial assets of between €30,000 and €50,000.
From everyday needs to major projects: a wide range of uses
Financing is used in a wide variety of situations. In their most recent use, 21% of users financed home equipment and 16% the purchase of a vehicle. Others used financing to cover an unexpected or urgent expense (12%) or everyday spending (11%). Travel and leisure also accounted for 8% of the most recently financed projects.
In this landscape, instalment payments are the financing solution most widely used by French consumers. For their most recent use, 43% chose interest-free instalments, ahead of instalments with fees (19%) and deferred payment or “buy now, pay later” (12%). Overall, instalment and deferred payment solutions account for 73% of the most recent uses.
From everyday expenses to larger projects, these results show uses that extend beyond one-off exceptional purchases. They also illustrate the role of solutions that allow costs to be spread over time: 55% of French people have used at least one instalment or deferred payment solution in the past two years.
An experience viewed positively by most users
61% of recent users believe that their most recent use of financing had an overall positive impact on their situation, while 34% reported no particular impact and only 5% attributed a negative impact to it.
Among those who report a positive outcome, the benefits cited closely reflect the reasons that led them to use financing. 60% highlight effects related to managing or protecting their budget: 30% say financing enabled them to preserve their savings, and the same proportion say it helped them spread their expenses more effectively over time.
Peace of mind and financial stability also stand out: 26% say their financing gave them greater peace of mind, while 23% say it helped them regain or maintain a more stable financial position. Finally, 24% believe it enabled them to complete a project or make a purchase sooner.
Expectations regarding how to apply also vary by profile and project. Websites rank first among preferred channels (51%), while in-store applications are close behind (47%), ahead of mobile apps (36%). Digital channels are favoured more by working people and higher socio-professional groups, particularly for instalment or deferred payment, while face-to-face channels are cited more often by people aged 65 and over and for projects such as purchasing a vehicle. These findings underline the importance of offering application journeys tailored to different uses and support needs.
Looking ahead, financing remains widely considered as a way to support future projects
This role in consumer habits is expected to continue: 75% of French people say they would consider using a financing solution in the next two years if the need arose, including 41% who say they definitely would.
Financing also has a place in French consumers’ future plans. Among those planning to equip their home in the next two years, 87% would consider financing at least part of their project using a financing solution. A similarly high proportion would do so for the purchase of a vehicle (85%) or home improvement work (84%), while the figure reaches 76% for travel and leisure.
Future motivations reflect current uses: 63% of people considering a financing solution cite reasons related to managing or protecting their budget, including 36% who want to spread a cost over time and 31% who want to preserve their savings or maintain a financial safety buffer.
« The results show that financing has a role to play in a wide range of situations, from an occasional need to a planned project. It is also used as a way to organise expenses over time and preserve savings. For Oney, this diversity of uses highlights the importance of offering simple, transparent solutions tailored to each situation, enabling everyone to remain in control of their budget.»
Julien Cailleau, deputy CEO of Oney
Methodology
The IFOP study for Oney was conducted among a sample of 1,000 French adults aged 18 and over. The sample was made representative using the quota method, with weighting by gender, age, occupation, UDA region and size of urban area. The survey was conducted online through the Dynata partner panel from 25 to 31 August 2026, using a 15-minute questionnaire.
About Oney
For more than 40 years, Oney has been a partner in the transformation of commerce, designing payment, financing, insurance and fraud prevention solutions, used by over 37,000 merchants. As a trusted everyday partner, Oney supports 8.6 million customers across Europe in their purchases and projects, while promoting more sustainable consumption. With more than 1,900 employees in 9 countries, Oney is driven by a shared ambition: to become a leading European player in consumer finance for commerce. Backed by its two shareholders, BPCE (50.1%) and ELO (formerly Auchan Holding, 49.9%), Oney combines strong banking expertise with deep retail knowledge.
For more information: www.oney.com | Follow all Oney news : LinkedIn
Press Contact
Oney – Agence Burson – oney.presse@bursonglobal.com