Best Money-Saving Tips

"Finding all the areas you can save in is so important, it frees up money and mind." - Miguel Nitorreda, Data Analyst

Do you feel that your daily costs have been on the rise recently? You're not alone.

Data collected in the first quarter of 2022 found that nearly nine in 10 (86%) of people surveyed had seen prices rise, and that anxiety about the cost of food and groceries was at its highest in seven years.

With more and more people feeling the pinch, we've drawn on the breadth of our expertise to bring you 30 tips on what to do, and what not to do, to get more bang for your buck on your everyday expenses.

How to save at the supermarket

With grocery prices going up, your regular shop is a great place to start saving. Don't shop on autopilot – pay attention and follow these tips to reduce your costs at the checkout.

1. Get better value by comparing unit prices

Unit prices break down the cost of a product into standard units of measurement, such as per 100 grams, and let you compare different products more easily. 

So look beyond the headline price of an item and see where you could be getting better value by comparing unit prices between different brands or different packet sizes.

2. Switch to supermarket-brand products

Our tests have found that supermarket homebrand products have improved in quality in recent years, occasionally even outdoing national brands in taste tests.

The even better news is that our latest basket survey found possible savings of up to 40% when shoppers switched to these products. 

3. Grab specials as they come up

Our supermarket surveys found very little price difference between the big retailers, meaning switching between them when each offers specials could go a long way in helping you save.

Keep track of discounts and special offers and be prepared to switch supermarkets to follow the bargains. You can browse catalogues or check online to see if what you're after is on special at a nearby outlet before deciding where to spend your money. 

4. Look for product refills

More retailers are now selling products that can be refilled, which means you can save money and reduce the amount of environmental waste you produce. 

Our research found that these products can deliver average savings of 32% compared with just buying another pre-filled dispenser.

5. Avoid pre-cut food items

We've found that some pre-cut fruit and vegetables can cost up to five times as much per kilo as the unprocessed originals, not to mention leaving you with more plastic to get rid of.

So save by buying whole items, sharpen up your knife skills and learn easy ways to chop up your own vegetables at home with our guides to quick vegie prep.

6. Try different cuts of meat

Looking closely at price tags, you'll see that some cuts of your favourite meats will be cheaper than others.

For instance, we've found that chicken drumsticks can be up to three times cheaper than breasts, and that osso bucco and beef chuck steak are good value options when slow cooked.

Ideally, factor into your plan smaller, midweek supermarket shops for fresh produce, as buying these in bulk once a week can lead to more waste.

7. Buy frozen instead of out-of-season

If you're planning on buying fruit or vegetables outside their usual growing seasons, it's often cheaper to settle for the frozen options.

Although fresh produce can be good value when in season, at other times some items can get very expensive and buying them frozen will save you money.

8. Plan meals ahead, and shop smaller and more often

Take stock of what's in your kitchen and plan a meal menu in advance to avoid buying (and then wasting) things you don't need.

Plan your meals and use what's in your kitchen to avoid waste.

How to save in the kitchen

Once you get home from the shops, there are even more ways to save around the kitchen by being mindful of food storage and making wise investments in cost-saving appliances.

9. Keep food in the right place

Get the most out of the food you've just spent money on by storing it the right way. 

Tomatoes will stay flavourful for longer, and bread will go stale less quickly, if you keep them out of the fridge. On the flipside, keeping eggs in the fridge generally means they'll keep better and last longer. 

10. Switch to reusable wraps or containers

If you're someone who automatically reaches for cling wrap every time you need to put something in the fridge, consider reusable wrapping or plastic containers.

Using these instead of pulling out yet another sheet of disposable cling film will save your wallet and the planet.

11. Serve or preserve your leftovers

Make your leftovers tomorrow's lunch or let your freezer do some saving for you by stacking it with portions of larger dishes.

Learn how food offcuts could be quickly turned around and transformed into kitchen staples like stock with our guide to transforming food waste.

12. Get money-saving gadgets

A food processor is one of the best kitchen tools for saving money. It will let you avoid those expensive pre-cut food items and extend the life of foods such as bread, which can be blitzed into breadcrumbs.

Similarly, our analysis has found that buying a coffee machine will save you money in the long run if you're a café aficionado and a juicer will do the same for juice-bar regulars.

Energy bills can often hoover up a lot of your precious household budget. Lessen 'bill shock' by being more mindful of how you use appliances and what you're being charged by your power provider. 

13. Get more out of your everyday appliances

There are lots of ways you can save while using household essentials such as washing machines and air conditioners. These include washing only full loads of clothes, and keeping filters on driers and air conditioners clear of debris (which means they don't have to work as hard).

14. Turn off power-sucking devices

The cost of keeping devices on standby, such as routers, printers and microwaves, can chip away at your bank account, sometimes to the tune of  hundreds of dollars a year.

Turn off devices completely by switching them off at the wall when you can, and pay attention to energy-efficiency labels to shave that bit extra off your power bill.

15. Renegotiate with your power provider – or find a new one

If you've already cut back on energy usage, but are still struggling to keep a lid on your power bills, consider renegotiating your plan with your provider – or finding a new one altogether.

How to save in the car

Concern over the cost of fuel reached a record high in our latest Consumer Pulse survey, with nearly nine in 10 (89%) of respondents saying that recent rises at the bowser had them worried.

High petrol prices may seem inevitable, but there are ways you can keep your motor running for less.

16. Compare browser prices on apps

Some state and territory governments and a variety of third-party compilers offer this service, which can show the lowest prices at service stations near you.

17. Plan your trips and don't speed

As well as potentially saving your life, driving slower can also save you money. Fuel consumption goes up dramatically once you start going over 90km/h, meaning you might have to stop off to refill your tank sooner than expected.

You can also save on fuel by not using your car for short trips. Cars use up to 20% more fuel when the engine is cold, so once you've started, try to do all your errands in one go.

18. Balance air conditioning and open windows

Turning on the air conditioning in your car can increase fuel consumption by up to 10%, so opening your windows could save some fuel costs when driving around town.

But if you're driving faster than 80km/h, an open window will cost you more due to aerodynamic drag, so air con might be better at higher speeds.

How to save on insurance

It's a 'grudge purchase' for many of us, but home, car and health insurance can be vital when we need it.

That doesn't mean it needs to be unbearably expensive and there are several ways you can get some peace of mind for less.

19. Find out if you actually need private health cover

Private health insurance is essential for some, but Australians have been giving it up in droves in recent years, and we recommend only stumping up for health insurance if you have to.

That said, taking out a policy can mean you won't have to pay as much tax as before, but this depends on your income.

20. Look for cheaper health cover

We've found that people with private health cover could save up to $935 a year on hospital cover by switching to a similar policy with a different insurer.

There are hundreds of dollars' difference among providers, meaning you could make big savings if you shop around.

21. Get no-claim and restricted driver discounts on car insurance

Some insurers will discount your premiums if you agree to restrict the use of your car to nominated drivers or those over a certain age.

Most insurers also offer a no-claims discount or safe-driver bonus, which could save you up to 70% if you go for a certain period of time without making a claim.

22. Get insurance to match the value of your car

If your car isn't worth much, save money by getting it insured under a cheaper policy. In fact, it may be worth just getting cheaper third-party cover, which only covers you for damage you cause to other cars.

Sticking with the same insurer year after year can lead to you paying more in premiums

23. Working from home? Let your insurer know

As an insurance customer, you're obliged to update your insurer about changes to your circumstances. And if you're no longer going in to the office and instead working from home, you're lowering the risk of your house being broken into. On this basis, we suggest you ask your insurer to reduce your home and contents insurance premium.  

24. Compare your policy and avoid the 'loyalty tax'

Sticking with the same insurer year after year can lead to you paying more in premiums. So don't get stung for your loyalty and compare what you're paying with online quotes for new customers before renewing your policy.

Things to avoid if you want to save

Sometimes it's the things you don't do that can save you the most.

25. Getting fooled by dodgy household goods

From fridges with poor temperature control to TVs with tinny sound, there are a raft of everyday household goods that aren't worth their price tag.

26. Taking out 'junk' basic health insurance policies

Taking out basic health cover just to reap potential tax benefits can seem tempting, but we've found these policies to be of poor value.

This is because they'll only cover you for emergencies (where you're likely to be taken to a public hospital anyway) and are only a few dollars cheaper than better-value policies.

27. Using wage advances and buy now, pay later (BNPL) schemes without secure finances

Services that let you get hold of part of your salary early are credit products, meaning you'll pay back more than you originally borrowed.

Instead of using these products to pay for an essential service, consider applying for the No Interest Loan Scheme

Instead of using these products to pay for an essential service, you could consider applying for the No Interest Loan Scheme (NILS). In the words of the government's Money Smart website, NILS gives people on low incomes "access to safe, fair and affordable credit. Loan amounts are up to $1500 for essential goods and services such as fridges, washing machines or car repairs".

Safety nets to help

If you find yourself being overwhelmed by bills, you're not alone. But there are free resources and services that may be able to help you. 

28. Talk to your provider if you're in trouble

If you're struggling to keep up with utility bills or insurance premiums, a good first step is to talk to the company billing you.

Many of these companies will have hardship policies for people doing it tough. Explain your situation and see if they can help you by setting up a payment plan or giving you an extension to pay.

If you're having trouble reaching an agreement with your retailer regarding energy or water bills, you can get support from your local ombudsman.

29. Speak to an independent financial counsellor for free

The National Debt Helpline offers free, confidential financial counselling to help people manage their debts and get their finances back under control. It's a nonprofit community service that's available to anyone in financial difficulty.

You can contact them via their website at ndh.org.au (where they also have resources for dealing with debts) or by calling 1800 007 007.

30. Explore your options for government assistance

State, territory and federal agencies offer various programs to help people on low or fixed incomes who are struggling to pay their bills.

Source: CHOICE

Kennedy, L. (2022, May 9). Top 30 money-saving tips. CHOICE. https://www.choice.com.au/money/budget/cost-of-living/articles/our-top-money-saving-tips