Budgeting Australians share the ‘less obvious’ tricks they’ve used to save money.
Many Aussies are feeling the pressure from the current cost of living crisis and rising inflation rates, and have come up with handy, ‘little-known’ hacks to get the most bang for their buck.
Some switch energy suppliers every few months to get cheaper deals, while others have started using the minimum amount of toothpaste to make it last longer and many have started making more vegetarian meals to reduce the cost of meat .
“What are some ways to cut costs that not everyone might know about? Please share all your ways to cut costs,” one woman asked on Reddit.
‘What are some smart ways that may not be known to everyone? What seems obvious, but probably isn’t?’
Many Aussies are feeling the pressure from the current cost of living crisis and rising inflation rates, and have come up with handy ‘little known’ hacks to get the most bang for their buck
Hundreds were quick to reveal their secrets with one saying: consider commercial stores a ‘last resort’ when you need to buy something.
“Marketplace, car boot sale, shop, buy nothing, Lions Club, discount supermarket, growers’ market, grow your own, recycled materials, swap with friends/neighbors etc,” they explained.
As the weather starts to cool in the run-up to winter, someone else recommends opting for a heated blanket over a fan heater.
“Using one of those heated rugs when it’s super cold is a lot cheaper in energy consumption than running a typical electric heater,” they said.
“I wanted to say this too, I recently got one from Aldi and it’s a game changer,” someone replied.
‘Put on a sweater or crawl under a blanket before turning on the heating. If you have an open fire, get free wood from pellets around industrial areas,” wrote a third.
One saver said he only uses retail as a ‘last resort’ and goes to second-hand shops and car boot sales instead
Another said they don’t use as many products when it comes to toiletries. They say they started using a third of the amount of toothpaste to last long
One money saver said they have started using less products when it comes to toiletries to help them stretch.
‘I reduced the amount of toothpaste on my brush, the rule is the size of a pea, I did three times as much. Also for all toiletries I have calculated how much I need to put and no more,” they wrote.
‘I do it with my washing powder, dish soap and anything else that needs to be measured. In the long run, I save a lot. I’m a late learner.’
One savvy saver said he regularly compares providers’ prices for utilities such as internet and electricity to find cheaper rates.
‘Tried and true. “Look around at all your bills, power, insurance, internet, phone, etc. I just got a quote for my car insurance for $650, which is half of what I’m currently paying,” they said.
“Switch NBN providers every six months to get better prices,” added another.
Many shared their tips for saving on food and groceries.
One savvy saver said he regularly compares providers’ prices for utilities such as internet and electricity to find cheaper rates
‘If you look at what you actually spend the most on, it’s probably groceries. Buy meat from Aldi whenever possible – really good quality and $20/kg for steak!’ said one customer.
‘Weigh your products. If the net contents do not match the package, take a photo/video of the products being poured into a bowl as proof, upload it to their portal and wait for your $10 gift card. I do this all the time, said a second.
‘Go vegetarian at least a few nights a week. Huge difference in the supermarket,” a third replied.
‘Yesterday I made a potato and lentil dish in the slow cooker. Super cheap. I forgot how good and cheap lentils are,” said a fourth.
One home cook makes his own yogurt with a little milk, which is much cheaper than buying it at the supermarket.
‘Every time you buy yoghurt, you can make more yoghurt from the leftovers! Bring the milk almost to the boil, let it cool, mix in the yogurt remains and leave it in a container wrapped in a towel overnight,” they explained.
Many shared their tips for saving on food and groceries, with one embracing lentils instead of meat and another learning to make their own yogurt.
Some suggested ordering items like pasta, shampoo and razors through Amazon’s subscribe and save deals.
‘Learn good prices for meat, vegetables and what’s in season. Don’t be rigid to recipes. If eggplant costs $8 per kilo, but zucchini costs $4, buy it. Maybe a small lamb roast can be used over lamb chops which will save you a lot,” replied another budgeter.
‘Only buy food from grocers and butchers and learn how to make your own bread dough, which makes it very easy to make pizza bagels or rolls. Give up the junk food and soda and make your own coffee at home,” said a third.
Instead of paying money on Audible, one person said he gets his books from “borrowing boxes” at the local library
‘Cleaning products. Make them from bicarb, vinegar and denture cleaner. Not together, of course,” one Australian advised.
‘Don’t buy clothes you don’t need, use what you have, even the things you haven’t worn in decades. Same goes for shoes, you don’t need 20 pairs,” said a second.