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Australians can save more than $13,000 by 2025 by adopting some simple strategies, even as the cost of living continues to rise.
CHOICE Editorial Director Mark Serrels has outlined eight practical and effective ways to achieve these savings, explaining that many require minimal effort or sacrifice.
‘Saving money doesn’t always have to be complicated. Sometimes it doesn’t even require big sacrifices!’ said Mr. Serrels.
“Something as simple as switching health insurance or being more selective with your energy provider can save you hundreds, sometimes thousands, of dollars.”
1. Turn off appliances at outlets.
Energy costs were one of the biggest concerns for Australian households in 2024, with 79 per cent of Australians worried about their rising electricity bills.
Choosing energy-efficient appliances, turning off lights you’re not using, and making sure your home is well insulated to reduce heating and cooling costs are well-known ways to manage your electricity spending, Serrals explained.
Wireless routers, printers, microwaves and televisions constantly use passive energy and, if unplugged from the outlet, can save a household up to $240 a year.
However, various electronic devices contribute enormous amounts to a home’s electricity bill when they are not technically in use.
Wireless routers, printers, microwaves and televisions constantly use passive energy and, if unplugged from the outlet, can save a household up to $240 a year.
“Turning them off at the outlet when not in use will ensure they don’t waste money,” Serrels explained.
2. Change health insurance provider
CHOICE has advised Australians to consider switching health insurance providers.
Although the two largest health funds, Medibank and Bupa, control more than 50 per cent of the market, it is often the smaller health funds where Australians can find the biggest savings.
“The same coverage with a different insurer can be hundreds of dollars cheaper,” says Jodi Bird, insurance expert at CHOICE.
“Whether you have a gold, silver or bronze policy, chances are you can find a cheaper deal that gives you exactly the same amount of coverage.”
CHOICE found Australians with gold policies could save up to $1,870 a year by switching to a cheaper policy, those with silver policies could save up to $1,170 a year and bronze policyholders could save up to $860 a year.
3. Find a new auto insurer
A Consumer Pulse survey conducted in March 2024 found that 79 percent of Australians were worried about the cost of car insurance, the highest percentage since the survey was introduced in 2015.
Across all states and territories, average premiums for the most expensive car insurance policies were more than double the cost of the cheapest options.
CHOICE experts found that the average premium of the cheapest policies that scored high enough to be recommended was still cheaper than the average of all other policies.
In the Australian Capital Territory, drivers could save $330 by switching to a more affordable policy. In the Northern Territory, the saving was $275, while in New South Wales it was also $275.
South Australian motorists could save $259, Victorians could save $244, Western Australian residents could save $136 and Tasmanians could save $93 by switching car insurers.

Australians could save almost $450 a year simply by switching to air drying and $77 a year by eliminating unnecessary fabric softener.
4. Check your home insurance
Another expensive household expense for Australians was home insurance, and three-quarters of Australians were worried about their bill, according to September’s Consumer Pulse Survey.
CHOICE recommended that looking for a cheaper alternative could save a household thousands.
For homes insured between $600,000 and $700,000, New South Wales residents could save a whopping $4,665, while those in the Northern Territory could save $3,250.
Victorians could see a saving of $2,575, while those in the Australian Capital Territory could save $2,265.
Meanwhile, households in Queensland, Tasmania, Western Australia and South Australia could save $1,870, $1,540, $1,230 and $1,010 respectively.
“Generally speaking, your premium decreases about 10 percent for every $500 increase in your excess,” said CHOICE insurance expert Daniel Graham.
‘Having a surplus of between $1,000 and $1,500 seems to be where the best savings can be had. We have found that the benefits of increasing the excess much beyond that are becoming less.’
5. Change your washing habits
“There are many opportunities to save on laundry,” said Matthew Steen, head of reviews and testing at CHOICE.
“Washing full loads in cold water instead of small loads in warm water, and switching to a higher-performance but cheaper detergent (and using less) will save you about $660 over the course of a year.”
Steen said Australians could save almost $450 a year simply by reducing their reliance on a tumble dryer and switching to air drying.
Australians can also save around $77 a year by eliminating the use of unnecessary fabric softener.

Australians could save a whopping $2,200 simply by making coffee at home
6. Prepare your coffee, tea or soft drinks at home
While your morning coffee, tea, or lunch soda only costs a few dollars, the cost of quenching your thirst can easily add up throughout the week.
CHOICE compared the cost of making coffee at home, which included purchasing a machine, parts, maintenance and ingredients, and found that it would be cheaper to make it at home than to buy it.
Two cups of coffee a day made at home would cost about $1,284 for an entire year, less than half – $3,504 – what it would cost to buy the same amount at a coffee shop.
That’s a savings of $2,200 just by brewing coffee at home. Similarly, you can save at least $420 by making sparkling water at home using a soda maker.
7. Change your energy supplier
One mistake most Australians make is signing up for an energy company’s cheap initial offer, but then sticking with the more expensive plan once the offer expires.
CHOICE experts explained that energy retailers love to attract Australians with a cheap tariff, knowing that the customer will likely stick with them as the price increases.
The exact amount of savings depends on several factors; However, the average Australian can save up to $350 by switching to a better energy plan.

CHOICE found that Australians saved between 20 and 40 per cent by splitting their purchases between different retailers instead of buying all their items at one supermarket.
8. Spread your weekly purchase
While purchasing all your items at the same store is time-saving and convenient, it ends up costing more at the checkout.
CHOICE revealed Australians saved between 20 and 40 per cent by splitting their stores between retailers such as Coles, Woolworths, Aldi and The Reject Shop.
“It certainly requires more time and effort, but we recommend distributing your weekly shopping in different supermarkets,” said Serrels.
‘We found we could save about $40 on a curated list of 19 items by choosing the best value product at one of the four stores.
‘We’ve found that you can save up to 20 per cent on your purchases if you plan a little more and take advantage of the special deals on offer.
“If you’re lucky enough to have Woolies, Coles and Aldi in a nearby shopping centre, it’s worth being strategic to save a few bucks.”
The average Australian household would save up to $1,861 on food a year simply by purchasing the cheapest option.