Australian budgeters share the “less obvious” tricks they’ve been using to save money.
Many Australians are feeling the pressure due to the current cost of living crisis and rising inflation rates, so they have come up with handy “little-known” tricks to get the most out of their investment.
Some change utility providers 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 preparing more vegetarian meals to reduce the cost of meat. .
‘What are some ways to reduce costs that not everyone may know about? Please share all your ways to cut costs,” one woman asked on Reddit.
‘What are some of the clever ways that may not be so well known to everyone? What seems obvious but probably isn’t?
Many Australians are feeling the pressure due to the current cost of living crisis and rising inflation rates, so they have come up with handy “little-known” tricks to get the most out of their investment.
Hundreds of people were quick to reveal their secrets and one of them said to think of commercial retail stores as a “last resort” if you need to buy something.
‘Market, car boot sale, op shop, buy nothing, Lions Club, discount supermarket, farmers market, grow your own, recycled materials, swaps with friends/neighbours, etc.,’ they explained.
As the weather begins to cool before winter, it is recommended to opt for an electric blanket instead of a fan heater.
“Using one of those heated mats when it’s really cold costs a lot less energy than using a typical electric heater,” they said.
“I was going to say this too, I bought one from Aldi recently and it’s a game changer,” someone responded.
‘Put on a sweater or snuggle under a blanket before turning on the heat. If you have a fireplace, get free pellet firewood in industrial areas,” wrote a third.
One saver said he only turns to retail as a “last resort” and turns to thrift stores and car boot sales instead.
Another said they don’t use as much product when it comes to toiletries. They say they have started using a third of the amount of toothpaste they used before to make it last longer
One saver said she started using fewer products when it came to toiletries to make them stretch.
‘I’ve reduced the amount of toothpaste on my brush, the rule is the size of a pea, I was putting three times that amount. Also with all the toiletries I have calculated how much to do the work and nothing more,” they wrote.
‘I do it with my washing powder, dishwasher detergent and anything else I need to measure. In the long run I am saving a lot. I learn late.’
One savvy saver said he regularly compared prices between utility providers such as internet and electricity to find cheaper rates.
‘Tried and true. Compare all your bills, electricity, insurance, internet, telephone, 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 for better prices,” another added.
Many shared their tips for saving on food and groceries.
One savvy saver said he regularly compares prices between utility providers like internet and electricity to find cheaper rates.
‘If you look at what you spend the most on, it’s probably groceries. Buy meat at Aldi whenever possible – very good quality and $20 per kg steak! said one shopper.
‘Weigh your products. If the net content does not match the package, take a photo or video of the products being poured into a container as proof, upload it to your portal and wait for your $10 gift card. “I do this all the time,” a second shared.
‘Go vegetarian at least a few nights a week. Big difference from the grocery store,” a third responded.
‘Yesterday I made a potato and lentil dish in the crock pot. Super cheap. “I had forgotten how good and cheap lentils are,” said a fourth.
A home cook makes his own yogurt with a little milk, which is much cheaper than buying it at the supermarket.
‘Every time you buy yogurt, you can make more yogurt with the leftovers! Bring the milk to almost a boil, cool it and mix in the leftover yogurt and then leave it in a container wrapped in a towel overnight,” they explained.
Many shared their tips for saving on food and groceries: one preferred lentils to meat and another learned to make his own yogurt.
Some suggested ordering items like pasta, shampoo, and razors through Amazon’s subscription and savings offers.
‘Learn good prices on meats, vegetables and seasonal products. Don’t be rigid with the recipes. If eggplant costs $8 a kilo but zucchini costs $4, buy it. Maybe you could use a small lamb roast over the lamb chops and save a lot of money,” another quote responded.
‘Just get food from grocery stores and butcher shops and learn how to make your own bread dough, it will help you make bagels or pizza rolls very easily. Ditch the junk food and soda and make your own coffee at home,” chimed in a third.
Instead of paying money at Audible, one person said they get their books in “loan boxes” at their local library.
‘Cleaning products. Make them with baking soda, vinegar, and denture cleaner. Not together, of course,” recommended an Australian.
‘Don’t buy clothes you don’t need, wear what you have, even what you haven’t worn for decades. The same goes for shoes, you don’t need twenty pairs,’ said a second.