Budget-conscious Australians have shared how they are tackling rising household expenses with a series of simple but effective strategies.
Millions of Aussies are feeling the crunch when it comes to weekly spending as they grapple with rising inflation and a cost of living crisis.
Savvy shoppers were asked to share their ‘most boring’ money-saving habits that actually worked on Reddit this week.
One Aussie suggested shifting a ‘chore’ like cooking into an enjoyable hobby, which would save on dining out and deliver services such as UberEats.
‘If it’s a hobby, you don’t see it as a chore, and it adds value to the home. Less expenses for take out, cleaner, air tasker, gardener means more saving and investment and saving,’ they said.
One savvy saver suggested only taking a set amount of cash to do the weekly grocery shop, in order to adhere to a budget and avoid impulse spending.
‘I will walk in with say $20 and have to make that work. It removes so much of the impulse spending for me,’ they wrote.
Another urged Aussies to do their weekly shop online for the same reasons.
One thrifty hack was to only take a set amount of cash to the supermarket, which forced them to purchase items within their budget and helped avoid impulse spending (stock)
Millions of Aussies are feeling the crunch when it comes to weekly spending as they grapple with rising inflation and a cost of living crisis (pictured, city workers in Sydney)
‘I always find I spend at LEAST $50 less per week if I order online. But it’s boring because it takes away the fun of impulse buying,’ one person wrote.
‘There’s also online-only specials at Woolies and I think Coles do them too. So that’s extra specials on top of the in-store ones,’ a second said.
‘Being able to sit quietly with a cuppa and sort our shopping is far easier without the complete sensory overload and subsequent meltdown that happens every time I try to shop in store,’ a third agreed.
Taking lunch to work is another way Aussies are saving cash each week.
‘Make your own coffee and lunch and take it to work,’ one person wrote.
‘Tastes a lot better and will save thousands.’
Another suggested cutting out alcohol and coffee and only drinking water.
‘At home we only drink water (occasionally tea or coffee) and totally avoid all soft drinks, milk or juice which is a big saving and better for the environment!’ they said.
Aussies were told to do their weekly shop online and look for items on sale (stock)
Another money-savvy Aussie said they reviewed their subscriptions and canceled any they were not using by setting up a calendar alert.
Their hack included tracking the shows that you want to watch and waiting until a whole season had been released before renewing a subscription.
But, when you renew the subscription make sure to only do it for a month, and cancel before the period lapses.
Another suggested blocking access to a savings account for a period of time.
‘Move money into a savings account and don’t touch it, whether it’s $5, $10, $500. Time + consistency = $,’ they wrote.
