Are you paying too much upfront? Simple trick helps Aussie save $1,600
- Replies 32
Nothing ruins a good cuppa quite like opening the mailbox to find a whopping, outstanding bill staring back at you.
Those big, lumpy bills can throw even the most careful budgeters into a spin, whether it's council rates, electricity, water, or the phone.
But what if there was a way to make those nasty surprises a thing of the past?
That’s exactly what one clever Central Coast mum, Georgia Bulmer, has managed to do—and she’s been reaping the benefits for over a decade.
Georgia recently received a $1,629 rate notice, but instead of panicking, she shrugged it off.
Why? Because she’s been quietly chipping away at her bills every week, turning what could be a financial headache into a manageable routine.
Georgia and her husband James set up a simple system using BPAY to pay a small amount towards their bills every week.
For their rates, they send off $35 each week, and when the bill arrives, they’re often already in credit.
'You don’t even realise the $35 is gone,' Georgia says, 'but when I get a bill, I’m like, lucky we do that because we don’t really have $1,600 to spare to just spend on a big bill.'
Setting up regular BPAY payments is a breeze, just use the BPAY Biller code and your reference number from your bill, and your bank can automate the rest.
The Bulmers estimate their weekly payments based on previous bills, tweaking the amount if they know a bigger bill is coming (like those chilly winter electricity spikes).
This approach, often called 'bill smoothing,' is a lifesaver for many Aussies. Instead of scrambling to find hundreds or thousands of dollars at once, you’re spreading the cost out over the year.
It’s a bit like putting your bills on a diet—smaller, more frequent portions are much easier to digest!
Georgia says the peace of mind is priceless, especially with the cost of living rising and kids in the mix.
'It’s great, especially now that we have kids and everything’s so expensive, it’s nice to know that that’s covered,' she says.
Sally Tindall, data insights director at Canstar Blue, reckons this is a 'fantastic habit' to get into.
She warns that 'bill shock' can send your finances into a tailspin, leading to rushed decisions like reaching for the credit card or signing up for expensive lines of credit.
By smoothing your bills, you’re protecting yourself from those last-minute panics.
But there’s more than one way to skin a cat. Sally suggests another option: put your bill money into a savings or offset account.
That way, your money is working for you—reducing your mortgage interest or earning a bit of extra in savings—until the bill is due.
If you’re tempted to dip into those savings, consider using a separate account at a different bank, just to keep things out of easy reach.
Georgia’s not alone—plenty of other Aussies swear by this method.
One reader shared, 'So good when our rates are $3,000 a year.' Another said, 'We pay $30 a week for both power and water, and $50 towards our rates. It helps so much.'
Some even take it a step further, parking their weekly payments in an offset account and only paying the bill at the last minute to maximise their mortgage savings.
And don’t worry if you can’t cover the whole bill each week—even a little bit helps.
Georgia says, 'Even if you can’t do the full amount, just having half of it paid would be a massive help. You could just do whatever you could afford, even if it was $10 or $5 a week.'
Before you jump in, make sure your automatic payments are set up correctly and that there’s enough in your account to cover them.
Some banks charge fees or interest if you go into overdraft, so keep an eye on your balance.
If you’re worried, you can always transfer a set amount into a dedicated savings account each week and pay the bill manually when it’s due.
Some providers even offer formal bill-smoothing programs, so it’s worth checking with your electricity, water, or phone company to see what’s available.
And if you prefer, you can ask to switch from quarterly to monthly billing—sometimes smaller, more frequent bills are easier to manage and can help you spot changes in your usage before things get out of hand.
At the end of the day, the best bill is the one you barely notice. By breaking big bills into bite-sized chunks, you can avoid nasty surprises, keep your budget on track, and maybe even enjoy that cuppa in peace.
Have you tried bill smoothing or another clever way to manage your household expenses? Do you have a tip that’s helped you avoid bill shock? Share your stories and advice in the comments below.
Read more: We’re all trying to stay warm—but this cost one mum $1,200!
Those big, lumpy bills can throw even the most careful budgeters into a spin, whether it's council rates, electricity, water, or the phone.
But what if there was a way to make those nasty surprises a thing of the past?
That’s exactly what one clever Central Coast mum, Georgia Bulmer, has managed to do—and she’s been reaping the benefits for over a decade.
Georgia recently received a $1,629 rate notice, but instead of panicking, she shrugged it off.
Why? Because she’s been quietly chipping away at her bills every week, turning what could be a financial headache into a manageable routine.
Aussie mum shares simple BPAY habit that’s helped her dodge big bills for a decade. Credit: @georgiabulmer__ / Instagram
Georgia and her husband James set up a simple system using BPAY to pay a small amount towards their bills every week.
For their rates, they send off $35 each week, and when the bill arrives, they’re often already in credit.
'You don’t even realise the $35 is gone,' Georgia says, 'but when I get a bill, I’m like, lucky we do that because we don’t really have $1,600 to spare to just spend on a big bill.'
Setting up regular BPAY payments is a breeze, just use the BPAY Biller code and your reference number from your bill, and your bank can automate the rest.
The Bulmers estimate their weekly payments based on previous bills, tweaking the amount if they know a bigger bill is coming (like those chilly winter electricity spikes).
This approach, often called 'bill smoothing,' is a lifesaver for many Aussies. Instead of scrambling to find hundreds or thousands of dollars at once, you’re spreading the cost out over the year.
It’s a bit like putting your bills on a diet—smaller, more frequent portions are much easier to digest!
Georgia says the peace of mind is priceless, especially with the cost of living rising and kids in the mix.
'It’s great, especially now that we have kids and everything’s so expensive, it’s nice to know that that’s covered,' she says.
Sally Tindall, data insights director at Canstar Blue, reckons this is a 'fantastic habit' to get into.
She warns that 'bill shock' can send your finances into a tailspin, leading to rushed decisions like reaching for the credit card or signing up for expensive lines of credit.
By smoothing your bills, you’re protecting yourself from those last-minute panics.
But there’s more than one way to skin a cat. Sally suggests another option: put your bill money into a savings or offset account.
That way, your money is working for you—reducing your mortgage interest or earning a bit of extra in savings—until the bill is due.
If you’re tempted to dip into those savings, consider using a separate account at a different bank, just to keep things out of easy reach.
Georgia’s not alone—plenty of other Aussies swear by this method.
One reader shared, 'So good when our rates are $3,000 a year.' Another said, 'We pay $30 a week for both power and water, and $50 towards our rates. It helps so much.'
Some even take it a step further, parking their weekly payments in an offset account and only paying the bill at the last minute to maximise their mortgage savings.
And don’t worry if you can’t cover the whole bill each week—even a little bit helps.
Georgia says, 'Even if you can’t do the full amount, just having half of it paid would be a massive help. You could just do whatever you could afford, even if it was $10 or $5 a week.'
Before you jump in, make sure your automatic payments are set up correctly and that there’s enough in your account to cover them.
Some banks charge fees or interest if you go into overdraft, so keep an eye on your balance.
If you’re worried, you can always transfer a set amount into a dedicated savings account each week and pay the bill manually when it’s due.
Some providers even offer formal bill-smoothing programs, so it’s worth checking with your electricity, water, or phone company to see what’s available.
And if you prefer, you can ask to switch from quarterly to monthly billing—sometimes smaller, more frequent bills are easier to manage and can help you spot changes in your usage before things get out of hand.
Read more: We’re all trying to stay warm—but this cost one mum $1,200!
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