Aussies reveal the most unusual things they’ve seen people do to save money
- Replies 2
Australia is experiencing a record high inflation rate at 6.1%, the highest since 1990. The impact on everyday Aussies cannot be understated – the significant price hikes on food items, utilities, and petrol have made it difficult to budget, especially when coupled with exacerbated stagnant wages and a low pension rate.
With reduced purchasing power, people naturally tend to save cash or attempt to get the most value for their dollar. Many begin reducing spending by planning their groceries, looking for discounts, using energy-efficient appliances, and resorting to carpooling or riding bikes – all recommended by Moneysmart.
But some people have devised unusual, yet creative ways to become economical in trying times. One curious Redditor asked fellow Aussies about the most frugal things they’ve seen people do.
They began: ‘I purchased a handbag five years ago for $80. Now the leather is peeling and looks worn out, so I decided to use black paint from home and painted my bag black - it looks brand new. Why waste money buying a new bag when I can just paint it and it looks brand new? Do you know any tighta**** out there? What did they do to save money that shocked you?’
The post received a myriad of responses, from practical and clever to funny and downright dangerous.
A top comment said: ‘My trick is to REALLY get into researching products, all buys over $200 – copious amounts of online research, pros and cons. I end up getting so sick of what I’m researching, I don’t even end up buying it. Has saved me thousands!’
You can talk yourself out of buying, like delaying a purchase, waiting for a sale, or thinking of nagging debts. But decision paralysis is a thing – sometimes, items are so difficult to compare that consumers completely give up purchasing. It’s a problem for retailers but a success for those who need to tighten their belts. Big Think has tackled the psychology of the phenomenon if you’re curious.
Another Aussie shared: ‘I watched my aunty eat tuna that expired eight years ago because she didn’t want it to go to waste. There’s a reason that woman gets food poisoning a lot.’
According to Food Safety News, older Aussies generally have better food safety knowledge, but that might be ideal because seniors are also more susceptible to food poisoning. Ageing results in a decline in bodily functions: immune systems won’t be as robust and there is less stomach acid to fight off pathogens. Food poisoning in old age can result in severe symptoms and longer recovery times.
People typically stock up on canned goods because they have long shelf lives. According to Food Standards Australia New Zealand, it is safe to eat canned food even after best-before dates as long as they are kept in good condition – but they won’t taste as good. However, it is important to distinguish ‘use-by’ and ‘best-before’: do not consume food past its use-by date.
Ever thought shipping fees were steep? Other Aussies were willing to carry appliances and furniture to save. One Aussie shared: ‘My brother and I carried his newly purchased heavy flatscreen TV (30kg and bulky with the packing) from the Jbhifi warehouse in South Wharf to his place near RMIT uni on foot and via two trams just to save on $50 delivery fees. My body was so sore that I couldn’t move for 2-3 days.’
Another said: ‘My boyfriend and his mate carried a COUCH down Nepean Highway from Moorabbin to Mentone because they didn’t want to pay delivery.’ But they had a good – and obvious – way to prevent body aches and save energy: ‘They just put the couch down and sat on it whenever they got tired!’
Have dark clothes that are still in good condition but faded over time? Redditors recommend re-dyeing. A commenter shared: ‘I re-dye black jeans or black clothing that can start to fade a little after repeated washing. Give it a dye and it’s good as new.’
Wondering what product to use, though? One Aussie had the answer: ‘Rit Dye. It’s super easy. A couple of weeks ago, I dyed all my black jeans and other black cottons and they look brand new.’ They also shared a link for those interested in trying it:
The tip is practical as well as earth-friendly. A commenter shared: ‘I re-dye my clothes. More about lowering my impact on the environment than saving money. I don’t see the point in getting rid of clothes that can be fixed easily.’
Another Aussie pair discovered an unusual way to save money for a home, but it’s not for everyone: ‘We house-sat for about 5 years. Free rent in Sydney, looking after people's cats/dogs while they went off travelling. We moved to a different house every one or two months for five years, lived in some amazing houses around the water, some crappy ones, but mostly very nice.’
‘The result was that we saved up for our first house much more quickly (zero rent and zero bills gets you there pretty quick), but it seemed unusual when we told people about it when they asked where we lived. For us though, it seemed like a good financial decision (no inheritance coming) and we enjoy looking after animals, so it wasn't much of a chore.’
They were booked most of the time, but had a backup in case of free days: ‘For the times when we didn't have anywhere to stay, we'd either go on holiday and hire a cabin/hotel or just visit family for those days.’
Do you have unconventional tips to save? We’d love to hear through the comments!
With reduced purchasing power, people naturally tend to save cash or attempt to get the most value for their dollar. Many begin reducing spending by planning their groceries, looking for discounts, using energy-efficient appliances, and resorting to carpooling or riding bikes – all recommended by Moneysmart.
But some people have devised unusual, yet creative ways to become economical in trying times. One curious Redditor asked fellow Aussies about the most frugal things they’ve seen people do.
They began: ‘I purchased a handbag five years ago for $80. Now the leather is peeling and looks worn out, so I decided to use black paint from home and painted my bag black - it looks brand new. Why waste money buying a new bag when I can just paint it and it looks brand new? Do you know any tighta**** out there? What did they do to save money that shocked you?’
The post received a myriad of responses, from practical and clever to funny and downright dangerous.
A top comment said: ‘My trick is to REALLY get into researching products, all buys over $200 – copious amounts of online research, pros and cons. I end up getting so sick of what I’m researching, I don’t even end up buying it. Has saved me thousands!’
You can talk yourself out of buying, like delaying a purchase, waiting for a sale, or thinking of nagging debts. But decision paralysis is a thing – sometimes, items are so difficult to compare that consumers completely give up purchasing. It’s a problem for retailers but a success for those who need to tighten their belts. Big Think has tackled the psychology of the phenomenon if you’re curious.
Another Aussie shared: ‘I watched my aunty eat tuna that expired eight years ago because she didn’t want it to go to waste. There’s a reason that woman gets food poisoning a lot.’
According to Food Safety News, older Aussies generally have better food safety knowledge, but that might be ideal because seniors are also more susceptible to food poisoning. Ageing results in a decline in bodily functions: immune systems won’t be as robust and there is less stomach acid to fight off pathogens. Food poisoning in old age can result in severe symptoms and longer recovery times.
People typically stock up on canned goods because they have long shelf lives. According to Food Standards Australia New Zealand, it is safe to eat canned food even after best-before dates as long as they are kept in good condition – but they won’t taste as good. However, it is important to distinguish ‘use-by’ and ‘best-before’: do not consume food past its use-by date.
Ever thought shipping fees were steep? Other Aussies were willing to carry appliances and furniture to save. One Aussie shared: ‘My brother and I carried his newly purchased heavy flatscreen TV (30kg and bulky with the packing) from the Jbhifi warehouse in South Wharf to his place near RMIT uni on foot and via two trams just to save on $50 delivery fees. My body was so sore that I couldn’t move for 2-3 days.’
Another said: ‘My boyfriend and his mate carried a COUCH down Nepean Highway from Moorabbin to Mentone because they didn’t want to pay delivery.’ But they had a good – and obvious – way to prevent body aches and save energy: ‘They just put the couch down and sat on it whenever they got tired!’
Have dark clothes that are still in good condition but faded over time? Redditors recommend re-dyeing. A commenter shared: ‘I re-dye black jeans or black clothing that can start to fade a little after repeated washing. Give it a dye and it’s good as new.’
Wondering what product to use, though? One Aussie had the answer: ‘Rit Dye. It’s super easy. A couple of weeks ago, I dyed all my black jeans and other black cottons and they look brand new.’ They also shared a link for those interested in trying it:
The tip is practical as well as earth-friendly. A commenter shared: ‘I re-dye my clothes. More about lowering my impact on the environment than saving money. I don’t see the point in getting rid of clothes that can be fixed easily.’
Another Aussie pair discovered an unusual way to save money for a home, but it’s not for everyone: ‘We house-sat for about 5 years. Free rent in Sydney, looking after people's cats/dogs while they went off travelling. We moved to a different house every one or two months for five years, lived in some amazing houses around the water, some crappy ones, but mostly very nice.’
‘The result was that we saved up for our first house much more quickly (zero rent and zero bills gets you there pretty quick), but it seemed unusual when we told people about it when they asked where we lived. For us though, it seemed like a good financial decision (no inheritance coming) and we enjoy looking after animals, so it wasn't much of a chore.’
They were booked most of the time, but had a backup in case of free days: ‘For the times when we didn't have anywhere to stay, we'd either go on holiday and hire a cabin/hotel or just visit family for those days.’
Do you have unconventional tips to save? We’d love to hear through the comments!
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