Save money with these five astonishing tips that really work!
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As the cost of living continues to rise and inflation marks the prices of everyday goods ever higher, Australians, particularly those enjoying their golden years, are looking for savvy ways to tighten the purse strings without sacrificing the quality of life.
Never fear seasoned spendthrifts, because there are astonishing money-saving secrets designed to help you cut costs on everything from exercise to your monthly mortgage payments!
Inflation may have slowed down to 4.3 per cent recently, but let's not celebrate just yet.
The cost of goods is still rising, and it's more important than ever to be wise about where and how people spend their hard-earned money.
Luckily, Nicole Pedersen-McKinnon, from Yahoo! Finance, shares her top five money-saving strategies that have helped her cut costs across the board.
1. Exercise Smartly:
Exercise is not just crucial for physical health, but it also plays a significant role in managing stress levels and maintaining mental health.
Therefore, investing in your fitness can save you a lot of money in the long run. If you have a history of injuries or body niggles, consider a GP health management plan through Medicare.
Many people are unaware that exercise physiology, which is essential for rehabilitation or preventing recurrence, is covered under this plan.
You can get five one-on-one sessions with a university-qualified physiologist at a discounted rate of $58.30.
If you have private health insurance, you can claim $200 off your gym membership cost by getting your GP to sign a form stating that it's medically necessary.
‘Except my gym membership, in my savings zeal, is long gone. I’m pounding the pavement in our beautiful country instead,’ Pedersen-McKinnon said.
2. Shop Wisely:
When it comes to groceries, it's not just about where you shop, but also what you buy and how you buy it.
She found that buying in bulk from ALDI has significantly reduced her grocery bills. She purchased all her cheese and the majority of her meat from there.
For other grocery items, She found that Woolworths offers better prices than Coles. Dollar shops are her go-to for dishwasher tablets and cards—you can get a huge quantity for just $20, and she also only buys items on sale and has stopped being loyal to brands—’unless it's chocolate’!
3. Plan Your Bills:
While she generally doesn't recommend signing up for official instalment plans for bills, there is an exception when it comes to council rates. You can spread the bill across your monthly pay without paying any extra.
‘This is because council rates are actually paid in advance, not arrears, so you are simply giving your council the money as you incur the cost. Just check you won’t be forfeiting a pay-on-time discount,’ she said.
4. Swap Your Products:
She discovered that many premium beauty brands have affordable chemist versions that work just as well.
For instance, she replaced her high-priced SkinCeuticals products with offerings from La Roche-Posay and CeraVa (both manufactured by L’Oreal), saving her more than $81 at a time.
5. Refinance Your Mortgage:
The biggest secret to saving right now is refinancing your mortgage. Switching to the cheapest, quality loan today can save the average Aussie, who has a $610,000 home loan, $618 a month.
Imagine the impact of all these savings combined!
Remember, every dollar saved is a dollar earned. So, start implementing these tips today and watch your savings grow!
What are your favourite money-saving tips? Share them with us in the comments below.
Never fear seasoned spendthrifts, because there are astonishing money-saving secrets designed to help you cut costs on everything from exercise to your monthly mortgage payments!
Inflation may have slowed down to 4.3 per cent recently, but let's not celebrate just yet.
The cost of goods is still rising, and it's more important than ever to be wise about where and how people spend their hard-earned money.
Luckily, Nicole Pedersen-McKinnon, from Yahoo! Finance, shares her top five money-saving strategies that have helped her cut costs across the board.
1. Exercise Smartly:
Exercise is not just crucial for physical health, but it also plays a significant role in managing stress levels and maintaining mental health.
Therefore, investing in your fitness can save you a lot of money in the long run. If you have a history of injuries or body niggles, consider a GP health management plan through Medicare.
Many people are unaware that exercise physiology, which is essential for rehabilitation or preventing recurrence, is covered under this plan.
You can get five one-on-one sessions with a university-qualified physiologist at a discounted rate of $58.30.
If you have private health insurance, you can claim $200 off your gym membership cost by getting your GP to sign a form stating that it's medically necessary.
‘Except my gym membership, in my savings zeal, is long gone. I’m pounding the pavement in our beautiful country instead,’ Pedersen-McKinnon said.
2. Shop Wisely:
When it comes to groceries, it's not just about where you shop, but also what you buy and how you buy it.
She found that buying in bulk from ALDI has significantly reduced her grocery bills. She purchased all her cheese and the majority of her meat from there.
For other grocery items, She found that Woolworths offers better prices than Coles. Dollar shops are her go-to for dishwasher tablets and cards—you can get a huge quantity for just $20, and she also only buys items on sale and has stopped being loyal to brands—’unless it's chocolate’!
3. Plan Your Bills:
While she generally doesn't recommend signing up for official instalment plans for bills, there is an exception when it comes to council rates. You can spread the bill across your monthly pay without paying any extra.
‘This is because council rates are actually paid in advance, not arrears, so you are simply giving your council the money as you incur the cost. Just check you won’t be forfeiting a pay-on-time discount,’ she said.
4. Swap Your Products:
She discovered that many premium beauty brands have affordable chemist versions that work just as well.
For instance, she replaced her high-priced SkinCeuticals products with offerings from La Roche-Posay and CeraVa (both manufactured by L’Oreal), saving her more than $81 at a time.
5. Refinance Your Mortgage:
The biggest secret to saving right now is refinancing your mortgage. Switching to the cheapest, quality loan today can save the average Aussie, who has a $610,000 home loan, $618 a month.
Imagine the impact of all these savings combined!
Remember, every dollar saved is a dollar earned. So, start implementing these tips today and watch your savings grow!
Key Takeaways
- Inflation has slowed down to 4.3 per cent; however, costs of goods continue to rise and remain high.
- Yahoo! Finance contributor Nicole Pedersen-McKinnon offers five money-saving tips to help reduce household expenses.
- These tips include using a Medicare health management plan for exercise physiology and buying discounted items.
- She also suggests being smart about grocery shopping and product choices, as well as considering refinancing a mortgage for significant savings.
What are your favourite money-saving tips? Share them with us in the comments below.