The cost of living is back on the agenda after turmoil in the Middle East put a rocket under fuel prices, pushing up costs everywhere from groceries and eating out, to travel and postal deliveries.

Farmers, airlines, restaurants and other businesses are passing extra charges onto customers to deal with spiralling overheads.

With the government warning the economic consequences of this far-flung conflict will be with us for some time yet, we’ve got five ways you can keep more of your money in your wallet.

• 1. Shop smart for fuel
• 2. Choose cheaper groceries
• 3. Know your travel rights
• 4. Check the sales and wait for EOFY
• 5. Avoid scams and get help

1. Shop smart for fuel

The spike in petrol and diesel prices has been one of the most immediate and obvious consequences of the recent international turmoil.

Bowser prices jumped soon after war broke out between Iran and the US in late February, rising by as much as 50 cents per litre in two weeks in some parts of Australia, according to the ACCC.

Prices have dropped (for petrol) or at least stabilised (for diesel) in most parts of the country since the federal government cut fuel taxes at the beginning of this month, but going rates can still vary widely between retailers.

So comparing prices before you fill up could save you a decent amount of money.

Luckily, this has become easier thanks to several states recently upgrading their fuel price comparison platforms to provide more information and make them easier to use.

How to compare fuel prices where you live

There are over 40 free fuel price apps and websites operating in Australia.

Each state and territory government runs a database of petrol prices that retailers are required to report to. Some share this information on their own apps and websites, while others make it available to third parties.

ACT: Most service stations are included on NSW’s , but third-party services are also available.

NSW: Has a government-run database and . Third-party services are also available.

Northern Territory: Has a government-run database and . Third-party services are also available.

Queensland: Has a government-run database. Data is provided to third-party apps and websites, including RACQ, PetrolSpy, MotorMouth and FuelRadar.

South Australia: Has a government-run database and a .

Tasmania: Has a government-run database and . Third-party services are also available.

Victoria: Has a government-run database and . Third-party services are also available.

Western Australia: Has a government-run database and . Third-party services are also available.

2. Choose cheaper groceries

The fuel crisis has already hit food, with the Australian Restaurant & Cafe Association recommending its members add a surcharge to cushion against rising transport and supply costs.

In bad news for those who grow what we eat, the Middle East crisis has also impacted fertiliser supplies. This has combined with high fuel costs to put an extra squeeze on the producers of our grocery staples.

The National Farmers’ Federation has been lobbying supermarkets to increase shelf prices and pass some of these extra earnings back to growers and producers, while a major dairy co-operative has announced it will lift prices for its milk from next month.

As these pressures flow through to what you pay at the checkout, it’s worth knowing prices for the same or very similar grocery products often vary widely between supermarkets.

����Vlog regularly compares prices at Coles, Woolworths, Aldi and IGA, and our latest grocery basket survey found a difference of over $25 for the same basket of goods.

Checking grocery prices at different retailers near you and planning and dividing your shop between outlets can help you save.

3. Know your travel rights

Travel, especially overseas, is a big investment, and disruptions to holiday plans can leave you significantly out of pocket.

And upfront costs are set to increase. Qantas and Virgin Australia have announced plans to hike fares and reduce the number of services they operate, after jet fuel prices more than doubled in less than two months.

Continuing tensions in the Middle East also raise the chances of a sudden escalation in conflict putting a stop to your jaunt, especially if you’re transiting through the region.

With the holiday stakes this high, it’s important to know what you’ll get back in costs if your travel plans are upended.

If you cancel a plane ticket yourself, you’ll be at the mercy of your airline and its terms and conditions. In short, you’ll be unlikely to get your money back.

But if your carrier steps in to cancel the service itself, you will usually be entitled to a refund or credit.

So if you’re unsure about an upcoming journey, wait and see what your airline does.

Travel insurance is a must when heading overseas, but keep in mind that we haven’t seen any policies that provide cover for claims resulting from war.

Your policy also won’t cover you if you travel to a country with an Australian government ‘Do Not Travel’ warning. See which nations meet this threshold on the government’s .

Check out our guide to travel insurance during war for more info, along with tips on getting your money back from accommodation and third-party booking sites.

When buying travel cover, see which policies offer the best value for money with our international travel insurance review, and take a look at our guides to the best insurance for popular destinations, including Japan, Bali, the UK and USA.

4. Check the sales and wait for EOFY

Got household appliances that need replacing?

Some of the latest TVs and phones from big brands are fresh into stores, meaning discounts on older models. Runout deals have also been spotted on laundry and cleaning gadgets.

These clearance sales are a good chance to grab a bargain on an older TV, washing machine or robot vacuum cleaner.

“With TVs especially, our expert testers say models change little year to year, so you’re unlikely to miss out on much by grabbing a slightly older release,” says ����Vlog TV expert Denis Gallagher.

Look at a TV’s model number to know which year it’s from. Our guide to buying a bargain TV explains how to spot models from 2025 or earlier.

If you don’t see something you like in the current sales, or your favoured buy is still at full price, put off an impulse purchase and wait for the end-of-financial-year (EOFY) sales.

The fiscal year may not end until 30 June, but last year we saw EOFY deals dropping as early as start of May.

Once they get underway, you can expect most major retailers and manufacturer brands to get in on the action, with discounts averaging 20–50%, and sometimes as high as 80%.

Such bargains might end up being well-timed – inflationary pressures across the economy resulting from the conflict in the Middle East could push up prices of all goods, including tech and appliances, in coming months.

When the sales begin, check our product reviews and rundowns of products to avoid to make sure you’re not being handed a dud.

5. Avoid scams

It’s worth remembering that stress can make us more vulnerable to scams, and dealing with rising prices and disrupted travel can certainly add to stress.

Scam losses ticked up for the first time in several years in 2025, according to the ACCC’s Targeting Scams report.

Mobile number fraud and cons targeting people buying and selling on online marketplaces are among the latest schemes consumers are being urged to watch out for.

Check out our investigations into SIM swap and phone porting and fake PayID schemes for tips on how to spot some of these scams.

And read our rundown of the five scams to watch out for this year for a heads-up on the other tactics you might encounter in coming months.

Where to get help

If you’re feeling overwhelmed by expenses or struggling to make ends meet, contact the National Debt Helpline (NDH) on 1800 007 007 for a free chat with a financial counsellor or visit the .

You might also be eligible for a No Interest Loan (NIL, worth up to $2000) to go towards the cost of essential goods and services.

NILs are provided by not-for-profit Good Shepherd, in partnership with local community organisations across Australia.

Visit the to find your local provider and check if you’re eligible.

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We’ve crunched the numbers from our lab tests, insurance comparisons and investigations to come up with some simple steps you can take to reduce your cost of living this year on everything from energy bills to grocery costs.

“Saving money doesn’t always have to be a grind,” says ����Vlog editorial director Mark Serrels.

“Sometimes it doesn’t even require huge amounts of sacrifice! Something as simple as switching your health insurance or being more selective about your energy provider can save you hundreds – sometimes thousands – of dollars.” 

On this page:

• 1. Turn off appliances at the power point
• 2. Switch your health insurance provider
• 3. Look for a new car insurer
• 4. Review your home insurance
• 5. Change the way you wash your clothes
• 6. Get smart with your beverages
• 7. Change your energy provider
• 8. Spread your weekly shop

1. Turn off appliances at the power point

Energy costs are one of the biggest concerns for Australians. In our June 2025 Consumer Pulse survey, 84% of Australians told us they’re concerned about their electricity costs. 

Choosing energy-efficient appliances, turning off lights you’re not using and making sure your home is well-insulated to reduce heating and cooling costs are well-known ways to manage your spending on electricity. 

But what about the energy being stealthily consumed by appliances in standby mode? 

“There are several appliances around your house that cost you money even when you think you’ve turned them off,” says Denis Gallagher, ����Vlog digital home product manager.

“Wireless routers and printers are particularly notorious for being the biggest energy hogs. 

“Turning your appliances off at the wall when they’re not in use will make sure you’re not wasting unnecessary power and money.”

Total possible savings: Up to $240 a year.

2. Switch your health insurance provider

If you’re among the 45% of Australians with hospital cover or the 55% with extras cover, chances are you’re paying more than you need to. 

Our experts independently compare the policies of 48 health funds (some commercial comparison sites compare as few as seven) and time and again we see significant savings on offer if you shop around. 

While the two biggest health funds – Medibank and Bupa – dominate with a combined market share of more than 52%, it’s often the smaller funds where we see savings. 

But while switching to a cheaper policy can save you some cash, our longstanding advice is to carefully consider whether or not you at all, especially extras. 

Our recent Consumer Pulse survey shows increasing worries about the price of private health insurance, with 81% of Australians expressing concern about this household cost in our June 2025 survey. 

If you do want to hang on to your health insurance, our experts calculate that if you switch your hospital insurance to a cheaper policy there are potentially significant savings. 

“The same cover with a different insurer can be hundreds of dollars cheaper,” says ����Vlog insurance expert Mark Blades.

“Whether you have a Gold, Silver or Bronze policy, it’s likely that you’ll be able to find a cheaper deal that will give you exactly the same amount of cover.”

Our experts found that: 

• People with Gold policies could save up to $2130 a year by moving to a cheaper Gold policy.
• People with Silver policies could save up to $1150 a year. 
• People with Bronze policies could save up to $840 a year.

Total possible savings: Up to $2130 a year.

3. Look for a new car insurer

Car insurance is another household cost causing concern for Australians. In June 2025, our Consumer Pulse survey found 77% of us were worried about the cost of car insurance. That’s an awful lot of people troubled by how much they’re being asked to pay.

The good news is our expert analysis found that, in all states, average premiums for the most expensive policy are more than double the average premiums for the cheapest, so there are savings to be found.

Our experts found that, in most states, you could save significantly if you switched from the most expensive to the cheapest policy, but, of course, some cheap policies won’t give you the coverage you need. The policies our ����Vlog experts recommend have superior cover, and they’re often cheaper than average policies.

Our experts found that when we looked at the average premium of the cheapest policies that scored high enough to be recommended, compared to the average of all other policies, there were savings to be had in every state.

• In ACT you could save $422
• In NSW you could save $317
• In NT you could save $567
• In Qld you could save $87
• In SA you could save $302
• In Tas you could save $204
• In Vic you could save $378
• In WA you could save $298 

Total possible savings: up to $567

4. Review your home insurance

Not surprisingly, this is another of those increasingly expensive household costs causing concern for Australians. Some 80% of those we surveyed in our June 2025 Consumer Pulse told us that they were concerned about the price of their home insurance premiums. 

As with the other types of insurance we’ve looked at, shopping around can save you thousands of dollars. 

Here are the potential savings you can make for insurance if you were to switch to one of the policies we recommend in our review:

• NSW: $160 
• NT: $1480 
• Qld: $1595 
• SA: $847
• Tas: $832
• Vic: $609
• WA: $309

The ACT is not included in this list because in our most recent 2025 comparison, the average price of our recommended policy in ACT was $59 higher than the market average. Because we take cover, as well as price, into account when making recommendations, we sometimes recommend policies that are not the absolute cheapest available.

If you’ve been with the same insurer for more than 24 months, ����Vlog insurance expert Daniel Graham advises calling your insurer to ask them if you can get a better deal.

“You should also get quotes from at least three other insurers to compare and find the best value – some will match or beat competitors’ premiums. And new customers often get a discount to sweeten the deal,” he says.

A good place to start is the ����Vlog home insurance review. We’ve compared more than 50 different home insurance policies from across the market to help you find the right cover for your building and contents.

Total possible savings: Up to $1595 a year.

5. Change the way you wash your clothes

Because we regularly test laundry detergents and washing machines in our laundry lab, we can accurately calculate how much you can save by tweaking the way you wash your clothes. 

“There are lots of opportunities to make savings in the way you do your laundry,” says ����Vlog head of reviews and testing Matthew Steen. 

“Washing full loads in cold water rather than small loads in warm, and switching to a top-performing but cheaper detergent – and using less of it – will save you about $700 over the course of a year.” 

“We found in our testing that this approach gets clothes just as clean but costs significantly less. Cutting out unnecessary fabric softener could further cut your costs by as much as $295. 

“And reducing your reliance on a dryer will add even more savings: we calculated you could save nearly $480 a year just by switching to line drying,” he says.

Our washing machine reviews can also help you save if you’re in the market for a new machine: we factor energy use into our ratings, so if we’ve scored it high enough to be recommended, it will be efficient to run.

Total possible savings: Up to $1473 a year.

6. Get smart with your beverages

If you’re a coffee lover, buying your drinks rather than making them yourself can end up costing you more than you might think. 

Sure, that mid-morning coffee might only be a few dollars, but if you’re buying one most days that will quickly add up. 

When we looked at the cost of making your coffee at home, including buying the machine itself, parts, maintenance and all the ingredients, we calculated it could set you back about $724.50 for one double-shot of coffee each day for a year. 

To buy the same coffee from a cafe each day for a year would end up costing you about $2007.50. 

This means you could save $1283 by making your coffee at home, a significant saving for most of us who are watching our budgets.

Total possible savings: Up to $1283 a year.

7. Change your energy provider

With concerns about gas and electricity prices on the rise for many Australians, finding the cheapest retailer is something that could really help you save. 

Unfortunately, many of us sign up to a plan based on a cheap initial offer, but when the deal ends we stay with the provider on the newer, more expensive plan. 

Energy retailers love to lure us in on cheap rates, knowing that we’ll probably stick with them even when the prices go up. 

to help make it easy for people wanting a better deal on their energy bills. Bill Hero guarantees it will find annualised savings on your first bill, and that you’ll save more than the price of your annual subscription. If it can’t, you can cancel immediately for a full refund. 

Exactly how much you’ll save will depend on a lot of factors, but Bill Hero says the average first-switch savings for its customers is $380. 

A Bill Hero annual subscription will cost you between $49 and $79, depending on whether you’re looking for a better deal on your electricity, gas or both. So all up you’ll be looking at savings of between $301 and $331.

Total approximate savings: $316.

8. Spread your weekly shop

Since June 2024, ����Vlog has been conducting quarterly grocery basket surveys to help consumers find savings on their weekly shop. 

Each quarter, we create a basket of between 15 and 20 items, including a range of fresh fruit and vegetables, meat, dairy, frozen and pantry items and compare the prices across the country at Aldi, Coles, IGA and Woolworths supermarkets. 

We frequently find that the difference between the most expensive basket of goods and the cheapest is significant. We also find that specials and discounts can make a big difference to the overall cost.

Our research emphasises a few key changes you can make to help save on your grocery costs, an expense that continues to worry Australians, according to our regular Consumer Pulse research, which in June 2025 revealed that 86% of us continue to be troubled by how much we need to spend on food and groceries. 

To save on your weekly shop, here are three things you can do:

1. Check the unit pricing: It can be hard to compare prices of different-sized products from different brands, but unit pricing lets you compare prices based on the price per unit e.g. 100g or 1L. All supermarkets are required by law to include this information in labelling, both online and instore.
2. Shop around: Switching between stores and shopping at different supermarkets to take advantage of specials can deliver significant savings. 
3. Change your routine: Swap expensive cuts of meat for cheaper alternatives; look at frozen fruit and veg, particularly if shopping for produce out of season; and give the ugly fruit and veg a go. Also, don’t be afraid to try home-brand products. Our expert testing often finds that these ranges outperform more expensive options at all the supermarkets. 

So how much can you save by switching from the most expensive to the cheapest option? 

When we compare the amount you save by choosing the cheapest basket of goods instead of the most expensive, we see that on average the difference is about 31%. If you were spending $240 a week on groceries – the estimated average Australian households spend – reducing what you spend by the average difference we see in our surveys would deliver savings of more than $3860 a year.

Total approximate savings: Up to $3860 a year.

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With the cost of living still biting as we head into 2026, many of us will likely feel those expenses more keenly than ever as the cost of exercise books, lunchboxes and shoes quickly adds up. 

����Vlog parents are an especially savvy bunch of consumers (or at least they like to think so!), so we asked them for their best back-to-school money-saving tips to help you ease the burden in the lead-up to term one. Here’s what they said…

How to save money on school lunches

Preparation, organisation and DIY: these are the three tenets that ����Vlog parents live by to manage the dreaded school lunch carousel. 

Shop smart

• If you’ve got the storage space, buy various school snacks, juice boxes etc in bulk. It’ll help to save money, give your kids variety, and you’ll avoid running out and having to pay for food from the canteen instead. – Rachel
• Unit pricing is your friend! Make sure you look at the price per item or per 100g, as well as the total cost. Forget about the bright sales tickets – they’re often more about what the supermarket wants to sell that week, rather than what’s best for your budget. – Alice
• Be a supermarket agnostic: shop around for the best price rather than always buying from the same supermarket. Check what’s on special each week, so you’re ready to snap up a bargain when you see it. – Liam 
• Consider switching to supermarket own-brand products – they often perform just as well as, or even better than, their brand-name counterparts and cost far less. – Alice

Cook and prep smart

• DIY snacks are usually cheaper than buying things in packets – and you have control over what goes into them. I make and freeze a batch of muffins every couple of weeks – you just put them in the lunch bag in the morning and they’ve defrosted by recess. Muesli slice, brownies, bliss balls and banana bread also freeze and defrost well. – Pru
• Buy quality fruit and veg that lasts longer, and learn how to store it properly. For instance, soak strawberries in diluted vinegar, then strain and pat dry and pop into a glass jar. I find they keep for two weeks. You can store other fruit and vegetables like this too. – Emily

• Freezing yoghurt portions with fresh berries when they’re in season (or frozen or stewed fruit in winter) is cheaper than buying yoghurt pouches. If you pop them in a lunchbox in the morning, they’ll be defrosted by recess. – Pru
• Re-think what constitutes lunchbox food. My kiddo is a grazer so I basically pack a tasting plate for her, filled with ingredients like olives, hommus and carrot sticks (Aldi’s gigantic tub of hommus is a great buy), edamame, cherry tomatoes, cheese and crackers and the like. Dinner leftovers are great, too – throw in bolognaise or black bean chilli with a fork and that’s lunch sorted. – Alice

Pack smart

• Buy well, buy once – I splashed out on a good-quality Yumbox bento-style lunchbox and, even after a few years of use, it’s still in good condition and hasn’t broken at all. Same situation for my daughter’s water bottle. She’s pretty good at not losing things so this is a good option for us. – Pru
• Ditch the single-use plastic to help your wallet and the environment. By buying reusable wraps and food pouches, you’re only spending once instead of buying a new roll of cling film every few weeks. And single-use yoghurt pouches are expensive and create lots of waste. – Alice
• Expect to re-home all the brightly-coloured primary school lunchboxes once the kids go to high school – they won’t be seen dead with them. We use metal lunchboxes and containers that we picked up cheaply at Aldi and they seem to pass muster. – Rachel
• In my experience, after Year 7 your kids will have a clearer idea of what they want for a school bag as these things are subject to trends, so don’t spend too much on a bag upfront if you might be replacing it later. You can also make a new bag a Christmas or birthday present. – Rachel
• My school has a set school bag that everyone needs to get which I find useful as it eliminates the choice as well as the expectation of a new bag every year. – Antoinette

How to save money on school uniforms

Shop secondhand and shop generic: these are two of the top tips from ����Vlog parents. 

• Keep an eye on local Pay It Forward or Waste Not Want Not Facebook groups for people giving away school and sports shoes with plenty of wear left in them. – Rachel
• It’s always a good idea to ask the school office if they sell secondhand uniforms at a discounted price. You can return the favour when your child grows out of them and pass them on to other kids. – Uta. 
• If your local Lowes sells your school’s uniforms, sign up for their emails as they have sales throughout the year. – Rachel
• Join your school’s Facebook group – people often give away or sell uniforms their kids have grown out of. – Emily
• Check the op shops in your local area, they’re often full of uniforms for the local schools. – Grace
• If you go to a school that isn’t strict about school uniform, you can pick up cheaper generic alternatives from places like Kmart, Big W, Next and so on. They’re great for things like polo shirts, sports shorts, tracksuit pants and the like. – Pru
• If you find a pair of school shoes they love and the store is offering a discount on a second pair, buy the next size up as well. There are often sales in January. You’ll thank yourself later in the year when their toes have broken through and there are no school shoes for sale in the stores. – Rachel
• Factory outlets are great for cheaper footwear. – Vincent
• Only buy what your child needs for the first term so you can spread uniform costs out over the year. And when it’s time to switch to winter uniforms, plenty of kids will have outgrown last year’s clothes so there’ll be lots of parents passing on bundles of uniforms. – Alice
• I buy an oversized uniform so it can be worn for a couple of years. I also buy versatile shoes that work for school, sport and for home. – Antoinette

How to save money on stationery

Who knew that paper and pencils could be so expensive? ����Vlog parent Rachel knows this all too well. Here are her tips for reducing your spend. 

• Every year my girls say they need new textas and pencils. They don’t – there are pencils and textas all over the house! We pull them together, test the textas and throw out the ones that don’t work, and put together a set from what’s left. Likewise, we sharpen all the pencils and there’s always plenty.
• In NSW, the Creative Kids vouchers (if you are eligible for them) can often be used at online art supply stores where you can order art supplies and stationery (including markers, pencils and textas). 
• We have plenty of half- or barely-used exercise books at the end of every year. Rip out used pages and reuse for the new year.
  

How to save on tech products

• There’s a lot to consider when buying tech products for your kid, including cost, value, ease of use and safety. Read all the requirements from your school and chat to other parents, your kids and their teachers so you understand what they need, and to make sure you’re not spending cash on something that’s too high spec. Plan ahead if you can: if your child is going into high school next year, start looking for deals in the Black Friday or Boxing Day sales. – Helen
• A number of manufacturers, including Apple and Dell, sell refurbished models at a discount. They may be slightly older but should still have specs suitable for schoolwork. Check all the info before buying, just to be sure. – ����Vlog tech expert, Pete
• You might be able to find a cheap, used laptop online, but be extra careful of private purchases and always inspect the goods carefully and try them out before you buy. Make sure it has been factory reset or you may find yourself with a laptop locked to the previous owner. You should also look up the make and model online to confirm its specifications match your needs. Avoid devices that are more than a few years old – performance probably won’t be up to scratch and they may not work with the latest software (which is required for school). Plus, older operating systems don’t receive regular, or any, security updates after a certain point. – Pete

How to get financial support for school expenses

Kids are expensive – it’s okay to ask for help! Some state governments offer support for back-to-school and other education costs. Check your state government’s website to find out about any payments, benefits or vouchers you may be entitled to.

• In NSW, parents, guardians and carers receiving Family Tax Benefit can apply for an for each eligible child.
• In SA, the assists low-income families with children attending government schools. The program can help with school fees, materials and services charges and can also provide access to a free device for children in year 7 or 10 if their school takes part in the department’s School Device Program.
• In Queensland, the provides an annual contribution of $100 for every primary school student to help with schooling essentials.
• Other states may also provide assistance schemes, so check your state’s Department of Education website to find out what’s available where you live.
• If you’re struggling financially, definitely let the school know. The P&C may have funds set aside to give you a discount for uniforms or excursions (or cover the cost entirely) so your child doesn’t have to miss out. 
• Depending on how far you live from the school (and available funding in your region), your child may be eligible for a free or subsidised travel pass. 

If you’re really struggling financially, you may be eligible for things like subsidised or discounted options for school costs. You can also access free, confidential financial counselling through the (1800 007 007). 

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While at first the value for money on some of these services feels like a no-brainer, the multiple automatic monthly fees and the instant purchases on our screens and devices can all add up. Especially when you add kids into the mix with their near-endless appetite for new media.��

Here are some ideas for cutting down on your annual home entertainment and media costs.

1. Become a member of your local library

It’s mind-boggling to think that there are people out there who read books but are not a member of their local library. To state the bleeding obvious… the books at the library are totally free!

If physical books aren’t your jam, libraries also have apps with enormous digital catalogues of e-books, audio books, magazines, comics and even movies, TV shows and music. And these apps are usually compatible with e-readers (although often not Kindles). If the library’s free apps won’t work on your e-reader, you can just download them onto your phone or tablet and read books there instead.��

Anyone with young kids is definitely missing a trick if they aren’t using the library’s resources. It’s a great place to get kids interested in books without worrying about the cost.

And if you’re considering buying an expensive Yoto player or Toniebox (a fancy gadget that plays audio stories, with each book sold separately), I urge you to simply try the library app – which has an enormous selection of children’s audiobooks – and couple it with a simple, cheap bluetooth speaker.

2. Buy old-school physical media

If you’re of the opinion that they stopped making good music and movies more than a decade ago (which, let’s face it, is an idea with some merit), then you might consider returning yourself to the era of physical media.��

You can pick up old CD players and DVD players at second-hand shops extremely cheaply nowadays, and op shops sometimes even give away DVDs and CDs for free. Take a break from your streaming services and try going old-school for a while – you might find you’re not missing much.��

This is a particularly good idea if you have young kids in the home. You can collect your favourite animated films, soundtracks and albums from your youth and let your kids take control of loading and playing them all by themselves without needing to navigate online streaming services.��

Shop around for your streaming services

If going totally old-school with your music and movies isn’t your thing, it certainly pays to be a little discerning about the streaming services you’re paying for. Unless you have a heck of a lot of free time, there’s probably only so many shows and movies you can watch in a month.

Choose the streaming service with the most content you want to watch that month and subscribe to it, then instantly unsubscribe to prevent being automatically debited again the next month (if it’s a monthly subscription, even if you click unsubscribe straight away you still get access for the full month that you’ve paid for).��

When the month is up, shop around for the service with the shows you want to watch next month. This prevents you from paying for multiple services each month.��

It’s easy to get into the habit of just setting and forgetting multiple auto-renewals, but it’s actually not very hard to cancel and recommence subscriptions. A simple change of mindset to “which streaming service should I pay for this month?” can save you plenty over the year – and possibly encourage more mindful media consumption, too.

Also, don’t forget the catch-up and streaming services offered by the free-to-air channels like SBS OnDemand, ABC iView, 7Plus and 9Now. If the show you’re bingeing happens to be on one of these, you can skip the paid subscriptions altogether for a month. And as well as TV shows and series, they often have an extensive catalogue of movies, documentaries and kids’ content you can access for free.

Go offline for gaming

If you’re an adult gamer, I’m sure I’m not going to change your mind about how you game. But if you’re the parent of kids who are begging for their own gaming console, consider choosing an offline option.��

Rather than splashing out on the latest and greatest models, you could absolutely buy a second-hand console on Facebook Marketplace and save a lot of money.

Plus, if you choose an older model (like a PS3 or an old Nintendo 3DS) you can pick up 20–30 old games for cheap and avoid the ongoing cost of online subscriptions and games (and bonus, you don’t have to worry about navigating the minefield of keeping kids safe when gaming online).��

If you do decide to go with newer tech (like a PS5) don’t buy the discless version, because hard copies of games from gaming stores like EB Games or JB Hi-Fi are much cheaper than the digital versions (and you can’t trade digital in or sell them on when you’re done with them).

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Online shopping definitely has its place and, if done correctly, can often be financially savvy. But here are some tips to make sure you’re keeping your spending in check.

1. Always, always sleep on it

This is my golden rule when it comes to online shopping. It’s easy to see an ad, or be influenced by something you’ve read or heard and head straight to an online store. But something I’ll never do is make a purchase on the same day that the idea occurs to me. Even if it’s something I’ve already identified a need for, I still add it to my cart and leave it there for at least a day or two before committing.��

Why? It’s not just because the novelty might wear off. The extra cooling-off time allows for alternative ideas to pop up – maybe I can borrow the item off a friend, maybe I can find it second-hand, or maybe I can actually do without it, after all.

Maybe I’ll even find it cheaper somewhere else, or stumble across a discount code. In fact, an abandoned cart often triggers retailers to send you a discount code to help get you across the line. So, even if you’re sure you’re going to make the purchase, it’s still worth letting the cart mellow for a day or two.

2. Shop second-hand first

If the item you’re buying is fairly basic or generic and you’re ordering from a massive retailer like Kmart, Temu or Amazon, consider if it’s something you might be able to find at an op shop. Your local op shop likely has you covered for things like basic kitchenware, homewares, towels or sheets, dress-ups and plain clothing (my son’s school loves having different-coloured-shirt days that seem to necessitate the constant purchasing of specifically coloured clothing).

If you’re in the market for something more specific, do a quick search on Facebook Marketplace or your local buy, swap and sell groups. I’ve had great success buying specific children’s books, toys and home furniture from Facebook Marketplace.

Depop is a great option for clothes and shoes. You can often find the exact item you were looking to buy new for a much lower price.

3. See if you can buy it instore 

The convenience of online shopping is great, but those shipping minimums get me every time. It’s all well and good to go into a purchase thinking you’re only going to buy the one item, but what if you then have to pay $12 for shipping? It becomes pretty tempting to spend just $20 more for free shipping. But shipping minimums and postage costs don’t need to be factored in if you buy something in person.

Plus, you get a chance to hold the item in your hands (or try it on if you’re shopping for clothes) and make sure it’s actually exactly what you want before you commit.��

And if you do have the option to buy the item from a bricks and mortar store nearby but you really can’t be bothered to do so, it’s worth asking yourself how necessary the purchase really is.��

4. Never check-out without a discount

If you’ve slept on it, ruled out shopping in person and haven’t been able to find it second-hand, it’s probably time to click “proceed to check-out”. But, wait… pretty much every online store will have a discount code floating around on the internet somewhere. You can try googling the brand name + “discount code” and trying a few out (I always give WELCOME10 a go right off the bat and it’s surprising how often it works).��

If nothing comes up, I take the search one step further by entering the brand name into the Instagram search bar. A quick look through the posts will very often uncover an influencer spruiking the product with their own personalised discount code.��

And, as mentioned above, try adding some items to your cart then closing the window and waiting a day or two for the slightly desperate “did you forget something?” email from the retailer along with a handy little discount code.��

5. Think twice about Temu

I may be cheap, but personally I refuse to shop at Temu. It’s not just that I have concerns about the sustainability and ethics of the business model, it’s also the fact that I don’t think the platform is compatible with mindful consumption. The app is set up with high-pressure tactics specifically designed to encourage impulse buying and overconsumption of cheap, low-quality products that are destined to see out the vast majority of their days in landfill.

Plus, with the number of times you hear about people buying something and then finding that what arrives is totally different to the product advertised, I’m not even convinced it’s cheaper to shop there in the long run. I’ll stick to shopping at Kmart, Big W or Target.��At least I know I’ll be able to invoke my consumer rights if the product is not as advertised, faulty or unsafe – ����Vlog recently found a number of dangerous toys being sold at Temu.

When possible, I still prefer to visit a physical store and make sure the item is fit for purpose before I buy.

The post How to save money shopping online appeared first on ����Vlog.

On this page:

• 1. Stick to the basics (don't be swayed by fancy features)
• 2. Compare prices with older models
• 3. Do your research and consider alternative brands
• 4. Always ask for discounts
• 5. Don't forget to account for delivery and/or installation costs
• 6. Buy an energy and/or water efficient model
• 7. Don't pay for extended warranties that offer you little value

1. Stick to the basics (don’t be swayed by fancy features)

From smart ovens and air fryers with Bluetooth connectivity to auto-dosing washing machines or Bluetooth-speaker-equipped fridges – no matter what kind of appliance you’re buying, you’ll likely be presented with an array of models with fancy features that are undoubtedly adding extra dollars to the price tag.

Paying more for high-tech features is only worth it if you’re actually going to use them, or if they genuinely affect the performance of the product. If you’re trying to save money, it’s best to stick to the basics.��Decide on the features that are your ‘must haves’ and the ones that are nice but possibly not worth paying more for.

����Vlog head of research and testing Matthew Steen recommends buying the base model if you’re trying to save money on a new appliance. “Often washers, dishwashers and dryers have ‘families’ of models and they can all be essentially the same, with some models having additional features, programs or colours that are given different model numbers.”

“Buying the base model gets you the product that matters. You may lose out on some features but you’ll still likely get the same quality of performance and lifetime as the fancy expensive version of the same model,” he says.

2. Compare prices with older models

Similarly, you don’t always need the latest and greatest model of fridge, vacuum cleaner or washing machine. Often, previous models that have been superseded by the latest version will be available at a discounted price – and they may be almost identical, give or take a few features or upgrades.

This can be especially true with electronics such as TVs and appliances such as premium stick vacuum cleaners.

Buying a TV in the EOFY sales

“The end-of-financial-year sales can be a great time to update that 10-year-old plasma TV that is eating up half of your electricity bill, or your old LCD TV that isn’t quite as smart as you’d like,” says ����Vlog tech expert Denis Gallagher.

“Although we usually say you can pick up a cheaper deal by buying last year’s models, we strongly recommend looking closely at the prices of 2024 TV models to make sure they are actually cheaper than the brand-new 2025 models,” he says.

“When shopping online or visiting a store, make sure you’re armed with the right information on model numbers, so you can quickly recognise the difference between a great buy and a good price for ageing stock.“

Denis recommends looking closely at the model numbers and ‘product codes’ – read more of his tips: How to buy a bargain TV.

“Also, consumers haven’t latched onto 8K as much as manufacturers had hoped. New, expensive, 8K TVs are often on sale not long after release so keep an eye out if you’re after the latest, top of the line tech,” he says.��

Buying a stick vacuum in the EOFY sales

Stick vacuums are another product where you can nab deals on older models that still perform well.

LG and Dyson are known for continuing to sell models that were flagship products a few years ago, but are now part of their entry-level line-up, often with hefty discounts on the original sale price. Although shopping online or instore from retailers that stock different stick vacuum brands is a good way to compare prices, brands such as Dyson usually offers EOFY deals if you purchase directly from their website.��

����Vlog expert Adrian Lini says: “The newer Dyson stick vacuums have some upgraded features, such as a head attachment specifically designed for hard floors and unique particle detection technology.

“However, if you have mostly carpets, many of the older and cheaper models are still a good buy and are often on sale.”

And, as we always say, don’t buy on brand alone. Different products from the same brand often perform vastly differently in our testing, and when it comes to stick vacuums, you could cast your net a little wider to find a good deal: stick vacuums from brands such as Samsung, Shark, LG, Electrolux and Bosch also perform well in our expert testing so check out ����Vlog stick vacuum reviews before buying.

Things to watch out for

If you’re opting for an older model of any product, it still pays to do your research, and it’s a great idea to check ����Vlog reviews before you buy. Selecting ‘discontinued models’ on the bottom left filter of our product finders will show you how a range of superseded and discontinued models performed.

Even if you’re buying the latest and greatest model, you might want to check how it performs compared to the old one it’s replacing.

And be aware, a slightly older model can often mean better discounts, but it may mean that the appliance you are buying may have limited ongoing support for spare parts (for a vacuum for example) which could affect the lifetime of the appliance.

3. Do your research and consider alternative brands

We say it all the time, but the most expensive products aren’t always the best, and sometimes while reviewing different appliances in the ����Vlog labs, we find that cheaper products can perform just as well as – or even better than – the pricier big brands.

This is often the case when we test kitchen appliances such as air fryers, food processors, stand mixers and blenders.

“In our recent review of stand mixers, where we score models based on their performance and how easy they are to use, a stand mixer from Breville that costs $399 outperformed a $1099 Kitchenaid Mixer,” says ����Vlog kitchen expert Fiona Mair.

“Checking ����Vlog reviews before you buy may reveal a cheaper brand that performs well that you may not have considered before.”

����Vlog tech expert Peter Zaluzny says this is also important to remember when buying tech products.

“Generally, you get what you pay for with laptops as far as performance goes. But our tester Elias has found a few gems that outperform their price point so it’s worth checking our scores and price findings.”

“Also look at models that fall just below a recommendation. You might not need a powerhouse PC and there are plenty of mid-range models that can handle most day-to-day tasks.”

Peter also says that it’s worth getting your head around computer basics, to avoid the marketing fluff.

“Our buying guide covers everything you need to know so you can make an informed choice. That way, salespeople can’t take advantage.

“Don’t be swayed by buzzwords such as ‘8K’ or ‘gaming’ littered through promotional material. Understand these terms to use them, rather than be confused by them. Otherwise you may wind up with a laptop you don’t need.��

“For example, there’s more to a TV’s picture quality than the number of pixels on screen. This is why we conduct viewing panels to find the best video picture quality as part of our ����Vlog testing.”

Once you’ve done your research and know the list of brands and products you’re interested in, head online and visit a range of retailers to compare prices.

4. Always ask for discounts

While shopping online gives you the advantage of easily comparing prices with a few clicks, it does make it trickier to ask for discounts. Some retailers offer online price matching, however, it may be worth heading instore (armed with all your online research of course) to directly ask a salesperson for their best price.

Whether or not this is effective will depend on what kind of appliance you are shopping for, and even the time of year. A salesperson will likely be more keen to move old stock around the end of the financial year, for example, or if new models are about to be released. But it never hurts to ask.

This is especially true if you’re buying a mattress.

“����Vlog has been buying mattresses for years for our tests and we’ve found many retailers have a lot of room to move when it comes to price,” ����Vlog expert Peter Zaluzny explains.

“Though online only mattress-in-a-box brands don’t give you any grounds to negotiate, sales are pretty frequent. There’s really no reason to pay the recommended retail price for a mattress instore or online.”

“If you’re confident and have done your research, you can usually shave a decent amount off the price tag by haggling. Just ask ‘what’s the best price you can do?’ and go from there.”

Discounts when shopping online

But what about shopping online? You may be able to pick up a discount by doing a quick search for promo codes. Many retailers offer discounts and promo codes for their newsletter subscribers, to certain automotive club or health fund members, or tied to a sale or special occasion, and there are a number of sites and apps that will share them with you.��

It can be a bit hit and miss, but an online search costs you nothing, and you can often net yourself a sizeable saving for a few minutes of your time.

5. Don’t forget to account for delivery and/or installation costs

Before you buy anything, ensure you’re clear on what comes with the product and if anything extra is needed for installation once it is delivered.

����Vlog product researcher Christine Shaday has ordered and researched many products in her time at ����Vlog and her advice is: “Always try to get free delivery and installation on new appliances, and get them to take away the old appliance.”

This will save you spending any extra money or time disposing of your old appliance. This is particularly important for large appliances such as fridges, which you’ll struggle to fit in a car, or even carry on your own.

6. Buy an energy and/or water efficient model

It’s no use picking up a cheaper fridge, washing machine or dryer if it’s an energy or water guzzler that’s going to cost you more over its lifetime in energy bills.

“Your fridge is responsible for around 8% of your total household energy consumption so opting for an efficient fridge will translate to big savings in the long run,” says ����Vlog expert, Denis Gallagher.

If you are buying a medium-sized fridge (for example, 381–450L), we’ve calculated running costs for various models and found that the difference from one model to the next can run into the hundreds of dollars over a 10-year period.

The same goes for washing machines. Some of the top-loaders that scored the lowest in our washing machine reviews are not only water-wasting culprits, they also have some of the highest energy costs, which means that even if you pick up a cheap deal at the checkout, it’ll likely cost you later.

7. Don’t pay for extended warranties that offer you little value

When buying a new appliance, either instore or online, it’s common to be ‘upsold’ an extended warranty that is framed as extra protection for you in case your product fails.��

But stop before you drop that cash, as these extended warranties are often no more than a sneaky sales tactic. Ask the salesperson, or read the fine print, and find out what guarantees it gives you above and beyond what you are already entitled to under Australian Consumer Law.��

Otherwise, you’re paying for rights you already have – in some cases, these warranties actually offer fewer rights than your consumer guarantees.

For example, if you buy a $2000 TV, the salesperson may try to sell you an extended warranty that guarantees you a free repair if your TV becomes faulty within a specified time period, such as three to five years after you bought it.

But under existing consumer law, you’re already entitled to a free repair, replacement or refund – the choice should be yours – if your TV develops a major fault within the first few years after purchase. Find out more about what happened when we investigated the sale of extended warranties at some of Australia’s largest retailers.��

The post How to shop smart and save money on new appliances in the EOFY sales appeared first on ����Vlog.

Of course, budget cooking doesn’t have to mean cheese on toast for dinner every night (although we do love a cheese toastie). ����Vlog kitchen expert Fiona Mair shares her top tips for whipping up meals that’ll last longer and cost less.

1. Load up on legumes

Don’t worry, we’re not talking about eating endless cans of baked beans. Legumes such as lentils, kidney beans, chickpeas and cannellini beans are cheap and nutritious sources of protein that can replace pricier meat in dishes, or be added to make meat meals go further.��

Fiona recommends adding legumes (tinned, or dried and soaked) to bolognaise, stews, sausage casseroles, soups and pies to get more meal for your money. You can even make an extra batch for the freezer, too.��

“Equal parts meat and legumes is a good rule of thumb when substituting, although soups and stews can handle more,” she says. Not only are they nutritious and filled with fibre, but legumes are also much cheaper than meat and could help you slash serious cash off your grocery bill.��

For example, instead of buying 1kg of Woolworths Beef Mince at $13/kg and using the whole thing for your bolognaise or lasagne, use just half (cost $6.50) and add a couple of cans of Woolworths lentils at 80c each (or $1.90/kg) to save almost $5 on the cost of that dish.

Freeze the remaining 500g mince or use it to make meatballs the following night (stretching those out by adding puréed cannellini beans or chickpeas, breadcrumbs, egg, garlic and spices, and serving with a sauce or in tortilla wraps).��

Legumes shine in the slow cooker, too, as they benefit from cooking over a low heat for long periods of time, particularly if you’ve added spices and flavourings such as garlic, ginger and onion to make things such as a curry, dahl or bean dip.

2. Embrace frozen and tinned fruit and veg

While often viewed as a second-rate alternative to fresh produce, there’s absolutely nothing wrong with embracing frozen or tinned vegetables in your cooking. Not only do they last much longer, but they also retain nutrition well and cost significantly less than fresh alternatives.

The flavour and texture may not be quite the same and you need to watch out for extra additives such as salt in canned varieties, but it’s still a cheap and tasty alternative if you’re clever with how you use them. So how can you give them a makeover?

Vegies

“Purée frozen peas with ingredients such as parmesan cheese to accompany pies and roasted meats,” says Fiona. “Boost fritters, quiche and pies with thawed frozen vegies. Add frozen edamame to salads or blend for a broad bean pasta sauce.”

Berries

Fresh berries can become very expensive in Australian winters and often spoil quickly. Try frozen berries instead – they can be kept on hand to add to smoothies, juices and sweet sauces, at a fraction of the price of fresh (when berries aren’t plentiful).

Corn

If your children love fresh corn but you wince at paying up to $2.50 per fresh cob, try the occasional substitute with canned corn spears or frozen corn kernels. Frozen kernels or tinned creamed corn is an excellent addition to make chicken soup go further, as well.

3. Make regular meat-free days

The easiest way to reduce your spend on meat is simply to buy less. If you’re worried about whether or not your family will embrace one or two (or more!) vegetarian nights a week, start with more substantial, sustaining vegetarian meals that are guaranteed to not only celebrate cheaper seasonal fresh produce but also to fill them up, too.��

Try a creamy mushroom pasta, ricotta lasagne layered with eggplant, zucchini and mozzarella, or eggplant schnitzels (prepared in the same way you would a chicken schnitzel) served with a side of mashed potato or fries.��

4. Buy in bulk and try preserving

Buying produce in bulk will generally cost less than buying smaller amounts (check unit prices to make sure), so get into batch cooking and make large quantities of a meal. Eat some now, divvy up leftovers and freeze for later.

Make sure nothing goes to waste by storing meals correctly. Fiona says, “You can also preserve, pickle and dehydrate cheap seasonal foods for later. Chargrill discounted zucchini, eggplant or capsicum, and bottle them in olive oil to be used on sandwiches, salads or a vegie lasagna. The infused oil can then be used for other cooking.” 

5. Do your own prep and make things from scratch

Pre-cut meat and vegies are convenient, and for people with mobility issues they can be a necessity. But if you’re have time to DIY you can save a lot of money, when you’re paying up to five times more for pre-cut vegies.��

One appliance worth buying is a food processor. Priced between $55 to $1399 in our latest food processors review, these wonder machines cut vegetables, mince garlic, make pesto, shred cheese and make hummus, among many other things. Doing these things yourself could save you money compared with buying packaged equivalents at the supermarket.��

6. Bake with overripe or wilted produce

Fruits and vegies needn’t have an uneconomical early grave – you can turn them into baked goods. Look for specials at the fruit market or supermarket on fruit that is browning or about to turn, and take it home to turn it into cakes or muffins for more affordable lunchbox snacks and treats.

“Buy discounted produce that’s overripe, or choose a day of the week to go through the fridge and use up any veg or fruit that’s about to turn,” says Fiona. “Unless the produce is mouldy or smells funky, there’s no need to throw it away.

“Carrots, sweet potato and zucchini can be shredded into batters to make cakes and muffins. Vegetables can be sliced to use as a topping on focaccias and pizza doughs. Fruits such as soft berries or browned bananas can be whipped into breads, cakes and muffins.” 

7. Make your own stock

Save on the price of stock by using cooked chicken, lamb and beef bones to make your own (you can always freeze the bones to make the stock at a later time).��

Fiona says, “This is a must, as good store bought stock isn’t cheap.”

For example, Maggie Beer’s Natural 500mL Beef Stock goes for around $5.90 and will probably only get you through one meal.

“Stocks are also a great way to use up leftover herbs and vegetables (other than potatoes or pumpkin, to avoid cloudiness) and will last you a month in the fridge and 12 months in the freezer if it’s well-sealed,” Fiona adds.

8. Shop from your cupboard first

Pad Thai noodles, abandoned cake mixes and enough cans of chickpeas to survive the apocalypse… you never know what you’ll find in the far reaches of the cupboard.

Embrace the cupboard shop and cook from what you’ve already got, or use it as a base so you know what you have before you go shopping and spend money you don’t need to).

Another tip from Fiona is to always have a roster of basic ingredients stocked, depending on what cuisines or dishes you like to eat. For example, if you love curries, stock up on extra coconut milk and spices so you can make one with leftover vegies at a moment’s notice.��

The post Eight expert tips to cut your food bills appeared first on ����Vlog.

On this page:

• Groceries
• Appliances
• Fuel
• Insurance
• Banking and finance

Everyone has big ideas on how you can save a few bucks, but some of these strategies are actually false economy. They might appear to save you money at the time, but will end up costing you in the long run.

Spending wisely rather than just buying the cheapest product available also has environmental benefits.��

Buy a cheap but poor-performing detergent (laundry, dishwasher or dishwashing) and you’ll have to re-wash everything, using more water and electricity – not to mention all the environmental impacts of the packaging and transport. Cheap appliances that don’t last the distance will often end up in landfill, or blow out your electricity bill, or both.��

And some money-saving measures just aren’t good ideas at all. (We’re looking at you, buy now, pay later loans.)

Changing your spending habits is a good thing, but we want to help you do it right so you actually end up with more money in your pocket. Read on for our tips on the corners not to cut.��

Groceries

With grocery costs creeping higher and higher, it’s no surprise that many of us are trying to reduce what we pay at the cash register.�� 

However, there are some purchases that might look like savings on the surface, but will end up costing you more in the long run. The key is to look beyond the price tag and the labels to make sure you’re getting a good product at a good price, not just an average product at a great price.

And don’t forget to check out our regular supermarket basket price surveys to find out which supermarket is the cheapest.��

Laundry detergents

If you’re up against a mountain of laundry every week, you might be looking to cut costs with your laundry detergent – but be careful about what you buy.��

Aldi can be a treasure trove of bargains and while some of its products top our tests, others deliver savings but not performance. It pays to know which is which, so check our laundry detergent reviews before you hit the shops.��

For example, Aldi’s Laundrite liquid detergent was the cheapest in our latest test, costing just six cents a wash. But although its price is appealing, its performance is anything but: it scored just 50% in a front loader – exactly the same as plain water.��

So if you buy Laundrite liquid you might as well tip your money down the sink for all the difference it’ll make to your laundry. Yikes.

But don’t scrub Aldi laundry detergent off your list just yet. If you spend a tiny bit more, you’ll be rewarded with excellent performance.��

Aldi’s Laundrite laundry powder came fifth in our test with a score of 79% and it costs just 11 cents a wash. It’s up there with detergents that cost more than six times as much per wash, so it certainly delivers bang for your buck.

That extra five cents a wash more than pays off. But wait, there’s more: you can bring that extra cost back down even more by using less detergent than the box says.��

Our experts have found that you can use half or even as little as a quarter of the recommended dose and still get a great wash – which will bring your spend back down to six cents a wash or even less.��

Dishwasher detergent

It’s a similar story with dishwasher detergent.��

Powder detergents are much cheaper than tablets – the cheapest dishwasher powder costs 8 cents a wash while tablets cost from 14 cents a wash all the way up to $1.52 a wash.��

But what you’ll save in buying powder you’ll lose in time (and money) spent re-washing your dishes. The best performing powder scores 65% in our tests, compared with the best performing tablets which score 76%.��

Now, we’re not advocating for spending $1.52 per wash if you can’t afford it. But it does go to show that picking up the cheapest product on the shelf isn’t always the best option.��

The good news? There are some great cheaper dishwashing detergents that did impress in our tests. Aldi Logix Platinum Dishwasher Capsules were one of the highest scorers in our test (76%) – and they only cost 26 cents a wash.

Another Aldi product – the Logix All in One tablets – scored 72% and cost just 14 cents per wash, so they’re another great bargain buy.

Other grocery items

Here are a few things to consider when you’re trawling the supermarket aisles:

• Forget about the bright sales dockets shouting at you from the shelves – they’re often more about what the supermarket wants to sell that week than what’s best for your budget.��
• If you’re trying to save, unit pricing is your best friend. A bulk pack of paper towels might look like a bargain, but how does it compare to the smaller packs of double-length rolls? Check the price per sheet before you heft it into your trolley.��
• Better yet, check our reviews before you hit the shops so you can tell whether that bargain is actually going to do the job properly. Sure, the home-brand toilet paper is cheap as chips, but is it worth it if it’s rougher than sandpaper and rips at inopportune moments?
• Buying in bulk can be a fantastic way to save, but you need to be realistic about whether you’re going to use it. Yes, a kilo of capsicums for $2 is a straight-up bargain, but will you use them all up before they spoil?

Appliances

Buying new appliances is not always much fun – there are far more entertaining ways to drop several hundred (or thousand) dollars in one sitting! But choosing the cheapest option available isn’t always a good way to go, especially if it needs replacing sooner than you’d hoped and you have to cough up for a new one.

Look beyond the price tag to make sure you’re actually getting a good deal, both upfront and over the long term.��

Coffee machines

Buying a coffee machine can be a great way to cut the cost of fuelling your caffeine habit. But sometimes the cheaper options can end up costing you more than you’d expected.��

Cheap capsule or pod coffee machines might seem like an affordable at-home coffee option – and they can certainly be cheaper than daily visits to a café.��

But compared to buying ground coffee or coffee beans, coffee pods can be expensive, costing close to $100/kg. And some machines are only compatible with a particular brand of pods, so you’ll be locked into buying that brand.��

It might be worth paying a bit more to buy a manual or semi-automatic coffee machine to get your caffeine hit without taking a hit to your wallet.��

Printers

If you’re in the market for a new printer, make sure you know exactly how much it’s going to cost you – and we don’t mean how much you’ll pay at the cash register. Yes, it might be cheap upfront, but how much will you end up paying in ink and toner costs?

You might find that cheaper printers have much higher running costs than you’d expect. In some cases, buying a replacement printer cartridge can cost about as much as the printer itself. We definitely don’t recommend just buying a new printer each time yours runs out of ink!

If you’re printing a lot, consider buying an ink tank printer – they do cost more upfront but they’re cheap as chips to run.��

Our expert printer reviews include detailed information about printer running costs and we even break it down into cost per page so you can see exactly how much you’ll spend.��

Clothes dryers

Tumble dryers can really ramp up your energy use. If you’re worried about the cost (both to your pocket and the environment), you might be considering a more efficient type of dryer like a heat-pump or condenser dryer. While they cost more upfront, they use far less energy so cost much less to run than a cheaper vented dryer.��

On the flipside, if you don’t use your dryer very often, paying extra for a super-efficient model might be overkill – you probably won’t ever recoup the higher initial outlay in energy savings. In this instance, you’re probably better off buying a much cheaper vented dryer, even if you pay a few more dollars in electricity to run it.��

TVs

When you’re keen to go big or go home but TV prices are larger than you’d expected, you might be considering a cheaper TV. Our advice? Go smaller or go home.��

Our test results often show that budget TVs don’t perform well. In fact, in our latest write-up on the TVs to avoid buying, the bottom two models were both TVs that cost under $400.

So no matter how good a price you might be offered on a 65-inch TV, you’re better off either spending that money on a good-quality smaller TV, or waiting until you’ve saved up enough for a more expensive large TV.��

Check our TV reviews before you set your heart on a big-screen TV to make sure you’re getting the full picture.��

Fancy appliances

If you’re thinking of spending extra on a kitchen appliance with internet-enabled functionality, think again. While some of these features can sound revolutionary, you need to be realistic about how much you’ll use them – no matter how much they might seem like they’ll revolutionise how you cook.

If you pay more for a ‘smart’ appliance but never make use of its smarts, you’re better off just buying the basic version and getting some new cookbooks with the money you would’ve spent.��

Fuel

There are plenty of businesses spruiking fuel discounts or, as our ����Vlog fuel app experts call them, fuel “discounts”.��

While you can save 4c/litre on your fuel just from doing your weekly grocery shop, or find a 5c/litre saving at Ampol by using the MyNRMA app, keep in mind these discounts aren’t as good as they first appear.��

Invariably, if you shop around you’ll find that the outlets offering the ‘discount’ are more than 4 or 5 cents/litre more expensive than other nearby service stations. And if you have to drive further to get to the specific petrol station you can use your discount at, that’s costing you extra too.

There are apps out there that can help you save at the bowser, though. Check our review of fuel apps to see which ones deliver the best price accuracy and ease of use.��

Other bills

While there are plenty of clear savings to be had in the supermarket aisles, your bigger bills are a great place to rack up some better savings.��

Insurance

When the bills are piling up, paying for peace of mind can feel like a luxury. While having more insurance than you need isn’t a good idea, neither should you throw caution to the wind and cancel your policies while hoping nothing goes wrong.��

Here are the cost-saving measures you should be cautious about taking.��

Home and contents insurance

It’s tempting to downgrade your insurance to save money, and in some cases that’s a good idea, but make sure you know you’re still covered should the unexpected happen.��

“It’s important to balance your insurance costs against the risk of being underinsured,” says ����Vlog insurance expert Daniel Graham.��

“There are better ways to reduce your premiums than reducing your level of cover. One surefire way is to increase your excess. Although you’ll have to pay more to make a claim, it’s usually a better option than reducing your sum insured.��

“Policies that cover accidental damage to your home or contents, like the kids hitting a cricket ball through the lounge room window and into your TV, provide peace of mind but at a premium cost. You can save money by dropping that policy option, and give the kids a foam ball to play with instead.”

Health insurance

We get it: private health insurance can be expensive. And it’s hard to justify the expense when you don’t see the benefits of your insurance week to week. You might be tempted to downgrade your hospital insurance to the cheapest basic cover policy you can find to reduce what you’re paying.��

Yes, switching to a basic policy will save money, but the cover it will provide is minimal, and our experts don’t recommend it for health cover.��

But depending on what you earn, a basic policy could save you from paying government-imposed tax, so it could be cheaper in the long run to take out cheap private health insurance. And remember, you only need a hospital policy, not extras, to avoid the extra tax.

Confused? We don’t blame you – health insurance is complicated! Our experts can guide you through it, starting with advice on the cheapest health cover to avoid extra tax.��

Travel insurance

If you’re travelling internationally, travel insurance is a must. But when you’re already handing over a large chunk of cash for the holiday itself, you might wonder if you can get away with skimping on the travel insurance.

Our advice? Don’t take out a cheap travel insurance policy unless you’re sure it covers the activities you’ll be doing on your holiday (particularly high-risk things like skiing or driving a moped) and other situations that you think you might need cover for. And check out the travel insurance policies ����Vlog experts say you should avoid.

Banking and finance

Buy now, pay later (BNPL) loans and payday loans

If you’re skint and payday is still a few days away, getting an advance on your pay is certainly an appealing option. Or if you’re in need of new shoes but can’t afford to buy them, paying them off in instalments might sound like a good idea.

But just be aware of the pitfalls of payday loans and BNPL loans like Afterpay, Zip and Nimble. If you don’t pay on time there can be huge penalties, and any interest rates are astronomical.��

If you’re in trouble financially, you’re better off calling the (1800 007 007) for free, independent financial counselling – it’s a much better place to start than getting locked into a spiral of debt with a predatory lender.��

Introductory offers or benefits

Yes, a $100 gift card is always a nice bonus, and a reduced rate as a new customer isn’t to be sneezed at, but in this case you should look a gift horse in the mouth.��

While introductory rates might be appealing, make sure you’re 100% clear on what happens once the honeymoon phase is over – what kind of rate or plan will you be locked into? And are there penalties for switching? What are the fees like? 

Go through it with a fine-toothed comb. And if it all looks legit, then go ahead and buy yourself something nice with that gift card!

The post The cost-saving measures that don’t work appeared first on ����Vlog.

On this page:

• 1. Em-power yourself
• 2. Give your finances a tune-up
• 3. Switch up your shopping habits
• 4. Show your appliances some love
• 5. Sort out your will

Whether your New Year’s resolutions are to completely transform yourself, or to just hang in there until your next holiday, a fresh year can be a good opportunity to take charge of your life.

We’re not talking green smoothies, gruelling crack-of-dawn runs and hyperbolic mantras – just some simple steps to help you get ahead in 2025 before life gets in the way.

Yes, even thinking about adulting when you’re still recovering from a Christmas coma is painful, but knocking over a few key life admin tasks can give you a sense of satisfaction that feels better than that afternoon nap after Christmas lunch.

If smug satisfaction isn’t enough, there’s another incentive: cold, hard cash. Taking care of these dull but do-able things will free up some extra coin to help ease the cost of living.��

Our tips will help you get these tedious tasks sorted quickly so you can go back to planning your next holiday (which as we all know is the only antidote to the back-to-work blues).

1. Em-power yourself

Hands up if you stick your head in the sand every time the electricity bill arrives? I know I do.��

And direct debit makes it even easier to ignore – it’s all taken care of without you having to lift a finger (or look at the scarily large number next to the dollar sign!).��

But that blissful ignorance could end up costing you more: electricity prices are climbing along with everything else, and if you’re not sure how much you’re paying, there’s a good chance it’s too much.��

Changing your energy retailer might sound like a huge headache, but it’s actually simpler than you think – and you don’t even have to pick up the phone to do it.��

Here’s our step-by-step guide to switching electricity companies.

(Check your other bills while you’re at it: you could find a better deal on your gas, internet and mobile phone plan too.)

2. Give your finances a tune-up

In this economy, every dollar counts, so make sure you’re getting the most out of your money.��

Home, health and car insurance

Insurers used to reward their customers’ loyalty, but these days it’s more about attracting new customers than looking after existing ones.

It’s unfair, but you can beat them at their own game by taking advantage of the perks they’re offering to lure in new business.

Check what price your current insurer is offering new customers, then call and ask them to match it, or find out if they have any discounts or offers for existing customers.��

If they don’t, take your business elsewhere – there’s sure to be another insurer who’ll offer you the same for less.��

Our experts know all the tricks in the book to help you save:

• How to save money on home insurance
• Five steps to better, cheaper health insurance
• How to pay less for your car insurance

Superannuation

Super can seem complicated, boring and (especially if you’re young) like something that’s a problem for future you.

But the time you invest into checking up on your super now will pay off many times over in years to come, so it’s well worth the effort.��

Our experts say there are six simple steps that’ll help you get the best out of your retirement savings. Even if you just do one or two, you’ll reap the rewards later in life.��

Want more advice? Check our expert advice on managing your superannuation.��

Credit cards and personal loans

There’s a lot to like about buying something right now and paying it off later – who wouldn’t want to get their hands on the goods ASAP rather than waiting while you save?

Unfortunately, if you don’t stay on top of your repayments they can get out of hand, and before you know it those smaller purchases can add up to one big debt.��

Need help? We’ll talk you through what to do if you’re struggling with buy now, pay later debt, plus tips for how to choose the best credit card while keeping interest and fees as low as possible.��

If you’re lucky enough to have some cash squirrelled away for a rainy day, ensure your money is working for you: here’s our round-up of the best high-interest savings accounts.

Audit your accounts

The new year is the perfect time to ask yourself whether you’re getting value out of what you’re paying for.

Take a look at what’s coming out of your account on a regular basis.��

Do you have a gym membership but never work out? Are you paying for apps you never use? Is there a streaming service you don’t watch much? What fees is your bank charging you? Do you ever use your health insurance extras?

These little expenses can really add up, and they don’t usually take long to sort out, so spending an hour doing a quick scan of your direct debits and cancelling a few subscriptions will put that wasted money back in your pocket.

3. Switch up your shopping habits

One of the simplest ways to make room in your budget is by changing the way you do your grocery shop:

• First, check which supermarket has the cheapest groceries so you know where to get the best bang for your buck.
• Then, check our reviews while you write your shopping list to make sure you’re getting the best products for your money. We test everything from dishwasher detergent and tea bags to stain removers and Dutch ovens (for those Aldi Special Buys).��
• Consider switching from your usual brands. Some supermarket home-brand products will give you far better performance for a far lower price. Here are the home brand products that top our tests.��
• Don’t get sucked in by so-called ‘specials’ – always check the unit price to make sure you’re paying the cheapest price. Using unit pricing can help to make your grocery budget go further.
• Watch out for ‘shrinkflation’, where a product gets smaller but the price stays the same – or even goes up. Watch out for these 10 grocery items that are victims of ‘shrinkflation’.��

4. Show your appliances some love

Household appliances like fridges, washing machines, air con and ovens are big purchases. And the costs keep on coming even after you’ve left the store: you’ll be paying energy bills, repair costs and, eventually, buying a new one.

A little bit of cleaning here and there will help keep your machines humming along happily (and efficiently) for as long as possible.

Want a quick and easy win? Give your appliance filters a clean – it’ll extend their life, make them easier to use and, even better, save you money.

If you think an appliance might be coming to the end of its life, we’ll help you find out how long your household appliances should last and whether to repair or replace them.

5. Sort out your will

Just like sorting your superannuation, writing a will might seem like something you (hopefully!) won’t need to worry about for a long time yet.

But none of us know when our day will come, and if you die without a will it can make things tricky for your loved ones.��

Online will kits are one way to take care of the situation, but are they any good? We compare online will kits and explore their pros and cons.��

Our end-of-life checklist will walk you through what you need to do to get your affairs in order, and give you advice if you’re dealing with the loss of a loved one.��

The post 5 life admin tasks to tackle in the new year appeared first on ����Vlog.

Whether school holidays are coming up and you’re about to be trapped indoors with empty tummies on a daily basis, or you have pre-schoolers or homeschoolers home with you all day every day, the never-ending chorus of “I’m huunnngrryyy” can send chills down the spine of even the most seasoned parent.

Add the fact that kids notoriously love to take one bite out of something before discarding or rejecting it, alongside the increasing cost of groceries, and the family food budget is being put under serious strain for many of us.

As resident cheapskate at ����Vlog, and the parent of a toddler and a five year old, I have come up with quite a few strategies for saving money on feeding kids. Here are seven of them.

1. Keep all their half-eaten fruit and veg

OK, yes, it sounds gross, but I hate waste, and repurposing food that would otherwise be thrown away just feels so good. Plus, it will save you money.

Fruit

If you’ve ever spent an entire day home alone with young kids and not ended up with multiple pieces of half-eaten fruit, then I salute you. But when bananas are selling for almost $1 a pop, throwing out half of what you buy just isn’t an option.��

Instead, keep a bowl in your fridge where you store any “opened” fruit. Just chop off the bits that have come into contact with anyone’s mouth, then cut up the rest and add to smoothies or baked goods, or puree to use in the morning porridge.��

If you think you won’t get around to it any time soon, you can also just remove any peel and store leftover fruit in the freezer for future use.

Vegetables

In an effort to get my kids accustomed to eating more vegetables, I follow the idea of vegetable ‘exposures’, which basically translates to continuously putting vegetables on your kids’ plates even though you know they won’t eat it, in the hope they’ll one day give it a try and actually like it.

As a result, I have a lot of leftover vegetable pieces at the end of the day. Whether or not you follow this approach, chances are you probably have your fair share of rejected vegetables too.

Instead of throwing out these (usually untouched) morsels, I often save them and blend them into a tomato-based sauce for use in a lasagne, pizza or pasta sauce. It minimises waste and adds a nutrient boost to our meals.

2. Keep some meals in the freezer at all times

There’s nothing worse than getting to lunchtime and realising you have nothing substantial to feed your hungry kids. You can end up buying pre-prepared food or takeaway meals out of desperation, which can quickly blow out your weekly grocery budget.�� 

My insurance policy against this is to always have a few things in the freezer that I can throw straight in the oven to whip up a passable meal, even when I have nothing in the fridge and no patience or wherewithal to make anything from scratch.

If you’ve got time, bulk cooking and freezing some of your kids’ favourites, like sausage rolls and pies, can save you lots. It also means you have something home-cooked and healthy to serve them at a moment’s notice. (Plus, you can blend in some of the leftover vegies you’ve stored over the week.)

If you don’t have time (or don’t want) to cook things yourself, having frozen pre-made options from the supermarket such as pizzas, pies and dumplings will still save you money if it stops you from resorting to expensive takeaways.��

If you have an air fryer, it means you’ll be able to get a meal on the table pretty quickly.��Air fryers also use less energy than your oven, so cooking your frozen food in one can save you just that little bit more.

3. Make your own pre-portioned snacks

There’s nothing kids love more than fun-sized packets of their favourite snack foods. And they will often beg relentlessly for them when they’re home with you.

The only catch is, you’re almost always charged a significant premium for the privilege of all those little baggies.

You can definitely save money (and plastic) by buying large pack sizes of things like chips, sultanas, cheese and yoghurt, and splitting them up into reusable bags or containers yourself, ready to be conveniently dispensed at a moment’s notice.��

4. Always pack snacks (and water)

If you’re venturing out with your little ones, always, always pack snacks. This is especially true if you’re heading somewhere that charges a premium for food like a zoo or theme park.��

If you’re going to the cinema, you can save lots of money with a DIY pick ‘n’ mix. Pack a bento box with things like popcorn, pretzels, fruit and a few treats. This will not only be way cheaper than the candy bar, it’s also healthier and will keep your kids fuller for longer.��

And remember – snacks are not just for toddlers. Even older kids will often develop sudden hunger pangs when you’re out of the house and the only option is to buy severely overpriced food.��

Don’t forget to pack extra for yourself, too. A day out with kids can be exhausting and it’s actually surprisingly helpful to have some energy-boosting foods with you.

And of course, nothing horrifies my spendthrift sensibilities quite like paying good money for a bottle of water. You know, the stuff that comes (essentially) for free from your tap at home? Always pack a water bottle.��

5. Make treats together

If you have toddlers, ignore this one – I don’t want to be responsible for encouraging anyone to try to cook while their child tips flour all over the floor and stabs themselves with a fork.

But if you have older kids and you want to treat them to food such as biscuits, popcorn or ice cream, you might as well turn it into an activity.

Not only can it save money making these yourself, it also gets kids interested and involved in the cooking process – it may feel more special to them than buying something at the shops.��

Take it as an opportunity to use up ingredients you already have on hand (like half-eaten bananas) or things that are about to go out of date and would otherwise be wasted, such as milk or cream.�� 

6. Find your go-to cheap meals

Feeding kids (and ourselves) is relentless, and sometimes we just want to tick the task off with minimal fuss and cost.��

It’s a good idea to always have some low-effort, low-cost meal ideas that your kids will actually eat. Of course, what those meals may be will vary greatly from one family to the next.

Some ideas include:

• eggs on toast or French toast
• cheese toasties
• mini pizzas
• baked beans
• pasta with a tomato or cheese sauce
• chicken wings or drumsticks
• snack platters using whatever you have in the fridge – carrots, dips, salami sticks, corn chips, etc.

Add a piece of fruit or some sliced raw veg and you’ve got yourself a pretty decent meal.

7. Shop around

Of course, when you’re feeding a family, getting the best price on your weekly shop can go a long way towards cutting your overall spend.

While it’s not the most convenient option, splitting your grocery shop across multiple stores can be the best way to do this. Members of our estimate that they save 20–40% off their weekly grocery bill by taking the extra time to shop across multiple outlets.

As a busy parent, I obviously don’t relish the idea of visiting multiple retailers, but I also refuse to pay more than I need to. So, my strategy is to combine a click and collect order with an in-person Aldi shop.

First, I check the online specials of both Coles and Woolworths and choose whichever has the best specials to place my order with that week.

I fill my cart with all the items that have a decent sale price, and any specialty items that Aldi doesn’t sell (like nori sheets, specific brands of snacks my kids like, etc). Then I head to Aldi for all the rest of the items I need for the week, and organise to collect my Coles or Woolies order at the same time.

It’s not an exact science, but it keeps my grocery costs manageable.

The post 7 ways to save money feeding your kids appeared first on ����Vlog.