There's no denying it, living costs have skyrocketed over the last 12 months and we're all feeling the pinch. From the supermarket to the petrol bowser right through to budgeting for childcare costs.
While some of us are looking to invest for our family's future, others are just trying to get through the week. Whichever camp you're in, these cost of living tips from the Care for Kids team will hopefully help you save money here and there.
At the supermarket
When it comes to groceries, we all know we should write a list and stick to it to stay within our cost of living budget! That's not to say that when you see the tomato sauce at Woolies and remember then that you forgot to put it on the list that you're not allowed to grab it, it just means that you shouldn't head to the middle aisle at Aldi and grab that swivel garden chair that you don't need for $150!
Eat the dirty spuds
Don't be scared to wash the dirt from the potatoes and save some cash. They're normally a few cents cheaper but just like fuel over the litre, potatoes over the kilos add up! It might not seem like a lot but even a dollar on potatoes can help you better manage your fixed expenses. If you're anything like me, I wash all of my veggies so, grabbing a brush and getting into the pits of the skin won't hurt. Leave the skin on if you're air-frying chips or baking potatoes.
Hot nutritional tip: The level of fibre is highest in the skin, which makes up 1–2% of the potato. It's also a great source of potassium and magnesium.
*Prices correct at time of publication from Woolworths Australia
Pre-packaged foods are more expensive
When you're wandering through the supermarket, have a look at what things cost per litre, gram, or kilo. If you're looking to the apples, more often than not you will find that loose apples are cheaper than the kilo of apples packed conveniently, or the ‘soup starter' vegetables packed ready to chop - you're almost always much better off grabbing your own. Let's not forget the cheese - buy the block and cube it yourself, and you'll save a fortune and in some cases the environment. Extra packaging is so unnecessary.
Stop buying food pouches
You know the ones that are so cleverly marketed so your kids cry out for them as you pass them every time you're near the fridge section at the supermarket? Sure, they're convenient but have you checked out the nutritional value? And what about the cost? Those pouches are worth SO much more than your average tub of yoghurt that you can easily separate or the homemade purees that you've freshly made.
Your kids like the pouches you say? They love the characters, colours, and design? Easily fixed! Companies like Cherub Baby sell a set of FIVE pouches for around $10 with cute animal designs in a range of colours to suit your kids. You can wash and reuse it over and over. Total value for money!
“Buy some reusable pouches and make your own yoghurt snacks for lunchboxes by buying a big tub of yoghurt rather than pricey single serves. Enviro friendly too.” - Georga.
Ban ‘checkout shock'
We've all had to do an element of online shopping throughout the COVID years, but what we may not have realised is the amount of control we gained when it came to our weekly shop. When you shop online and do a click-and-collect order, you're able to edit and tailor the bottom line to suit your household budget.
“You can edit as you go and have a better idea as to what things are costing and you can compare similar products to see the price difference. No checkout shock.” Tegan
DIY cleaning products
Households are embracing natural cleaning solutions now more than ever and a simple mixture that has firmly taken hold in the spray bottles of Aussie homes is the tried and tested natural cleaning spray.
Simply mix, swirl, and spray.
Ingredients:
- 100ml plain white vinegar
- 150ml tap water
- a small squirt of dishwashing liquid
- 5-10 drops of tea tree oil or pure essential oil of choice (optional)
“Hot tip: for $2.20 you can buy DOUBLE strength vinegar if you love the smell of it! (salt n vinegar chip lovers!),” - Kuz
Slow cooker time!
It's time to dust off that slow cooker and get to creating some meals for now and weeks to come! This saves time and money - on the days you're not really in the mood to be on your feet in the kitchen, rather than spending money to order in, you can grab a ready-made meal from your freezer! This strategy not only saves time but also helps keep your monthly budget on track."
“I use the slow cooker quite a bit, especially in winter so I can make a lot of meals in bulk & freeze, which also comes in handy on days when I don't want to cook, I can just reheat a frozen meal.” - Lan
What about outside of the supermarket?
We asked around the office for general money-saving tips throughout the home and of course when making purchases for yourself or the family. Here's what we came up with, and it's a wonder we're not all millionaires!
Dining out
Eating out is so expensive but EatClub is an app that basically finds restaurants in your area where you can order takeaway (for pickup) or dine in. The discounts can be up to 40%... maybe even higher. It is time blocked so it will say ‘order between 4pm-6pm for X amount off' - usually out of peak times, so it works great for those needing an early dinner.
Everyone loves cash back
‘Shopback' is great for online shopping as it gives you a percentage back on online purchases. This can take a while to clear but if you shop online regularly it definitely adds up as a nice surprise cash stash.
Petrol pinch
The ‘Fuel Lock Feature' allows you to search nearby 7-Eleven Stores that sell your preferred type of fuel and find the best current local price. You can lock in your best local price for a chosen type of fuel (Fuel Lock) (up to 150 litres) for up to seven days on the App. Once locked in, your App will hold your ‘Fuel Lock' until its expiry date. You can then purchase your chosen type of fuel at the ‘Fuel Lock' price (for one transaction).
Subscriptions
This might seem like a super boring life admin task, but always worth seeing what you've forgotten to cancel during a free trial and what isn't being used anymore. Some subscriptions are also offered with other utility plans, like Telstra had Disney Plus FREE for a year, last year. By switching energy companies, you can receive 1 year of free other subscriptions but you should always track them and cancel when you've finished the freebie.
Quick tips
- Pay yourself first! - Put a percentage of your monthly income into savings before any bills, rent, or other unexpected expenses so your savings are prioritised.
- Kid sizes - if you have smaller feet or a smaller frame and it fits, why not? Children's sizes are often cheaper and the same quality!
- Date Night - movie tickets can be offered at a discounted rate through certain providers like your car insurance.
- Holidays - If you can, book any holidays during the off-peak season - everything is more expensive during school holidays.
- Stop paying retail - Hold out for a discount and if you can't, shop around!
- Back to groceries - Shopping at the imperfect picks section at the supermarket or fruit market is an easy step to saving money.
- Unplug to reduce your energy bills - Unplugging appliances and devices when not in use helps save money on electricity bills.
From the CEO
Ash's last bit of advice after all the titbits from the team;
“Every 12 months review your mortgage, phone, internet, insurance, etc. Every phone call you make will save you money. Don't scrimp on things that bring you happiness, just work out where you need to cut back a little bit. For example, go for the fancy lunch, just be prepared to have sandwiches next week It's all about balance.”
