Money with Jess: My best budgeting tips of all time...

Since early 2021, I’ve included a weekly budget tip in my free Money with Jess newsletter. If you missed any of them, here they all are!

1.MAKE FRIENDS WITH YOUR FREEZER

Wanna save $$$ on groceries? It’s time to make friends with your freezer! I saw a great post on the Facebook group Budget Friendly Meals Australia about all the things you can freeze, more than you would ever imagine. Avocados were on the list. I tried it. Not too bad. Better fresh, I reckon. But if food is about to go off, whack it in the freezer! Go on, avago....

2. KEEP AN EYE OUT FOR LOCAL COUNCIL CLEANUPS

On Instagram, I shared pictures of my favourite “Street Bounty” finds - things I’ve found for FREE during local council clean-up weekends. Yeah, it’s a bit embarrassing when people find you trawling through their trash. But I reckon it’s a bit embarrassing how much good stuff rich people chuck out. My top tip is to identify the most expensive suburbs in your city, check their local council websites for scheduled clean-up dates, then grab a car and get street shopping! Ain’t no price as good as FREE!

3. CUT YOUR OWN HAIR, OR GET A FRIEND TO DO IT

Hey, remember that time I cut my own hair during lockdown to save money? I do - it was very stressful! However, I came up with a better plan. A very good friend of mine recently bought a cheap pair of hair trimming scissors. So we took turns giving each other a trim! How else can you cut back on your hairdressing costs? Contact your local salon or TAFE about training days. Search Facebook for “Hair Model” groups to connect with trainee hairdressers in your local area. Or try spacing out your regular appointments. Of course, if visiting a salon aligns with your values and you get a lot of enjoyment out of it, you do you! For the rest of us, this could be an area of our budgets overdue for a trim...

4. THREATEN TO CANCEL SUBSCRIPTIONS

Attention all book lovers! This budget tip comes from Money with Jess reader Sunanda Creagh from Sydney. It turns out threatening some tough love on your regular subscriptions, such as Audible, can potentially save you money. And you don’t even need to switch! Just simply click online to cancel your Audible subscription, and you get offered a 50 per cent discount for three months, reducing the monthly fee from $16 to $8. Either way - cancel or not - you save! Well done Sunanda - thanks for sharing!

5. HALVE YOUR SHAMPOO USE

A friend of mine studied advertising a few years ago and the lecturer identified the greatest marketing catchphrase of all time: “Lather, rinse and repeat”. BOOM! A masterstroke way for shampoo companies to double their revenue. Even better, by stripping your hair of more of its natural oils, you also need to ramp up your use of conditioner, further boosting sales. Drop out of the shampoo rat-race, guys! Shampoo only once and halve your costs!

6. CHECK IN WITH YOUR MORTGAGE BREAK COSTS

I spent a long time hunting for a mortgage with a “1” per cent in front. In order to switch, I had to break the term of my existing fixed-rate loan - incurring an “early repayment fee”. Banks sting you with these because they had to borrow money to give you your loan. If you walk, they might not be able to find another customer to lend to at that higher rate. Hot tip, though! When wholesale interest rates are rising these early repayment fees may be less than you think. My cost to break my fixed loan fell from $451 to $383, to just $351 at my latest inquiry. So, if you are considering breaking a fixed-rate loan, it’s worth ringing your bank to see what costs you would incur - chances are they’ve fallen recently!

7. DOWNLOAD BOOKS FOR FREE

Money with Jess reader Cate shared this amazing budget tip. First step: download the BorrowBox app. All you need is to be a member of your local library, with a unique barcode number and password, and this app lets you access all their resources online. All the benefits of your local library and no need to leave your home or be quiet! I downloaded the app and was reading Michael Moseley’s new book Fast Asleep within minutes. You won’t find every book there - only the ones your library can access. And you still have to wait for some titles to be returned. This ensures authors are paid correctly and there are plenty of things to read in the meantime. Best of all: it is COMPLETELY FREE. Brilliant.

8. RENT YOUR CLOTHES

If you are someone who simply must put on a sharp appearance at work, here’s a tip to consider - why buy that expensive designer outfit when you can rent it for a fraction of the price? A very smartly dressed friend of mine recently suggested an online service called Glam Corner where, for a monthly subscription fee, they will send you a box of new clothes to wear for the month. Once you’ve elegantly incorporated them into your wardrobe, but before any colleagues realise you’re wearing them too often, you can have them whisked away for a new replacement batch. Personally, I still err on the side of a minimalist uniform like Mark Zuckerberg, with a few staple pieces. But if you prefer more variety, it’s something worth considering.

9. USE KITTYSPLIT TO DIVVY UP GROUP HOLIDAY EXPENSES

Money can often become a source of stress if you’re holidaying with friends or family and sharing expenses. Who paid for what? Who chipped in the most? A great tool to manage such delicate social situations on holiday is a free website called Kittysplit. You just go to the website, create a new “kitty”, enter the email addresses of all trip participants. You then get a unique link everyone can click on to enter the expenses they’ve paid for and apportion each, depending on who partook. At the end of the holiday, it spits out exact numbers for who owes whom. Never argue about bills or get resentful at someone not paying their fair share again!

10. USE PETROL PRICE APPS

I’m not sure if the Easter Bunny uses a lot of petrol, but Aussie motorists sure do on the Easter long weekend, leading to a suspicious - if entirely predictable - surge in pump prices. Don’t let them win! Make sure you check a petrol price app before filling up. Even when prices surge, there are always price gaps between individual stations, which can be as high as 40 cents a litre in some areas. In NSW, head to FuelCheck. In Victoria, there’s this RACV site. Everywhere else, there are national sites like GasBuddy, PetrolSpy and Motormouth.

In a previous article, I calculated that it costs about 15 cents per litre for each kilometre you drive out of your way for cheaper petrol. But given the often huge discrepancies, it can be well worth it.

11. GET SHAREMARKET INSIGHTS FOR FREE (FOR 4 WEEKS)

I’ve definitely caught the sharemarket bug. Forget Netflix, I now spend my evenings face aglow to the ASX website, along with other online resources for beginner investors. I’m working my way through the ASX’s online course for beginners (which, it turns out, I know most of, anyway).

I’ve also been scouring the websites of independent investment ratings and research houses like Morningstar and Lonsec. Morningstar offers a 4-week free trial of its Premium platform, which gives you access to investment ideas, investment tracking, market news and educational resources. Worth a look!

12. LISTEN TO MY FAVOURITE ECONOMICS PODCAST

It’s Sunday! Which can mean only one of two things: reading the newspaper or lazing around listening to a podcast. I am totally geeking out over a podcast by economics power-couple Betsey Stevenson and Justin Wolfers called Think Like an Economist, which is aimed at “teaching you the tools from economics to help transform your life”.

Stevenson is a former economic advisor to Barack Obama, and I described Wolfers - originally from Australia - as “something of a pin-up boy for a new brand of economics” in this 2016 interview. In addition to producing two actual children together, this dynamic academic duo has also produced pioneering research on “happiness economics”, a definitive new textbook on the Principles of Economics, and this delightful weekly podcast, which you can listen to on Apple, Spotify, or Himalaya.

13. CLEAN WITH HOMEMADE PRODUCTS

One of the simplest switches I have made at home to save money is to clean my sinks and other hard surfaces using vinegar and bicarbonate of soda (bicarb). Vinegar is an acid and bicarb an alkaline - put ’em together and watch them fizz! As satisfying for kids making volcanos as it is for house-proud adults, I reckon. And both much cheaper to buy than fancier household chemical cleaners.

My second favourite cleaning trick is to reuse any fully-squeezed lemons by popping them in a bowl of water and microwaving them for a bit. This will create lemony steam that loosens up all those stuck on stains. Just give it a wipe down with a cloth afterward.

14. CHECK YOUR CAR INSURANCE MILEAGE ESTIMATE

Has COVID changed the way you drive? With many of us still working from home at least part of the week, now is a good time to check your level of car insurance coverage. Many insurers will ask you to estimate the number of kilometres you drive in a year. The lower the kilometres, the lower the premiums.

Be careful, though, as you need to provide a reasonable and honest estimate to avoid having your claim potentially denied. But if COVID-19 has meant dramatically fewer kilometres on your odometer, it could be worth checking your coverage.

15. GET YOUR GROCERIES DELIVERED FOR FREE

Want your groceries delivered for free? It is possible - if only for one month. Both Coles and Woolworths recently introduced monthly subscription services for unlimited home deliveries. The best bit is that both will allow you a one-month trial subscription for free! Just remember to cancel during the month to make sure you’re not hit with the ongoing charges if you don’t want to continue.

I trialled Woolworth’s Delivery Unlimited service. I cancelled after only a few days and still received free delivery for the rest of the month. Coles’ equivalent service is called Delivery Plus, but you have to spend over $100 each order to qualify. Coles also offers free delivery on your first online order, if you spend over $100. Happy online shopping!

16. MAKE A CHARITABLE DONATION BEFORE EOFY

The end of the financial year is a great time to consider making a donation to your favourite charity. If you do it right, every dollar you donate can be used at tax time to reduce your taxable income, meaning you pay less tax.

To qualify as a tax deduction, the charity you donate to must be endorsed by the Tax Office as a “Deductible Gift Recipient”. To find out if your chosen charity has DGR status, you need to search the government’s business register here. Simply type in the name of your charity and scroll down to the section on DGR to see if they are endorsed. You can read more guidance from the ATO about how to claim charity donations at tax time here.

17. SHOP IN THE KIDS CLOTHES SECTION

This budget tip comes from another Money with Jess reader Jenny Schwarz from Kirribilli in Sydney. It reads:

“Hot tip for your readers. I often buy shirts and jumpers for children/boys at KMart and Target! Soo cheap. I’m a boomer and usually a ladies size 12. But I can buy boys or girls size 14 or 16 often under $10 that fits just fine!”

Nice one, Jenny!

18. BE AWARE OF THE MENTAL HEALTH WAIVER

One of the reasons people can be wary about downgrading to a cheaper level of private health insurance hospital cover is the host of things they lose coverage for. One of the main trade-offs in switching to cheap basic level hospital cover is usually only having restricted cover for psychiatric conditions.

But did you know that since April 1, 2018, the government has introduced a “mental health waiver,” which means that even if you have restricted cover for psychiatric conditions everyone is allowed a once in a lifetime opportunity to upgrade their cover, should they need it, to a higher level without serving a two-month waiting period. It can only be used once. And you must have already served any waiting periods on your existing cover. But if concern about losing access to full psychiatric cover is a major concern in switching to a cheaper policy, it’s something worth knowing.

19. SHOP YOUR PANTRY FIRST

Did you know food is the second biggest category of spending for Aussie households, after housing costs? Tackling your grocery bills is a great way to save serious money. One of my top tips when it comes to slashing food bills is simple: shop your pantry. By that I mean, before you head to the shops today to spend up big for the week ahead, first conduct a rigorous analysis of what you already have in the house.

I once conducted an inventory of my pantry, fridge and freezer and calculated I had $500 worth of food sitting there. So, if you want to both save money and reduce food wastage, why not set yourself a challenge to see how long you can last before hitting the shops again by simply eating up all the food you have at home? Maybe you can last a whole week? Maybe two? Give it a try! You might surprise yourself.

20. COMPARE YOUR ENERGY PLAN

Brrrrrr, it is getting chilly out there! To head off sky-high electricity and gas bills this winter, it’s time to head over to www.energymadeeasy.gov.au to compare your electricity plan. The website is not perfect. Retailers will notoriously sometimes offer discounts below those shown on the website. And it doesn’t work for Victorians, who need to head to www.compare.energy.vic.gov.au to compare costs.

But for everyone else, it’s a great place to start. Just tap in your postcode and a few other details and it brings up a list of the cheapest electricity providers in your area. I’ve used it before to simply switch to the cheapest provider - one I had never previously heard of. Now, I’m back with a bigger retailer who offered me a special “below the line” discount to beat the smaller guy. Competition: it’s a beautiful thing! But it does require your active participation. So get onto it!

21. SWITCH TO USING BAR SOAP

Attention all shower gel or body wash enthusiasts! Have you ever considered opting for a good old-fashioned bar of soap? Of course, do what works for your skin, but you’ll generally use less of a bar of soap and it’s cheap too.

But, as always, check the per unit pricing first! A 100 gram bar of Woolworth’s Essentials pure soap cost just 29 cents at my local grocery store last week. A Dove sensitive bar cost $1.90. Palmolive Naturals was 79 cents per bar. Pears was $1.60 and Imperial Leather Original was 70 cents. I opted for a 44 cent per bar coconut and lime oil bar from The Balnea Body Company in accordance with my rule of thumb - which I also apply to wine - of always choosing the second cheapest of anything.

22. LIVE LIFE TO THE EXCESS

People often ask me how I pay so little for car, home and health insurance. Part of the answer is: because I live life to the excess! Most insurance policies require you to nominate an ‘excess’ amount - the amount you agree to pay out of your own pocket, in the event of a claim. The higher the excess, the cheaper the ongoing premium you pay. Because I have a sizeable emergency fund to draw on, if needed, I usually opt for the maximum excess, to ensure I pay the lowest premiums.

The excess on my health insurance is currently set to the maximum allowable, of $750 for singles (the maximum for couples is $1500). My car insurance excess is $2000 and my home insurance excess is $5000. On the downside, this strategy means I am effectively not covered for smaller insurance claims, as I wouldn’t get much back - if anything - after paying out the excess. But I’m comfortable that I have cover (minus the excess) in the event of major disasters, or total loss. Do what makes you comfortable!

23. WATCH PAID TV FOR FREE

Lockdowns in winter are the perfect excuse to snuggle up in front of the TV. If you’ve already worked your way through the back catalogue of your existing streaming service, why not take advantage of one of the numerous free trials on offer from competing services?

Both Stan and Amazon Prime Video are currently offering 30-day free trials. Binge is offering 14 days, Foxtel Now 10 days and hayu deven days. Click here to see a full list of current offers compiled by Finder. Just don’t forget to cancel before the end of the trial period if you don’t want to pay!

24. KNOW YOUR EXPIRY DATES

Do you know the difference between a “use by” and a “best before” date on food items? I used to chuck out a lot of food just because it had passed the “best before” date. But that is unnecessary, according to Food Standards Australia New Zealand. FSANZ advises you must certainly ditch foods past their “use by” date to avoid health risks. But feel free to stretch things a little with “best before” dates: “You can still eat foods for a while after the best before date as they should be safe but they may have lost some quality,” according to this article on the FSANZ website.

So don’t just chuck it. Sniff it first and potentially save some money by reducing food waste.

25. TAX DEDUCTIONS FOR SHARE INVESTORS

Attention share investors! If you’ve been receiving dividend or other income from your investments, you may be able to claim a number of costs at tax time. I spoke to Tax Office assistant commissioner Tim Loh about what you can claim. He said if you’re actively managing your investments (ie. not just pumping money into one index fund) you can claim the costs of journals you read to stay informed and make decisions.

I asked him specifically about newspapers and mentioned the Australian Financial Review and Money Magazine by name. Loh’s verdict? “The types of subscriptions that you’re describing to me just then are the types where you probably could claim a deduction where you’re actively managing your portfolio.” Here’s the bad news: “You won’t be able to claim a deduction for your subscription to The Age and SMH - you’ve got articles about other stuff that isn’t financial and economics.” Can’t blame a girl for asking!

26. ADD TO CART...THEN WALK AWAY!

This budget tip is counter-intuitive: when online shopping, always ‘add to cart’. Don’t actually buy the item, mind you. Just click to ‘add’ and then close your browser. Walk away. You might just find that you receive some sort of notification in coming days that your item is on sale, or that a discount is available to tempt you back.

This works best with retailers who already have your email address. On that subject, it’s quite common for online retailers to offer at least 10 per cent off your first purchase if you give them your email. Do it. Then unsubscribe if you find the emails too tempting. And don’t forget to wait - if you can - for sale periods, like New Year’s, EOFY and Black Friday to make those big purchases. Happy online shopping everyone!

27. BUY FROZEN BERRIES

Why pay $5.50 for 125grams of fresh raspberries, when you could keep walking to the freezer aisle and pay $6 for 500grams of frozen raspberries? That’s a reduction in the per kilogram cost of your berries from $44 to $12.

I defrost mine in the microwave. Give it a try!

28. SHOP AT ALDI

Aldi stores: you either love ’em or you hate ’em. I think one of the reasons I enjoy shopping at Aldi stems from hating the “paradox of choice”. During any shopping trip I make to the bigger stores, you’ll find me stuck in aisle 7, calculator in hand, scrutinising the per-unit cost of six competing brands. Aldi generally has only one choice, and it’s generally cheaper. I did my own experiment last year to confirm this and my colleague Joel Gibson wrote up his own analysis. I know many people make savvy use of the rewards programs of the bigger stores, but I reckon Aldi-haters would do well to at least give it a try. Just avoid that tempting middle aisle...

29. SET A CALENDAR REMINDER TO CANCEL YOUR FREE TRIALS

Who doesn’t love a free trial? From TV streaming services to meal delivery services, there is no shortage of merchants willing to offer you a chance to try their goods and services for free, for a period.

The trick is not to set and forget! Particularly if you’ve had to hand over your credit card details to be charged when the trial ends. To avoid paying for products I don’t want, I always immediately set myself a calendar reminder for just before the trial period ends to remind me to cancel. Of course, if you like the product and want to keep receiving it, then pay up! But don’t let companies profit from your forgetfulness. Set a reminder pronto!

30. DON’T FORGET YOUR TRAVEL CREDITS

We’ve all been in lockdown for so long that I realised I was losing track of all my credits for cancelled plans, stretching back into last year. Take a moment today to think about what credits - on flights, accommodation or other experiences - you might be sitting on that you can use when we open up again (yay!). I’ve just written a list on a sheet of paper I keep in my home office to remember them all. I have a flight credit with Jetstar and a birthday massage voucher I’ve got to remember to use. I tried begging for a refund on the cancelled flight but to no avail. Can’t wait to travel again!

31. TOP UP, DON’T FILL UP

This week’s tip is: top up, don’t fill up. Pump prices have soared this year as the global economy emerges from COVID (albeit with some setbacks). This week, I found myself running close to empty and confronted with the prospect of having to pay $1.91 a litre for 95 octane unleaded petrol. Ouch! During lockdowns, I just don’t feel I can justify driving all over town to score the cheapest deal, as I usually would.

So, instead of buying a full tank at that price, I just topped up my tank halfway. Prices have since eased, so I’ll fill up properly this week. It all adds up.

32. DITCH THE DRYER

Now that the warmer weather is here, it’s time to unplug that clothes dryer and get out the drying racks! It costs about $1 per load of laundry you dry in a dryer, according to this article by Canstar. Of course, it depends on the energy efficiency of your drier and the cost of your electricity. Over the course of a year, that can really add up.

As always, with my budget tips: you do you! If it’s worth it to you to spend $1 to avoid hanging out the washing, go for it. I just know we do so much of our spending on autopilot - sometimes without even realising we’re spending money - that it’s worth taking a moment to question your decisions. Happy washing day!

33. CHECK OUT BIG GROCERY SAVER

My fellow money nerds over at One Big Switch have launched a new website BigGrocerySaver.com.au which allows you to compare the cheapest grocery items at Coles, Woolworths and Aldi each week. From paper towel to Pink Lady apples, you can see a list of 30 shopping items and which store has the cheapest. The figures are updated each Wednesday.

It’s a great reminder that the stores compete on different items each week. It’s well worth looking up what half-price deals are around and stocking up on any commonly used items! Happy bargain hunting!

34. CONSIDER GIVING YOUR CREDIT CARD THE SNIP

This week I cut up an American Express credit card I’ve had since 2008. I was paying it off in full every month and paid no annual fee. I was just happy accumulating some (minimal) frequent flyer points.

Turns out, however, when you apply for a loan, lenders typically assume you are in debt to the entire tune of your credit limit, even if you pay it off in full each month. So if you want to maximise your potential borrowing power, consider giving your credit card the snip.

35. SWITCH ENERGY PROVIDERS

If you have been on the same electricity plan for more than a year, chances are you can now save hundreds of dollars in a matter of minutes, simply by switching providers. Read all the benefits of making the switch here.

It’s part 1 of a new series we are running in our Money section called The Great Switch, where we write about how readers can trim their household bills by switching to new providers. Time to get moving! Those savings really add up.

36. REMEMBER TO CLAIM YOUR EXTRAS!

Attention everyone with “extras” policies through their private health insurer. Many insurers reset their annual benefits by calendar year. So get in now to use up any entitlements you have that may expire at the turn of the New Year. What have you been putting off this year? There’s still time to sneak in another trip to the dentist, a new order for contact lenses or a massage at a physiotherapist.

Check with your health insurer to see what unused benefits you may still be able to claim. And remember: you don’t need extras cover to avoid paying the Medicare Levy Surcharge, only eligible hospital cover. So make sure you’re getting more back in benefits each year than you’re paying in premiums!

37. SNEAK LOLLIES INTO THE CINEMA

How good is it to be able to go to the cinema again?! This week’s budget tip is an oldie but a goodie. Don’t pay inflated prices for popcorn and lollies at the cinema snack bar. Be sure to pop to the grocery store beforehand to stock up on cheaper treats and take them in with you. I’ve been doing this one since I was a kid!

39. SELL OLD TOYS SECOND HAND

New Years is the perfect time of year to get your little ones to agree to part with some of their toys. All being well, Santa will have just delivered a fresh bundle of toys for them to play with. A great way to offset the cost of, ahem, Santa, is to sell some of those outgrown toys second hand. My Mr 7 recently conceded he has outgrown playing with his Paw Patrol toys (sob) so we bundled them up and sold them as a ‘mega bundle’ on Facebook Marketplace. They sold for $50 to a woman who, when she came to collect, explained this was how her own son had decided to spend his $50 Christmas money. He probably scored about $250 in original value. Win win.

40. DOWNLOAD THE SUPERCOOK APP

One of the best ways to trim your grocery bills is to make sure you eat up all the food you’ve already bought. If you’re stuck for ideas, download the Supercook app. It has a neat dictaphone function where you can simply stand in front of your pantry or fridge and prattle off all the ingredients you have on hand. It will then spit out a list of recipes you can cook using what you have. I tried it this week and immediately had 272 new recipes to try using about 10 ingredients. Yum!

41. SCORE FREEBIES ON FACEBOOK MARKETPLACE

Are you an emotional spender? Do you sometimes crave that little “pick me up” that comes from buying something new? My top tip for you is that you can get that same feeling FOR FREE! Simply log into Facebook marketplace and set your price filter to “zero” to search for local listings in your area. People give away all sorts of things for free on marketplace, from furniture to clothes to decor. It helps them declutter and gives you that thrill of bagging a bargain. Win win.

42. INVESTIGATE AN ‘AGREED-VALUE’ POLICY

When did you last review your car insurance coverage? One way to cut your premiums is to switch to a low “agreed value” policy from a “market value policy”. Do you know which you have? Please check! Market value policies pay out the prevailing market value of your car in the event of a total loss. An agreed value policy, by contrast, lets you choose an exact dollar amount you wish to receive. I personally choose to have a low-sum agreed value policy. It won’t be enough to replace my current car in the event of a total loss, but I figure I can downgrade to a smaller and cheaper car if I need to. In the meantime, my premiums are much lower. Always consider what is right for your situation.

43. STRETCH OUT YOUR APPOINTMENTS

My tip this week is just to s-p-a-c-e i-t o-u-t. Too often, we get stuck in a rut believing we simply must get our hair done every eight weeks, our teeth professionally cleaned every six months, or our cars serviced half yearly. A simple trick is just to try stretching it out. Why not aim for a haircut every 10 weeks and a tooth clean or car service every nine months? Over time, those savings will add up. Of course, you must judge for yourself if the enjoyment or preventative benefits of more regular services are worth it to you. But we often unquestioningly hold ourselves to artificially high standards when it comes to paying for services, and it’s worth thinking twice before you rebook.

44. CLEAN DON’T REPLACE YOUR KETTLE

Do you really need to buy a new kettle, or does your current one just need a good clean? To remove stubborn chalky limescale deposits, try this magic cleaning trick. Fill your kettle to the limescale line with one part white vinegar to one part water. Boil. Discard the mix and remove any remaining limescale by rubbing lightly with paper towel or a microfibre cloth. Boil again with water only and discard. And voila! Like new.

45. WATER YOUR GARDEN AT NIGHT

Can you believe tomorrow is the last day of summer? Water bills are a big expense for many households in Australia, particularly in summer, so it definitely pays to be water wise. To save on water costs, always remember to water your garden or balcony plants in the evenings when it’s cooler. Not only does this reduce immediate evaporation, it gives your greenery more time overnight to drink up the water.

46. DRIVE SMART

I’ve previously shared my top 5 tips for saving at the bowser. As pump prices remain sky-high, it’s time to extend the list. Remember that the way you drive can impact your fuel consumption in various ways. Avoid too heavy acceleration or braking. Make sure your tyres are fully inflated. Turn down the AC. And importantly, make sure to offload any excess items you are driving around, such as a boot-load of books you’ve been meaning to drop off at the op-shop for months (or is that just me?). Anything you can do to lighten your load will also lighten your petrol costs.

47. BECOME A PET SITTER

I mention this in today’s column, but a great way to get a cheap holiday is to sign up to be a pet sitter. Checkout websites like madpaws.com.au and petcloud.com.au and register your interest to be a pet sitter. You can then be connected with a world of pet-owners needing someone to come stay in their homes for free and mind their fur babies. Worth considering!

48. SHOP USING UNIT PRICING

I’m only going to say this once: per-unit pricing. Actually, I’ll probably say it multiple times because when you’re scouring the supermarket shelves for bargains, this is one of the most important things to keep in mind. Don’t stand there for hours trying to calculate the per-sheet cost of toilet paper, simply peer a little closer and you’ll see most store labels actually calculate this for you. Whether it’s per kilogram, per 100 grams or per item, per-unit pricing will always point you to the best bargains. We’re lucky to have it as stores have only been doing it for a decade or so. So pay attention, pick the cheapest product you like and nab the savings!

49. TRY POWDERED MILK

This week, I’ve been experimenting with powdered milk to see if it’s cheaper. As a single person who only really uses milk in my morning coffee, I often struggle to drink an entire carton of milk before it goes sour. In my recent Costco haul, I paid $10.49 for a 1 kilogram bag of Devondale powdered milk. This makes up to about 7 litres of liquid milk when combined with water, working out at $1.50 per litre.

Now, as it turns out, Woolworths home brand powdered milk is much cheaper, at just $8 for a kilo, or $1.14 a litre made up. That’s also cheaper than buying Woolworths home brand milk from the fridge, which sells for $1.30 to $1.35 per litre. The real potential advantage I see with powdered milk, however, is that it stores for much longer. You can just make up a little batch, from time-to-time, as you need it, potentially avoiding wastage. And if you keep some on hand, you’ll never have to dash to the store for milk! Just something to consider as prices rise.

50. SLOW YOUR (TOILET) ROLL…

Since the pandemic, national discussion has focused to an abnormal degree on toilet paper. Just to add to that, my tip this week concerns the humble bog roll. More particularly, the problematic circular nature of the central cardboard roll. How delightful it is to grab the tail end of that baby and spin, spin, spin, safe in the knowledge that replenishments are aplenty. Well, stop right there! To prevent this sort of glad-handed wasteful abundance, members of the UK money saving group forum at www.moneysavingexpert.com have this suggestion: “Flatten new loo rolls slightly. Stopping it from rolling so quickly can help prevent kids (and some adults...) from pulling off more toilet paper than needed.” While you’re at it, follow @moneysavingexp on Instagram for more tips.

51. WASH CLOTHES IN COLD WATER

One money saving tip I have previously baulked at is washing my clothes in cold water. But an analysis by Choice magazine has changed my mind. Choice notes that Australia has a warmer ambient temperature than many other parts of the world, so our “cold” water isn’t actually that cold, comparatively. Plus, Choice’s tests found there was only a 3 per cent improvement in soil removal when washing in warm water compared to cold water. “Certainly not enough to justify the extra cost of heating the wash water,” concludes Choice’s laundry expert Ashley Iredale. For five more laundry savings tips, read the article here.

52. CANCEL IMMEDIATELY AFTER SUBSCRIBING

I’ve broken up and got back together with Netflix more times than I can remember. While I don’t exploit the usual loophole of sharing a Netflix login with friends or family to cut costs (and I could never condone such behaviour...) I do have a rule of thumb to immediately cancel my subscription every time I sign back up. I still get to watch it for the month I’ve paid, but it sets up an automatic decision point for Future Me. After the month is up, I’m forced to decide if I’m really getting value for money or if I can let my subscription slide. I have a habit of binging the latest content available on one streaming service (hello Bridgerton and Anatomy of a Scandal) before moving onto another service, like Stan or Disney, the next month. I’ve said it before, I’ll say it again: don’t just set and forget your subscriptions!

53. HEAT THE HUMAN, NOT THE HOME

That’s the advice of popular UK savings guru Martin Lewis. Power prices have been soaring in the UK, and there are predictions Australian prices will soon rise too. Of course, there are limits to how many jumpers one person can wear. And it’s not worth jeopardising your mental or physical health to scrimp too much on heating. But as the colder days set it, it’s a mantra worth keeping in mind. Before you simply flick the switch on the heater, be sure to chuck on the Uggs and grab a rug to snuggle under while watching TV. Sounds quite nice to me.

54. PSSSST MUMS…CANCEL YOUR OBSTETRICS COVER

Happy Mother’s Day to all the mums out there! Now listen up ... I know you love your little ones, but if you feel you’re done making any more of them, do remember to check if your private health insurance cover is still appropriate. Mums often pay top dollar for hospital policies to cover obstetrics and then, in the rush of parenting, forget to review their policies to decide if that top-level cover is still what they want. Of course, often the decision whether to have more kids is not a clear-cut thing, but if you know you’re done, it’s something to check to potentially slash your premiums.

55. BUY LETTUCE WITH ROOTS

In the ever-increasing cost-of-living squeeze, $5 lettuces are suddenly the new $2 petrol pinch point. My top tip with lettuce is to try to buy varietals with the roots still on. These roots can be submerged in a bowl of water in your fridge to prolong their life and avoid wastage. I did this and my butter lettuce lasted about three weeks!

56. SHOP HALF PRICE SPECIALS

Although I’m a big Aldi and Costco fan, I’m also a big fan of the weekly half price specials at Coles and Woolworths. When shopping in these stores, I always pick up a copy of the weekly catalogue to peruse. But you can also find information on half price specials online via the Half Price app. Apps like Frugl and Wiselist also neatly display products on sale. If you find your favourite items for half the price, it’s time to stock up!

57. USE THE MY 7-ELEVEN APP

If you haven’t heard of the My 7-Eleven app, it is a great one to download today to add to your armory for fighting $2-plus petrol prices. Basically, the app lets you scan petrol prices at nearby 7-Eleven petrol stations and lock in the best one. Once you do, you get the option to pay that price on your next fill-up at any 7-Eleven station during the next seven days. So, if prices skyrocket, you retain that option to pay the older, lower price. If prices fall, just don’t use it. It’s a particularly good idea to check the app if you happen to be driving through an area with low petrol prices. Always remember, however, to check a comparison app capturing all branded petrol stations, such as FuelCheck (NSW only), Motormouth or Petrol Spy, to ensure the 7-Eleven price is, indeed, the lowest price available on the day. Good luck out there!

58. DITCH ‘EXTRAS’ COVER IF IT DOESN’T ADD UP

I don’t know who needs to hear this today, but you don’t need extras cover in your private health insurance. Sure, you can have it, if you estimate you will receive more back in benefits during the year on things like optical and dental than you pay in premiums. But you are not required to have extras cover to avoid paying the government’s Medicare Levy Surcharge. You only need hospital cover to avoid this tax slug, which otherwise applies for singles earning over $90,000 and families earning over $180,000. So please do investigate if paying extra for extras coverage is worth it for you.

59. JOIN ENERGY-SAVING ONLINE COMMUNITIES

Baby, it’s cold out there! Amid soaring power prices, I’ve been enjoying the posts in a Facebook group I joined a while ago called My Efficient Electric Home. It has about 50,000 members who regularly share stories of how they have weather-proofed their homes and switched from gas to electric to save on power bills. From sealing draughts, to insulation, to comparing the energy intensity of different heating sources, there is definitely some inspo in there to help you save on power bills this winter. Check it out here and please do be respectful as they appear to be a very sincere and well-meaning community.

60. KEEP AN EYE OUT FOR CLEARANCE ITEMS

I can’t take credit for this week’s tip, which must go to Daniel, a truckie and late-night caller to Philip Clark’s ABC Radio Nightlife. You can listen to my full hour-long chat on Apple here. Dan called in to say he reckons he feeds himself for $50 a week, largely by going to grocery stores and looking for the special ‘clearance’ sections, particularly in the freezer aisle. He buys meat that is about to expire, cuts it up into meal-sized portions and whacks it straight into the mini-freezer in the truck. Buying discounted items that are about to go off - be it meat, grains or veg - and freezing them is a great strategy. I’ll definitely be keeping a better eye out for clearance sections when I’m next at Coles or Woolies. Nice one, Dan!

61. GRAB CORN COBS FROM THE FREEZER

Want to know what I eat in a day? I’ve shared my ‘day on a plate’ in today’s Sunday Life magazine. You can read the article here. The verdict from nutritionist Dr Joanna McMillan is that I need to eat more fibre, which I graciously accept. I get full marks, however, for my use of frozen veg! “Freezing preserves nutrients and helps to reduce food waste,” says Dr McMillan. As fresh food prices soar, stocking up on frozen peas, carrot, corn, broccoli and berries etc can not only ensure you always have a handy supply of nutritious fruit and veg, but also save you money, too. When I checked at my local Aldi earlier this week, fresh sweet corn on the cob cost $6.98 per kilogram. A one kilogram bag of corn cobs from the frozen section? $2.69. Winner winner, frozen veggies for dinner!

62. RETURN YOUR DEAD PLANTS TO BUNNINGS

Not got much of a green thumb? Have you heard of Bunnings’ ‘perfect plant promise’? Under the policy, you can return sick plants to the retailer within 12 months for a full refund. According to media reports, your long-suffering Peace Lily will be inspected by a staff member, presumably to ascertain a precise cause of death. But barring any extreme negligence on your behalf, you can probably expect a refund. For clarity, the exact policy wording states: “All our plants are guaranteed for 12 months*, so if you’re not 100% happy, return your plant (with receipt) and we’ll refund it.” The asterix clarifies the policy does not apply to seedlings (both flower and vegetable) as well as potted colour ‘bloomers’, the latter being ‘short-lived plants that are not expected to live for more than 3-5 months in the garden’. Still, something worth considering if this chilly winter we’re having leaves your plant babies worse for wear.

63. UP YOUR FROZEN SPINACH GAME

Amid rising food prices, particularly for leafy greens, it’s time to make like PopEye the Sailor Man and up your spinach game. I’m uncertain whether you can buy tinned spinach in Australia, but you can definitely find it in the freezer section. There, you’ll currently pay about 95 cents for a 250 gram packet of frozen spinach, versus nearly $5 for a similar weight packet of fresh. Frozen spinach is a great addition to soups and curries and can even be snuck into kids foods like a bolognaise sauce without them noticing. Happy eating!

64. SWITCH UP YOUR BEAUTY BRANDS

I possess absolutely no qualifications whatsoever to provide you with beauty advice of any sort. I did, however, recently manage to save myself quite a lot of cash by switching out a $70 bottle of foundation for a cheaper brand on sale for just $16.49. I wrote an Instagram post about it here inviting people to share their own money-savvy beauty tips and I was blown away by all the helpful advice.

From using coconut oil as makeup remover (disclaimer: haven’t tried it), to cheaper quality brands to explore, to the time-old wisdom of just sleeping more and drinking lots of water, I suggest you check out the comments on the post. I love seeing women fight back together against the “beauty penalty” society insists we must pay. Skip the serums, gals, and plough your money into super instead!

65. BUY CLOTHES AT CHARITY SHOPS

In case you missed the memo: shopping at charity stores is cool. Younger generations get it, but some of us older types sometimes need reminding. Not only are you turning your back on fast fashion, you’re saving money AND injecting funds into the charity sector to help people in need. So, before you pop to the shops for your new season’s haul, duck into your local charity shop. Better yet, jump in the car and visit a charity store in a more salubrious area of your city – they often get the best donations. Pre-loved fashion is one of the ways I’ve managed to keep my annual spending on clothes for myself to about $150 in the past two financial years. Yes, you read that right.

66. TRY AN ‘INTERVAL TIMER’ HOME WORKOUT

I love my gym membership, but if you are looking for ways to save, home workouts are a great thing to try. I recently downloaded a few “Interval” training apps. There are lots of free ones - just search “interval timer” - in your app store. They are basically just a timer you can set to beep at intervals to guide your workout. So, perhaps you set it to “work” for 45 seconds, doing squats, push-ups or sit-ups, and then take 15 seconds’ “rest”. Do that for a couple of rounds, and you are sure to work up a sweat! For free!

67. REMEMBER RE-FILLS

My favourite Uni-Ball Impact 1.0mm Gel pens cost a whopping $5 a pop. But it turns out you can buy re-fills for just $2.66 each, which is not only clearly cheaper, but also better for the environment! From handsoap to tomato sauce to pens, don’t forget re-fills, people!

68. TRY MY FOUR ‘Ss’ FOR SAVING

If you are tempted to pile in on this weekend’s Afterpay Day sales from various online retailers, take a deep breath first and remember my ‘Four Ss for Saving’. First, consider if you could buy the item second-hand. Second, always shop around and compare prices to make sure you’re getting the best deal. Third, consider if you could share the item with a friend, or rent it for cheaper. And fourth, sleep on it. Don’t forget there are plenty of other major sales periods looming in November via the Black Friday and Cyber Monday sales. So don’t rush into any big purchases.

69. TRY ANOTHER FREE LIBRARY APP!

I’ve let you know previously about Borrowbox, but you can also use the app Libby to access digital copies of books from your local library. Simply download the Libby app and it will help you search for your local library. If you don’t already have a borrowing card, you will need to pay a visit to your local library to get one. If you do, it’s just a matter of entering your card number to access your local library’s online trove of thousands of titles, including ebooks and audiobooks! Happy reading!

70. TRY ALTERNATIVE RIDE SHARE APPS

This is your reminder to mix up your ride-share apps. It’s easy to get in a rut thinking Uber is the only game in town. I used DiDi for the first time this week, and they had all sorts of discounts just for downloading the app and signing up. You can also try Ola and Lyft, depending on your location. This article from Finder has a link to a $20 promo code for Didi. Safe travels!

71. TRY THE ‘EVERYDAY EXTRA’ PROGRAM

I’m a big advocate of shopping around for your groceries. But if Woolworths happens to be your “go to”, make sure you’re aware of the Everyday Extra program. You can pay an annual subscription fee of $59 which entitles you to 10 per cent off one shop per month at Woolworths and 10% off one shop per month at Big W. At an average monthly cost of just under $5, you’d only need to spend $50 per month at either of those stores to cover the membership fee. Spend more than that, and you could be well ahead! You also get bonus rewards points, some other perks and there is a 30-day free trial. Check it out here.

72. SWAP HOMES FOR HOLIDAYS!

It’s school holiday time again for families, and summer is just around the corner (as wet as it may prove to be!) My tip this week for homeowners is not to forget about home swap sites! Just google “home exchange” and you’ll find any number of reputable global and domestic websites where you can list your home and register to view other homes around the world. I’ve never done it, but my dad swears by it! Even if you can’t arrange an exact swap, it’s often possible to accumulate “points” to use at another date. For renters, you could also investigate pet or home sitting. Accommodation is often a major cost for holidays, so something worth keeping in mind!

73. BORROW MONEY FOR FREE

This tip is for anyone on an income of less than $70,000, who holds a healthcare or pension card or who has experienced family or domestic violence in the past 10 years. Please be aware of No Interest Loans offered by NAB and Good Shepherd. You can borrow up to $5000 to cover costs if your car breaks down or up to $2000 for smaller emergencies like needing a new major appliance or paying an unexpected medical bill. Provided you can show you have the capacity to repay the amount in small instalments, you can qualify and pay no interest on the borrowing - much better than resorting to a pay day lender or other expensive credit. For more information, visit the website here or call the loans team on 13 64 57. Please forward this email to anyone you know who may benefit.

74. STREAM VIDEOS FOR FREE

I hadn’t heard of this one until Dom mentioned it on the podcast. I’ve heard of the BorrowBox and Libby apps for accessing public libraries’ ebooks and audio books online. Turns out there’s also one for accessing their video content called Kanopy. It didn’t yet have my public library listed when I checked it out. But it’s definitely worth having a look for yours if you’re looking to cut back on subscription costs. Also don’t forget the ABC’s iview app and SBS’s On Demand service (I binge watched all seasons of Alone recently on the latter - I don’t think I would survive long in the wild, but it’s sure interesting to watch people try!) Happy free viewing!

75. USE ‘CASHBACK’ APPS

Every dollar counts at the moment, so this week I downloaded two cash back apps: ShopBack and Cashrewards. They’re both free to join and offer you discounts at many major retailers if you purchase goods via links in the app, or in-store using a nominated credit card. You still pay full price, but once your transaction has cleared, you get paid “cash back” to your account within the app, which you can then withdraw to your normal bank account. To be honest, I haven’t ordered anything yet this way, but they’re worth a look!

76. BE AWARE OF BUNDLED DISCOUNTS

I have a tweak to my Woolworths Everyday Extra savings tip! Remember that’s the program which, for a $59 annual cost, entitles you to 10 per cent off one shop per month at both a Woolworths and a Big W.

Well, it turns out you can also secure the same 10 per cent discount (although only at Woolies, not Big W) by becoming a Woolworths mobile phone customer. You can see their plans here. Be sure to compare the plan costs to other providers, such as Aldi or the deals on the website Whistle Out. But it’s one way to avoid the outright $59 cost while also getting the same 10 per cent grocery discount, which can really add up, particularly for bigger families. Thanks to reader Andy for this tip!

77. SHOP YOUR INTERNET PLAN

A reminder to shop around for the best deal on your internet plans! One of my favourite comparison sites for internet and phone plans, Whistle Out, is currently displaying six month intro offers of $44 per month for Spintel, $44.90 for Tangerine and $49.95 for Exetel and Superloop. All plans default to higher rates after the first six months, but in theory you could swap every six months to a new deal. Well worth checking out!

78. BUY XMAS PRESSIES ON BLACK FRIDAY

Christmas is coming! And so, too, are the Black Friday and Cyber Monday sales, which kick off this year on Friday, November 25 and Monday, November 28. A tradition imported from the United States, these sales are actually pretty handy if you’re looking to save a bundle on your Christmas gifts this year. You just need to get a bit organised and figure out what to get everyone. Then, check your favourite retailers during the sales period to see what discounts are on offer. Cashback sites like Cashrewards and ShopBack are also having “click frenzy” sales at the moment. So if you’re considering any larger purchases this year, on things such as whitegoods, appliances or furniture, you have one week left to get organised. Good luck!

79. RENT CAMPERVANS ON THE CHEAP

Who doesn’t want to jump in a van and disappear into the silence and solitude of the bush for a few nights?! Just me? If you’re looking to save on a campervan holiday, I have two new websites for you to try. Camplify is a website which allows owners of campervans, caravans and motorhomes to rent out their vehicles when not in use − at rates much cheaper than the commercial fleets.

Combine that with another site called Hipcamp, which allows you to search for campsites and private properties to park your van or pitch your tent on. Alternatively, if you own a campervan or some rural property, these could be a nice little passive income earner for you. Either way, enjoy! (Thank you to my lovely friend Meredith for this tip.)

80. HAVE ‘THE TALK’ ABOUT PRESENTS

Christmas is expensive, right? One thing I’m doing this year is openly telling friends whom I am buying presents for exactly what I will be spending in advance. The text message goes something like this: “Hi! I’m going to be buying you a little Christmas pressie this year in the $25 range. Just a heads up!” Nothing like a bit of clear and open communication to ensure gift-giving wires are not crossed and budgets are adhered to.

Another idea I really like is setting your family or friendship group a challenge to only buy secondhand presents from op shops or Facebook Marketplace. It’s recycling and it’s helping a charity − all the good things! Merry Christmas one and all! (Too soon ...?)

81. HUNT OUT THE BEST SAVINGS RATES

If you have any spare cash sitting around, it’s time to put it to work! As of December 2022, according to the RateCity comparison website, there were five banks offering savings rates above 4 per cent: ING, MOVE Bank, Virgin Money, People’s Choice and uBank.

ING’s Savings Maxmiser is paying 4.55 per cent ongoing and Virgin Money’s Boost Saver is paying 4.6 per cent. Check their websites, as conditions usually apply, such as having to make regular new savings contributions. But every dollar counts, and the upside of pain for mortgage holders is that cash is paying out again.

A mortgage offset account which reduces the interest payable on your variable rate mortgage can also be a great option.

82. SAVE AT THE CINEMA

If you’re planning to hit the cinemas this holiday period, make sure you don’t pay full price. Everyone knows about cheap Tuesdays, but there are many other ways to save on tickets across the week. My NRMA membership entitles me to $12.50 Event cinema tickets if you book in advance via the app. I’m told Telstra Plus has a similar offer. Cashback sites like Cash Rewards and Shop Back often have discounts. And it’s worth checking with your union or insurer to see what offers they might have. If in doubt, ask at the cinema what discounts you may be able to use! Happy viewing

That’s it for now! I will keep this list updated with future Money with Jess budget tips, so you can check back here for more. Or better yet, subscribe to receive my free Money with Jess emails directly each week here.