Cut Costs: 10 Money-Saving Habits to Perk Up Your Bank Balance
Thrifty living is possible if you know how. Here are 10 habits to get into so you can save money every day
Joanna Tovia
23 March 2022
Houzz editorial team. Photojournalist specialising in design, travel and living well. Follow her photodocumentary about pets and the people who love them on Instagram @unfoldingtails
Houzz editorial team. Photojournalist specialising in design, travel and living well.... More
It isn’t just the big-ticket items that put a dent in our savings; it’s all those little day-to-day expenses that prove costly over time. Adopt a few of these wallet-friendly habits, and you’re sure to get to your goals faster. Not sure what your goals are? Think overseas holiday, new car and worry-free Christmas shopping (it’ll be here sooner than you think), just for starters.
1. Become a smart shopper
Just as giving up fastfood will save you money, so will giving up fast fashion. Buy quality classic items in natural textiles such as wool, hemp and organic cotton. Although you may spend more in the short term, you’ll spend far less over time because you won’t have to continually replace worn-out or out-of-fashion items that clutter up your wardrobe.
If you’re worried about getting sick of long-lasting clothes, don’t – just have a range of accessories within reach to change your look in an instant. If your clothes or shoes do need repairing, fix them yourself or get an expert onto the job.
Renovating? Find a joinery professional or cabinet maker near you on Houzz
Just as giving up fastfood will save you money, so will giving up fast fashion. Buy quality classic items in natural textiles such as wool, hemp and organic cotton. Although you may spend more in the short term, you’ll spend far less over time because you won’t have to continually replace worn-out or out-of-fashion items that clutter up your wardrobe.
If you’re worried about getting sick of long-lasting clothes, don’t – just have a range of accessories within reach to change your look in an instant. If your clothes or shoes do need repairing, fix them yourself or get an expert onto the job.
Renovating? Find a joinery professional or cabinet maker near you on Houzz
2. Cook food from scratch
You may think processed foods and takeaway meals save you time, but it’s really just a matter of getting organised. Cook twice as much as you need and freeze the rest, plan your meals for the week, and try to go to the supermarket only once a week.
If you struggle to come up with ideas for what to cook, try a rotating roster of weekday meals that turns over every fortnight. Weekends can be the time you experiment with something new, or when you treat yourself to a dinner out. Australians throw out an extraordinary amount of food each year. Using up leftovers and making sure you eat everything you buy is guaranteed to save you money.
How to create a cook’s garden
You may think processed foods and takeaway meals save you time, but it’s really just a matter of getting organised. Cook twice as much as you need and freeze the rest, plan your meals for the week, and try to go to the supermarket only once a week.
If you struggle to come up with ideas for what to cook, try a rotating roster of weekday meals that turns over every fortnight. Weekends can be the time you experiment with something new, or when you treat yourself to a dinner out. Australians throw out an extraordinary amount of food each year. Using up leftovers and making sure you eat everything you buy is guaranteed to save you money.
How to create a cook’s garden
3. Be a neighbourly neighbour
Are your chooks laying too many eggs? Have a bumper crop of beans this year? Got your eye on the honey your neighbour’s bees are busy making down the road? Get into the habit of sharing, and your neighbours will share with you. Whether it’s skills, tools, eggs or vegies, sharing is the easy way to save money for both of you.
Are your chooks laying too many eggs? Have a bumper crop of beans this year? Got your eye on the honey your neighbour’s bees are busy making down the road? Get into the habit of sharing, and your neighbours will share with you. Whether it’s skills, tools, eggs or vegies, sharing is the easy way to save money for both of you.
4. Look after your car
Checking the tyre pressure of your car is one of the best ways to cut fuel consumption and extend the life of your tyres. You’ll also save on fuel by keeping up to date with services, emptying your car of golf clubs or tools to lighten the load, and by using air-conditioning only when you really need it. Combining errands into one trip just makes sense, and if you can walk or cycle rather than drive, the benefits extend far beyond just cost savings.
Checking the tyre pressure of your car is one of the best ways to cut fuel consumption and extend the life of your tyres. You’ll also save on fuel by keeping up to date with services, emptying your car of golf clubs or tools to lighten the load, and by using air-conditioning only when you really need it. Combining errands into one trip just makes sense, and if you can walk or cycle rather than drive, the benefits extend far beyond just cost savings.
5. DIY wrapping paper and cards
It doesn’t matter how artistic or crafty you are, coming up with ideas to personalise gifts for family and friends is something everyone can do. What we often do at our house is roll out a length of butcher’s paper (inexpensive rolls of paper are available at IKEA), and each grab a crayon in a different colour. We then think about who we’re giving the gift to and what we love about them. The result is a colourfully wrapped gift that always brings a tear to the eye of the recipient. Who wouldn’t like to know you think they’re ‘kind’, ‘fun’, ‘happy’ and ‘awesome’? Giving a present is all about making someone feel special, after all.
Plain butcher’s paper also looks fabulous tied up with bright ribbons or string, or a simple sprig of rosemary or lavender from the garden. The same creative touch can be applied to birthday and thank you cards – otherwise costly items that are far more special when they’re homemade.
It doesn’t matter how artistic or crafty you are, coming up with ideas to personalise gifts for family and friends is something everyone can do. What we often do at our house is roll out a length of butcher’s paper (inexpensive rolls of paper are available at IKEA), and each grab a crayon in a different colour. We then think about who we’re giving the gift to and what we love about them. The result is a colourfully wrapped gift that always brings a tear to the eye of the recipient. Who wouldn’t like to know you think they’re ‘kind’, ‘fun’, ‘happy’ and ‘awesome’? Giving a present is all about making someone feel special, after all.
Plain butcher’s paper also looks fabulous tied up with bright ribbons or string, or a simple sprig of rosemary or lavender from the garden. The same creative touch can be applied to birthday and thank you cards – otherwise costly items that are far more special when they’re homemade.
6. Rethink how often you use the dryer
Your clothes will last much longer, the sun will naturally sterilise them, and you’ll cut your electricity bill dramatically if you hang out your clothes to dry. If you usually use your dryer three times a week, you’ll save almost $300 a year if you peg up your clothes instead. Learn more about how much your appliances are costing you here. If you’re in the market for a new dryer, go for an energy-efficient one. A two-star dryer uses more than 200 per cent more energy than a six-star model.
Browse more beautifully designed laundries
Your clothes will last much longer, the sun will naturally sterilise them, and you’ll cut your electricity bill dramatically if you hang out your clothes to dry. If you usually use your dryer three times a week, you’ll save almost $300 a year if you peg up your clothes instead. Learn more about how much your appliances are costing you here. If you’re in the market for a new dryer, go for an energy-efficient one. A two-star dryer uses more than 200 per cent more energy than a six-star model.
Browse more beautifully designed laundries
7. Set up a helping roster
Connecting with your community is one of the best things you can do for your mental health, so why not start a group that gets together once a month to help out one member of the group at a time. One person might need help weeding and replanting the vegie patch, another to re-stain their deck and outdoor furniture. Someone else might want help cooking up meals for the freezer, or repaving the pathway to the front door – the options are endless. I’ve just started this idea with a group of about six friends. It’s a great way to get together and to help each other out at the same time.
Connecting with your community is one of the best things you can do for your mental health, so why not start a group that gets together once a month to help out one member of the group at a time. One person might need help weeding and replanting the vegie patch, another to re-stain their deck and outdoor furniture. Someone else might want help cooking up meals for the freezer, or repaving the pathway to the front door – the options are endless. I’ve just started this idea with a group of about six friends. It’s a great way to get together and to help each other out at the same time.
8. Pack your own groceries
When you buy pre-packaged food from the supermarket, the fact is that you’re paying for the packaging material and the process of packing it. Food co-ops allow you to take your own jars or reusable paper bags and fill them from bulk bins containing grain, dried fruit, and staples, such as sugar and flour, and there’s usually a selection of locally grown fruit and vegetables and other healthy edibles to buy while you’re there. Ditching the disposable packaging and buying local is good news for your wallet, and for the planet.
10 steps to planning the perfect kitchen pantry
When you buy pre-packaged food from the supermarket, the fact is that you’re paying for the packaging material and the process of packing it. Food co-ops allow you to take your own jars or reusable paper bags and fill them from bulk bins containing grain, dried fruit, and staples, such as sugar and flour, and there’s usually a selection of locally grown fruit and vegetables and other healthy edibles to buy while you’re there. Ditching the disposable packaging and buying local is good news for your wallet, and for the planet.
10 steps to planning the perfect kitchen pantry
9. Make your own cleaning supplies
Expensive cleaning sprays can make your shopping bill skyrocket, and most are laden with chemicals that don’t do you, or the environment, any favours. Combining white vinegar with a drop or two of eucalyptus oil costs a fraction of the price, and does just as good a job.
Expensive cleaning sprays can make your shopping bill skyrocket, and most are laden with chemicals that don’t do you, or the environment, any favours. Combining white vinegar with a drop or two of eucalyptus oil costs a fraction of the price, and does just as good a job.
10. Take shorter showers
Cutting your water bills is easy with this simple adjustment to your family’s daily routine. If you love a long shower, though, don’t beat yourself up. Just stick to four-minute showers on weekdays and indulge in longer showers on the weekend. A water-saving showerhead will cut your bills even further.
Your turn
Share your favourite money-saving habits in the comments section below – we’d love to hear about them!
More
To pinch a few more pennies, check out this story: 11 Ways to Save Water (and a Little Money While You’re at It) at Home
Cutting your water bills is easy with this simple adjustment to your family’s daily routine. If you love a long shower, though, don’t beat yourself up. Just stick to four-minute showers on weekdays and indulge in longer showers on the weekend. A water-saving showerhead will cut your bills even further.
Your turn
Share your favourite money-saving habits in the comments section below – we’d love to hear about them!
More
To pinch a few more pennies, check out this story: 11 Ways to Save Water (and a Little Money While You’re at It) at Home
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Recyclying gift bags & decorations - I use brown paper carry bags to store gift bags that have been given to me, bubble wrap from packaging, party decorations, re-useable ribbon bows etc. Write what's in the bags on the outside, stack them on a shelf and then you have quick access for parcel, gift wrapping and table decorations without having to buy or waste time to find.
Looking at the pantry photo...I had some old coffee jars they look lovely and was thinking of putting spices in them etc. But I thought there are expiry dates on everything. How do people know if the item hasn't expired when put in plain jars. Also you have to run the jar right out before topping up as it'll need to be cleaned or the old stuff will just go bad. Also you see people with hand written labels it looks so lovely but after a wash those labels don't look that flash anymore. Do they have to redo them with every wash?
You can clean the expire date with eucalyptus oil and for the labels I get an empty milk bottle and cut it up and put the label inside the jar.