10 'cheapskate' tips to help in a cost of living crisis

Nobody likes a cheapskate, right? That friend who never shouts a round at the bar; your great-aunt who reuses her teabags; the shopper who makes the kid behind the deli counter weigh out the shaved ham until it’s exactly 100 grams and not a bit over.

But hidden beneath the wild frugality, self-proclaimed cheapskates have many practical ways to keep your budget on track. And in times like these, when the cost of living is putting pressure on Aussie households, embracing your inner penny pincher could be beneficial.

I asked the team at Canstar to share their own cheapskate hacks and have included a few of my own below. I hope you find them useful.

Here are 10 easy and practical ways to help you get more value from every dollar.

1. Use dollar stores for toiletries and cleaning supplies

Our Consumer Editor, Meagan, recommends shopping at your local dollar store or discount chain to find cleaning supplies and toiletries at heavily reduced prices. She recently picked up her favourite shampoo at The Reject Shop for $5. The same bottle costs $23 full price at Woolworths. You can find everything from washing detergent

and toilet cleaner to soap, antibacterial spray and more at these shops for a lot less than you’d pay at the supermarket. If you have the funds available, you could buy these products in bulk to save going back frequently.

2. Play discount code roulette when shopping online

Before hitting checkout on any online shopping purchases, I always do a quick search for a discount code. You can do this by searching ‘brand name + discount code’ online. If you have access to AI software, like ChatGPT, you can ask it to find codes for you. You might also get a discount code when you sign up to a brand’s loyalty program or give them your email address so they can contact you about promotions. Remember, you can always unsubscribe after you’ve used your discount code.

3. Check when your local supermarket discounts produce and meats

Every day Woolies and Coles discounts produce and deli items to make room for fresh products. This typically happens around the same time each day, so figuring out when your local store does this, and shopping accordingly, can save you at the checkout. To give you a helping hand, some supermarket staff have used social media to share their insider tips on the best times to shop. Here’s what they say:

• Coles: Markdowns start around 12pm, then 3pm, with final price drops at 6/7pm depending on closing time.
• Woolworths: Same times as Coles. Woolies also has significant discounts on fresh produce and meat every Wednesday.

Ask staff at your local store for the best times to shop (and save).

Pro tip: Canstar’s Product Manager, Jodi, always checks the 50% off section at the end of the aisles. It’s a good opportunity to stock up on non-perishables you can store for later.

4. Check buy/swap/sell groups

Canstar’s Editor-in-Chief, Nina, is a pro at scouring local buy/swap/sell groups for a win. These social media groups are typically organised by brand, some of which are designer, making it a savvy way to score high-value items on a budget and a win for anyone who prefers to recycle and reuse rather than buy brand new. You can even flip the script and use Facebook Marketplace to turn your own unwanted items into a budget booster. Snap clear photos of your unwanted gear, write a punchy description, and watch your old clutter transform into a handy cash injection for your savings account.

Pro tip: “This is a chance to put your haggling skills to use. If you’re buying, don’t be afraid to politely push for the best price and negotiate a deal that works for your budget.” – Nina

5. Use cheap proteins to fill in meals

Meat may be a supermarket staple for many Aussie shoppers but it doesn’t come cheap. Canstar’s Data Insights Director, Sally, says an easy substitute is cheaper proteins like beans and lentils. These offer great nutritional value and usually cost about $1 for a 420 gram tin compared to the $10 you’d pay for 500g of beef mince. Use more cost-effective, carb-dense foods like rice, pasta or potato where a little goes a long way. These can help bulk up your meals, not your grocery bill.

6. Use loyalty programs and insurance provider discounts

If you’re signed up to a loyalty program or pay for car, health or home insurance, you might be able to score discounts if you shop with your provider’s partner brands. You’ll usually have to shop online to take advantage of these offers and you’ll always need to go via your loyalty program or insurance provider’s website to activate the discount. Here’s how to do it:

1. Log in to your program or insurer account online
2. Go to the partnerships page to see which brands they’ve teamed up with
3. Click the brand name to open the website and shop in this tab. You’ll only get the discount if you access the website via the partnerships page.

Pro tip: Take advantage of partnership offers your family has access to. Sophia from Canstar’s Marketing team uses her family’s different work perks and savings apps for cashbacks and discounts on weekly shopping.

7. Split your shopping

Instead of heading to the same supermarket every week, check to see if certain products are cheaper or on sale at a different store. Splitting your grocery shops between stores might take a little longer, but you’d be surprised at how much you could save.

Pro tip: If you’re doing a split shop between Coles and Woolworths, do click-and-collect orders within the same hour for both. That way you can pick up from both stores in one trip.

8. Use it before you lose it

Australians throw out 7.6 million tonnes of food each year. Instead of ditching that wilted spinach and soft tomatoes in the bottom of your crisper, find ways to cook them into a meal. You could even turn the fridge and pantry clean out into a game to make it more enticing. Think Masterchef mystery box challenge.

9. Become a snack master

Is this a cheapskate hack or just good old-fashioned practicality? In an age of convenience, it’s all too easy to grab a snack or a fast-food meal on the go. However, while food on the run is a great time saver, the cost of convenience can quickly add up. Canstar’s Product Growth Manager, George, always keeps a packet of Vita-Weets in the car for his kids to avoid having to fork out for pricey snacks. A box of muesli bars or a packet of crackers might just be enough to tide you— and the kids—over until you get home to the pantry.

10. Ask for a discount or price match

While it can feel awkward to ask if a store will price matches or offer you a discount, the savings are ultimately worth it. The best products to try this on are big-ticket items like white goods, furniture or electronics.

Pro tip: If you don’t feel confident enough to blindly ask for a discount in store, do a quick search online to see if other people have had success haggling with the brand. You’ll get an idea of what’s reasonable to ask for.