How I survived using only rewards programs for a week
03 June 2026
Like many Australians, I pay for a few different types of insurance, roadside assistance and fork out banking fees each month. And like many other Australians, I’d never really paid attention to the bonus benefits many of these organisations provide – benefits like discounted meals, gift cards and movie tickets.
Since all of these payments make a sizable dent in my budget each month, I decided it was time to use them to my advantage.
For seven days, I challenged myself to only buy items if I could get a discount on them. Not only did I use discounts I found through providers I’m already signed up with (like my car insurer), I also found discounts through free membership and loyalty programs.
How I found my hidden rewards
Step one was to go through the services I pay for, like my health insurance and car insurance, to see what benefits I could use. I also audited the rewards programs I had signed up to, like my Velocity Frequent Flyers and Flybuys. Last, I checked the apps on my phone to see how many rewards points I’d accumulated on a few different loyalty programs (programs like Guzman Y Gomez’s GOMEX Rewards and Boost Juice’s Vibe Club).
Here’s how my week turned out:
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| Day | What I bought | What I used | What I saved |
|---|---|---|---|
| Monday |
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| Tuesday |
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| Wednesday |
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| Thursday |
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| Friday |
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| Saturday |
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| Sunday |
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| Total | $49.88 saved |
This week I saved a total of $49.88. And while this amount doesn’t sound impressive on its own, this could add up to over $2,500 every year. Now, that is a little more impressive.
These numbers are variable, meaning it’ll likely be different every week. But, taking that extra few minutes to see if you can get things cheaper can save you a whole lot of money.
The hidden cost of ‘saving’
Insurers, banks and other big organisations like to market the bonus features you can get if you sign up with them. These could be things like discounted gift cards, cheaper entertainment or even discounts on other big-ticket items you bundle with them – like getting your car insurance and home insurance from the same provider.
Don’t be swayed by clever marketing. Do the maths and compare how much you’d spend versus how much you’d save on these discounts.
Tips to audit your wallet for benefits
Want to find out what bonus benefits and discounts you might have access to? Here’s where to start.
- Corporate benefits: Check if your workplace offers employee discounts anywhere or has discount partnerships.
- Insurance: You’ll often be able to get discounts through insurance brand partnerships. Do a sweep of your policies, especially if you have multiple types of insurance through different providers.
- Credit cards and banks: If you have a credit card, or sometimes even just an everyday transaction account, you might be able to snag discounts. Check your bank app or website to see what’s on offer.
- Frequent Flyer programs: Qantas’ Frequent Flyer and Virgin’s Velocity Frequent Flyer have brand partnerships that’ll give your bonus points for every dollar you spend with a partner brand.
- Fuel apps: There are many fuel apps out there that will show you the cheapest fuel in your area. Apps like the 7/11 app are free to sign up for and allow you to lock in a cheaper price at the bowser.
These benefits can change frequently, so make sure to regularly check to see what new discounts you can get or what you might need to change.
This article was reviewed by our Consumer Editor Meagan Lawrence before it was updated, as part of our fact-checking process.
