Sometimes it’s the little things that tip you over the edge.

An extra $91 on your mortgage thanks to the RBA? We’ll scale that debt mountain (with gritted teeth, mind you), but a 20 per cent price bump on a supermarket bag? Suddenly it seems personal.

It’s right up there with paying $2.50 to access your own money because another 184 fee-free bank ATMs disappeared in the dead of night this year.

When will the price hikes end?

By all means, swear under your breath, but then get switching. Grab a canvas tote that won’t break on the trek up your front stairs, but don’t stop there. Canstar’s Shopping Queen, Jas, has a list of simple swaps that could save you well over $2,400 a year.

Finally, if you’re like me and feel guilty when the sheets sit on the bed for more than a week, don’t worry, you’re doing better than some. One in six Aussies only tackle the BIG wash once a month 😳. (Possibly a bit gross, but think of the water saved). If you’re due for a fresh set, find out why Sheridan just snagged the crown in our latest bed sheet ratings.

Of course, groceries are a necessity, so you can’t exactly stop shopping to save money. However, there are ways to help shrink your grocery bill.

Here are eight money-saving swaps to consider.

Read more →

Energy retailers are offering innovative energy plans with ‘free electricity’ windows. However, while signing up sounds like a no-brainer at first glance, saving isn’t always guaranteed. Here’s what you need to know.

Read more →

Big W has partnered with DoorDash, giving customers the ability to get more than 35,000 products delivered directly to their doors and fast. It comes two weeks after rival Target announced its products would be available on UberEats. However, convenience comes at a cost. Not only are you charged delivery, service (a massive 9% for Big W) and order size fees, the prices of some products are marked up. We checked six items at Big W, and all were about 6% higher on DoorDash compared to buying directly from Big W. Only select Target products were more expensive on UberEats. So before you hit checkout on DoorDash or UberEats, think about whether or not the marked- up prices are worth it.

This week the Senate blocked the government’s plan to scrap the extra rebate older Australians get on their private health insurance, which is currently up to 32 per cent, regardless of income. For under-65s, the rebate is means tested up to a maximum of 24 per cent. This is undoubtedly a wallet win for seniors with health insurance, however, it will come at a cost, because that money was earmarked for aged care. While the Senate tossed it in the bin, the government has vowed to recycle it back through Parliament, calling for a proper debate. If you’re impacted, which side of the debate do you sit on?

It’s not just ATMs that are falling by the wayside. Australia’s bank branch network has also continued to shrink, with 97 branches vanishing in the past year alone. If you still prefer face-to-face support, these closures pose a real headache, with queues at the open branches often winding out the door. Over the last couple of years, regional communities have largely been spared the pain thanks to commitments from the major banks to pause regional closures. However, this moratorium only delays the issue — it doesn’t fix it. It's a problem that the government might have to step up and solve.

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