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In pondering what I’d cover while our regular columnist Sally takes a well-deserved break, I found myself reading her ‘olden days’ savings tips from last week’s email, many of which you’ll find here. The truth is, I needed those tips given the recent school holiday spending frenzy.

Between paying an unprecedented $200 to fill up my car and forking out to keep my two kids amused over the break, the amount currently sitting in my account leaves a lot to be desired and I’m keen to turn it around quickly.

As someone who’s covered finance for many years, I pride myself on being able to create a practical budget and stick to it. But even the most prudent planners can’t avoid those random money drainers that pop up unexpectedly.

Here are three (random) lessons I learned during the school holidays.

I lost my hotel room key and briefly thought I’d just cop the replacement fee. Then I checked the price: $350. Ten minutes of rummaging around the car later, I found it.

Lesson learned: before accepting a loss, check what it’ll actually cost you.

After years of squinting in the sun, I decided some nice sunglasses could be my one holiday treat. Unfortunately, I was quoted one price, then given another, and the store wouldn’t honour the original quote. My daughter and I walked out underwhelmed. Even when you’ve decided to splurge, you can still walk away if the price or service doesn’t stack up.

At our hotel, we were welcomed by a very friendly staff member who chatted to us like old friends. Lovely — until I realised she was selling timeshare presentations, with a $100 voucher as the carrot. Holiday brain kicked in and I signed up, then cancelled the next morning. The lesson? When something is ‘free’, check what you’re giving in return.

In an effort to get my savings back on track, I’m watching my bank closely to see if it passes last Tuesday’s RBA cash rate hike in full to my savings account. Given the highest ongoing savings rates might soon hit 6%, it’s a good time to shop your savings around, whether they’re big or small.

So, I have a few quiet money weeks ahead. I’ve pledged to eat entirely from my fridge and pantry and am selling some of my older gear on a few buy, swap, sell Facebook groups.

If you have any other savings ideas for me, send them my way at nina.rinella@canstar.com.au.

The Shop, Scan and Win promotion runs from October 7 to November 3. To enter, you’ll need to spend a minimum of $20 in one transaction and scan your Flybuys card. Once you’ve done that, you’ll automatically go into the draw to win.

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The dream of a quarter-acre block, five bedrooms, and a pool is out of many people's budget. You know what’s in? Tiny homes.

So, how much will such luxury set you back?

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A couple of weeks ago we told you about Bunch, Woolworths’ invite-only community that rewards members for testing and reviewing products for the supermarket. Unfortunately, just last week, Woolies announced it was closing the program, putting an end to the freebies and perks members have enjoyed for years. If you were hoping to join, never fear, Coles has a similar program, Coles Circle. You’ll need to register to join and fill out a survey so they know what products you may be suited to review. Once you’re in, you’ll be eligible for monthly prizes and get to have your say on new products and services.

Have you got a special-edition coin from the Sydney Olympics tucked away? Maybe it’s a player-signed ball from when Australia won the Rugby World Cup — back when we used to do that. For most people, sports memorabilia is about collecting and keeping but if you’re looking to cash in, the Auctioneers and Valuers Association of Australia has some tips. First, be realistic about value. There are thousands of signed jerseys out there but a signed jersey worn in a championship game is typically worth more. Second, have a certified valuer to authenticate it, provide historical context and estimate its worth. Just beware of valuers who charge a percentage of the value — it gives them an obvious incentive to price higher and that’s just bad sportsmanship.

EatClub — the app that gives you discounts at thousands of cafes, restaurants and bars around the country — has levelled up this week with the announcement of its new membership program, Caviar Reserve. For $9.99 a month, members can earn dining credits for purchases made through its retail partners, such as Supercheap Auto, H&M and even some supermarkets (there are dozens more too). Depending on the retailer, you could earn up to a 5% dining credit to put towards your next meal out. With dining out feeling more like a luxury these days, this could be a simple way to have your cake and eat it, too.

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