Weekly tips & deals to lighten the strain on your wallet

WEEKLY WALLET WINS

Mortgage vs super: Where to put extra money?

🏆 Aldi wins supermarket Xmas battle

More banks predict ZERO rate cuts in 2026

Binge for $2, Apple TV 50% off + more

Save up to $390 on energy bills

3 hacks to boost Flybuys & Woolies points

Hot offer: $367 off car insurance

The Christmas Grinch is alive in our house because according to my kids, I’ve gone and done the unthinkable: booked a trip to the dentist on the first day of school holidays.

While this is not how they envisaged kicking off their summer, a) something has to counteract the daily dose of chocolate from the super-sized advent calendars they’re harbouring, and b) tis’ the season to squeeze the last out of my extras health insurance cover before the annual limits reset in the New Year.

Canstar data shows over 90 per cent of insurers on our database reset their annual extras limits on 1 January, and while anyone who’s already used their annual limits will be eagerly counting down the days, for those who need a dental check-up or a pair of new glasses, this is your warning bell to use it or lose it.

With Christmas just four weeks away, who doesn’t want to know the top-rated supermarket ham, turkey, puddings and pavlova bases to help you nail Christmas lunch. Mince pies are also in there but REALLY?!! Surely they belong on the naughty list (don't @ me). 

But if you've got a wallet win or burning question? Send it to me this week at sally@canstar.com.au  

Choosing between paying off your mortgage or boosting your super is a key financial decision. We break down the options.

Find out ►

Aldi has been crowned the top supermarket for festive food in multiple categories including leg ham, Christmas pudding and more!

See top picks ►

Avoid $3 ATM fees

I received a great email from Wallet Wins reader Ester recently, who reminded me about Australia Post’s banking service. Bank@Post lets you deposit and withdraw cash, pay bills and check your balance at any participating post office across the country–and it doesn’t charge you a cent. However, while three of the big four banks have partnerships with Australia Post, ANZ still doesn’t. So if you are thinking about switching to your local post office to do your banking, check if your bank offers this service and if they charge you for using it.

Don’t use it? Lose it

With four weeks until the new year, it’s time to talk about the one-year rule. Uncomfortable for those far more sentimental than me, but as someone who LOVES tossing things out, it’s up there with council clean ups. The rule: if you haven't used something for a year, sell it, donate it, upcycle it or recycle it. One year might feel brutally short, but you’ve been through all four seasons and every public holiday event–the only thing you haven’t hit is an Olympic year. The wallet win? Selling your old stuff on Gumtree or Facebook Marketplace can quickly tally up into the hundreds, giving you a financial boost for the new year (and a clean home).

Penny pinching Aussies on the rise

Canstar’s Consumer Pulse report landed this week and revealed that while people are (rightly) worried about the cost of living, more of us are saving. If you’re looking for a simple way to save, it’s worth considering the ‘round up’ function offered by banks such as ING and ANZ Plus, which automatically rounds every purchase you make to the nearest $1 or $5 and puts that money in your nominated savings account. If your bank doesn’t offer this feature, you can set up a daily direct debit of your own. Even if it's just a few dollars a day, at least you know your nest egg will be moving in the right direction in 2026.