Weekly tips & deals to lighten the strain on your wallet

WEEKLY WALLET WINS

Must read: Cut $7,500 off bills this year

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Ending Monday! Flights from $65 😱

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So often saving money is about seeking out bang for buck and there are plenty of ways to achieve this without making a single sacrifice. Check out my colleague Eden’s list of ways you can save a ridiculous amount of money by switching to cheaper providers, without compromising on cover. For a family of four, we’re talking about $7k+ in savings in the space of 12 months.

But for those serious about turbocharging their savings, think about what you can cut out completely in 2026. A bottle of water a day at $2 = $730 a year 😱, face masks that promise the world but only produce pimples ($20 per month = $240), borrowing a book from the library instead of buying one new for $25 each month = $300 – OK that is value for money but you’ll have to accept a few dog-eared pages.

Where to start? 

1) Log on to your banking and hit ‘print’ on your statement (or download if you’re not middle-aged like me).

2) Highlight everything that could potentially be cut back or cut out completely.

3) Add them up–this is more for shock value than anything–but you can use this figure to set yourself a target.

4) Marie Kondo this list by putting a tick next to the ones that are essential but could do with a good haggle, a circle next to the ones you know you could probably rotate and a cross next to the ones that you can kiss goodbye.

And there is your to-do list.

Got a wallet win or burning question? Send it to me this week at sally@canstar.com.au  

Research shows the average household could save more than $7,500 this year by simply switching to better-value providers for home loans, energy, and everyday essentials.

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Ordering your groceries on a Sunday or public holiday is about to get a little pricier. Starting this February, shoppers will face a new surcharge for online orders.

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Low-rate cards in the conversation

Donald Trump’s plan to introduce a 10 per cent cap on credit card interest rates might have kicked a hornet’s nest among US credit providers but it’s put the spotlight on low rate options. Australia already has a cap on credit card rates but it’s shockingly high at 48 per cent. Thankfully, there aren’t any cards here with rates that high (that I know of). While most cards with rewards programs sit in the ‘nosebleed section’ above 20 per cent, six providers currently offer rates under 10 per cent. If you’ve got $5K worth of debt racking up interest charges, switching from a rate of 20 per cent down to 10 per cent could see you duck $500 annually. That’s cash far better off in your pocket than the bank's. 

Summer cooling hacks that won’t break the bank 

Is your ceiling fan moving in the right direction? Is this even a thing? Ceiling fans can be a fantastic way to stay cool in summer and warm in winter without blowing the electricity bills into the stratosphere–but only if they’re working effectively. In summer, you want your fan running anti-clockwise so the angled blades create a downdraft to keep you cool. In winter, it’s the opposite. Switch the fan to run clockwise at a low speed and it will pull cool air upward, pushing the hot air that’s sitting at the top of your ceiling down. Most ceiling fans have a reverse switch but if yours doesn’t, just stand under it to check. If you can’t feel a draught when you're standing under your fan in summer, chances are it’s running backwards 😬.

Cheaper fuel at your fingertips

Chasing cheaper petrol can feel daunting, but the numbers paint a surprising picture. Looking at NSW’s Fuel Watch, there’s a petrol station in Sydney offering fuel at 50 cents a litre less than its competitor three streets away–incredible. Even a saving of 20 cents a litre adds up. On one 60L tank of petrol that’s a nice little saving of $12. Over a year? You could potentially save hundreds. NSW, NT and WA governments run apps you can use, while in Queensland, RACQ’s app can help you find a bowser that won’t fleece you blind (well, by not as much). There are other options too, like Petrol Spy and My 7-Eleven. A quick search online will help you find the best option in your area. Just don’t go driving across town for a 5-cent discount because the petrol and time wasted to get to the cheaper pump is unlikely to add up.