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IT’S OK EVERYONE. EASTER IS STILL HAPPENING!

PHEW.

The fact that before the Prime Minister’s address to the nation last night, we weren’t sure we’d be able to relax into the Easter weekend the same way as usual, is a concern.

Panic like this pushes people into poor decision-making. It’s important to take a deep breath, see the full picture and focus on the things you can control.

Remember petrol prices might be coming down (a smidge). That said, it’s still worth checking the fuel comparison apps. You can still find a 20c per litre savings by filling up at the right spot.

The mortgage: Westpac now says it expects not one, not two, but three more hikes in the next three RBA meetings. It’s an outlier prediction at this stage, but nevertheless, now’s the time to mitigate this pressure by shopping around for a lower rate.

Groceries: Every dollar counts. Switching to cheaper brands for half your shop could save as much as $2,400 for a family of four. Switching to frozen fruit and veg? Another $675 a year. We’re over the $3k mark per annum and we haven’t even canvassed meat.

Super: The big one. If you’re under 60, it pays to tune out the headlines and take a longer-term view. Pull up a graph of the ASX200 and focus on the trajectory over the years. Knee-jerk strategies could easily derail your future returns and you could end-up with a very different nest egg. If you’re nearing retirement, skip the shortcuts and head straight for a financial adviser or a trusted accountant.

Control what’s right in front of you, not the things out of our hands, and enjoy the Easter chocolate.

The death of the surcharge is here. The catch? Experts warn credit card rewards programs might shrink and shelf prices could rise to cover merchant costs.

If your mobile provider is one of the telcos hiking their rates, don’t just take it on the chin— you could shop around and switch to a better deal.

There’s good news for those aged 18-20 and working in retail, fast food, or pharmacies–from December you’ll be getting a pay rise. This week, the Fair Work Commission changed the rates for employees in that age bracket to equal adult rates. It won’t be instant; to qualify, you’ll need to have been with your employee for at least six months, and it will be phased over four years. Not everyone is happy about this though. While it is great for young workers, some employers aren’t so sure. They’re losing the ability to hire workers at a reduced rate, which could mean young Aussies entering the workforce will lose out on the potential jobs that businesses can no longer afford to pay for.

Before you head out this Easter long weekend, keep an eye out for surcharges that can quickly blow your budget. Many cafes, restaurants and even some attractions apply public holiday fees, often adding 10-15% (or more) to your bill. While these charges are legal if clearly disclosed, they can still catch you off guard. Our Editor-in-Chief Nina got stung buying her friend a lemon, lime and bitters on New Year’s Day, being charged… wait for it… $10 for a glass of post-mix soft drink. Check menus and signs before ordering, review booking fine print, and factor extra costs into your outings. A little pre-planning can help you avoid bill shock and keep your long weekend spending on track.

With the rising cost of living forcing many Aussies to tighten their purse strings, the team at Canstar is getting creative to hunt down every possible saving. While shopping by unit price is a great start, our budget-savvy crew is taking it to the next level with some seriously clever hacks. Mitch from our Data team is a fan of price-tracking browser extensions like Coles Trend and Woolworths Trend, which reveal an item's price history so he can spot a genuine bargain from a mile away. Meanwhile, Jodi from our Product team heads straight for the clearance zones at the ends of the aisles for those elusive 50% off gems, and Aswini from SecOps hits the shops every Wednesday like clockwork to snag the best half-price lunchbox snacks the second the new specials drop.