As our wallets feel the strain from the cost-of-living crisis, many of us are looking for ways to soften the blow. While everyone’s circumstances are different, and ideally you should seek help from an accredited financial adviser, there are some tried and true ways to work out where all your money is going and why. Here are three practical tips to reduce the impact of the cost-of-living increases, and stretch every hard-earned dollar.
1. Hunt for a better loan rate
- Even a modest 0.5% reduction can translate into substantial savings.
- Call your bank today and just ask for rate reduction.
- If you find a lender offering a better rate, you might consider calling the competing bank to ask about switching your mortgage to them.
- An offset account, linked to your home loan, allows you to deposit money such as your salary and savings.
- That means you only pay interest on the outstanding amount (the loan minus whatever salary and savings you put in the offset).
- Offset accounts work best if you have considerable savings to put into the offset account that outweigh the additional fees and charges attached to offset accounts.
2. Trim your expenses and uncover hidden savings
- How often do you actually use that gym membership or streaming service?
- Many banking apps have handy spending tracking features to help you set realistic budget goals for each spending category.
- Stay updated on rebates and concessions via the federal government’s Energy.gov.au site, to ensure you’re maximising your entitlements.
- And for fuel costs, find websites and applications that allow you to lock in the lowest prices in your area.
3. Maximise returns and tackle high-interest debts
- Consider exploring high-yield savings accounts; with current interest rates, you could potentially earn around 5.5% with a bank savings account.
- Many people set up recurring transfers to help them stick to savings goals, increase deposits and maximise interest earnings.
- For those wrestling with high-interest debts such as credit cards or personal loans, prioritise settling outstanding balances to minimise interest payments.
Ama Samarasinghe does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.