Meal prep, cheap transport and $570 off clothes: How we’re saving in November
With the cost of living rising, here's what we're doing to spend less, save more and get our money working harder for us in November.
It's no secret that the cost of living is rising. Everything is getting more expensive, from the price of meat, eggs and iceberg lettuce to petrol, clothing and energy bills.
With the cash rate just increased to 2.85% on 1 November and inflation up to 7.3%, it's time to get creative and look for ways to cut back and save.
For a bit of inspiration, here are some things the Finder crew are doing to save money this month.
Switching mobile phone plans: "I just switched my mobile phone plan to save $16 per month or $192 over the year. I noticed I had an excessive amount of data in my current plan but was only using 3–4GB per month because I already have unlimited NBN at home." – Alison Banney, money editor
Switched my transport to work to save $72 a month: "I recently discovered a cheaper way to get to work. Taking the train, I spent $4.55 each way. Now I spend $2.75 each way on the light rail. Over 5 days that's a saving of $18 or $72 a month." – Dylan Crismale, utilities writer
Using coupon codes: "I've been doing the old trick, Googling for the cheapest price then looking for a coupon code. I did this with a kids' birthday present this month. I got a $45 Connetix tile set down to $31.50 by finding an online store selling it for $35. Then I got an extra 10% off for signing up to the mailing list." – Stephanie Yip, travel editor
Audited streaming services to save $348 a year: "I did an audit of my streaming services. It turns out we had both Spotify and Apple Music subscriptions and both were on shared family plans, at a combined cost of $48 a month. We nixed Apple at $28.95 and kept Spotify, saving $347 a year!" – Sarah Megginson, head of editorial
Switching landlord insurance: "My saving this month is a slow burner: I'm paying for a year's home insurance upfront. The reason? Insurers often charge more if you pay for your policy monthly. I'll compare at least 4 new home insurance deals and will check back with my current provider to see their best offer.
"Comparing your home insurance at renewal time is a must. I spoke to a consumer this week who saved $113 per month – or $1,356 a year – simply by switching their landlord insurance." – James Martin, insurance editor
Meal prepping: "I've been cooking meals that I can portion out and freeze. I make sure there's a variety so it's easier to pull something out for dinner instead of paying $30–$50 for takeaway." – Amy Bradney-George, Finder Green and credit cards senior writer
Purchasing from warehouse sales: "I always keep a lookout for warehouse sales, specifically from brands I enjoy shopping but are on the more pricey side. A couple of weeks ago I went to a warehouse sale that had up to 90% off full-price clothing – I saved $570!" – Luana Matrone, growth graduate
Want to see your money grow without putting in the hard work? You could invest in an ETF, or open a high interest savings account.
If you're looking for more ways to save money, have a look at our 50 money-saving tips to get started.
