Don’t set, forget, regret: Review these big expenses right now
Feeling the pinch? Cutting costs can be easier than you think.
2024's about to kick off, but the most useful money strategy remains the same no matter what year it is: Loyalty doesn't pay.
Sticking with the same provider rarely scores you the best deal.
For utilities alone, Australians paid $4.5 billion in loyalty tax, Finder research demonstrates.
No-one wants to pay more than they have to, but that's what many of us end up doing.
A whopping 39% of Australians saying they plan to save more money in 2024, according to Finder surveys.
A great way to kick that off is to make sure you're not paying over the odds for unavoidable expenses.
Here are 3 simple ways to do that.
Compare and switch your mobile plan
The average Australian pays $50 a month for their mobile plan, but you can score a good deal for much less. For most people data inclusions are the main consideration, but our needs are often overestimated. The average Australian only uses around 10GB a month.
Switching mobile plans is easy, and you can keep your original number. Here are examples of the average monthly cost for plans with different data amounts in Finder's database. It's definitely worth comparing plans and seeing if you can do better.
Compare and switch your internet plan
Broadband is crucial to our work and home lives, but too often we stick with one of the "big name" providers, forgetting that the NBN cabling that connects to our houses is the same no matter who we choose. Shopping around can save you up to $240 a year.
The chart below shows how much you could save for each NBN speed tier by moving to a cheaper plan. Compare internet plans and start saving money.
Compare and switch your car insurance
Price differentials for car insurance can be massive. In research for the 2023 Finder Awards, we found a difference of $1,456 per year between the cheapest and most expensive comprehensive car insurance policy. That's a big potential saving, so it's worth comparing your car insurance options carefully.
Other ways to save include hunting down car insurance discount deals and paying annually.
Get more helpful money tips to help you save.