Ahead of winter, now is a great time to take stock of where your money is being spent and where you can make some savings. With the cost of living still biting, saving a few dollars here and a lot of dollars there is important. And it might even give you a warm fuzzy feeling inside, a real bonus in the winter months.
So here’s a look at some possible savings you can make not just this week, but right through winter and beyond.
Energy savings
If you’re in one of the colder states you may have already switched your dual cycle air conditioner to ‘heat’ mode. Or fired up the space heater for the first time since last year. Maybe you’ve even wheeled out the electric plug-in heater, ready to huddle over it as chilling wind blows outside.
Whatever your heating method, it’s going to require energy – gas or electricity. And depending on the age of your heating unit, it could be a lot of energy. That can get expensive, but at the same it’s a necessity, so minimising those costs is the aim.
The trouble is, there are heaps of energy companies around, with varying plans across different states and territories. Finding the best deal can seem like an impossible task but, in what may come as a surprise to some, our governments are here to help.
Australia’s federal government has set up a ‘Switch to Save’ page on its Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water website. That page will link you through to your own state or territory’s energy comparison page. From there, entering a few basic details will take you on your way to the best gas and/or electricity deal. Check out how to get started here and stay warm without burning through your savings this winter!
Petrol savings
Petrol is another essential (for many of us) item that siphons dollars out of bank accounts at an alarming rate. But, as with gas and electricity, working out how to get the best price is a bit of a minefield.
If you’re like I used to be, you’ll cruise past a service station and see petrol at a great price. Then you’ll see that your tank is half full and say to yourself “I’ll top up tomorrow.” Of course you know how this story ends. Just as you’re about to pull into that same servo the next say you’ll look up. And what do you know, the price has jumped by 50 cents a litre.
It’s very annoying but there are ways of avoiding such moments. At least there are ways to reduce the risk of having such a moment. Once again – hard to believe I know – the government is here to help.
Via the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission website you can check out where in the current ‘cycle’ petrol prices are. These cycles can vary from state to state, so the ACCC provides the price trends for the each of Australia’s mainland capitals. Best of all, this information is updated every few days, so you can see real-time price trends. The page, which you can find here, is worth bookmarking if you’re a regular motorist.
Other petrol pump tips
But it’s not just the government who can help you save at the pump. The petrol retailers themselves are keen to have you back, and they have a couple of ways to tempt you. The first is the traditional ‘cents off’ supermarket deal. Woolworths for instance has a partnership deal with Ampol providing such discounts. And you can earn extra Woolies ‘rewards’ points by buying your petrol from Ampol, too.
As well as the old shopping docket deals, many petrol retailers have their own apps, allowing you to tap into some extra savings. The My 7-Eleven app is one example. As well as providing pump prices near you, it allows you to ‘lock in’ a good price for a short period.
Aldi
With a bit of luck and good management, the information above will help you save money over the medium to long term. But we know you love a ‘current’ special, so let’s have a look at our old favourite Aldi.
Aldi’s focus next week is ‘Mum Chic’, with a range of goodies available from May 1. (In case you’ve forgotten, May 12 is Mother’s Day.) For the sweet-tooth Mum Aldi has the traditional Cadbury Roses 420g box for $8.99.
There are a host of coffee-related deals, too, if a morning brew is important to Mum. If wine is more her thing, Aldi’s catalogue for next week has that covered too. There’s a range of fashion and toiletries on offer too.
A trip to Aldi could sort out this Mother’s Day in no time!
Have you spotted any good current deals? Let us know via the comments section below.
Also read: What your electricity retailer may not want you to know
Disclaimer: Any advice here is general in nature. Always check with a financial professional before making any decisions. Full disclosure: YourLifeChoices is owned by and has a commercial relationship with Compare Club but does not receive any money for deals featured in this roundup and offers featured here are done so on editorial merit.
