With petrol prices through the roof and the general cost of living on the rise, it’s never been more important to get savvy with your spending and saving habits!

While financial matters can be a source of stress for many, making small, consistent changes can make a big difference.

The team at Waterline Place are here help you feel inspired and motivated with a range of tips and tricks to cut down your spending and build up your savings.

Tips to reduce your spending

1. Grow your own fruit, veggies and herbs

It goes without saying that growing your own produce will help to reduce your grocery bills in the long run. What became a hobby during lockdown for many, is now becoming a smart trend to reduce food bills – especially when fresh produce continues to climb in price! Balconies are the ideal place to grow herbs, chillies, tomatoes, lemons, limes and with the price of lettuce at the moment this is a new popular item to grow at home! There are so many things you can grow and you don’t need a heap of space to do it!

2. Cut back on take-aways and prepare your meals in advance

This tip is applicable for both lunch and dinner. Instead of buying your lunch at work, eating out at dinnertime or ordering Uber Eats, create a new routine that involves meal prepping in advance. Spend a few hours on the weekend cooking some meals in bulk, portioning them into containers and storing them in the freezer. This is also a great initiative for people with busy schedules who don’t have the time to spend hours preparing lunches and cooking dinner on weeknights.

3. Cut down on café coffees

Swap out your morning take-away coffee with something homemade. Buying the beans and grinding them yourself can give your at-home coffee that extra oomph!

4. Write a grocery list and stick to it

There are two important rules when it comes to grocery shopping. The first is to never go food shopping when you’re hungry, and the second is to always have a list! Abiding to these rules helps ensure you’re only buying what you need, and not what your stomach is craving at the time!

5. Look for bargains at the supermarket

Many families have preferred brands they like to purchase at the supermarket, whether out of habit or just plain preference. However, opting for home brands or items that are discounted can really help to cut down the cost of your grocery bill. Give it a go, you might be surprised!

6. Invest in curtains and blinds

Depending on your budget this can be as easy as buying off the rack in Bunnings or Spotlight. Or if your handy man skills don't allow there are several local binds specialists (speak to Susan in our display suite for recommendations!). Blinds help your home retain heat during the colder months and cooler in Summer. This can contribute to energy bill savings, as your interior spaces will stay warmer for longer, and you won’t need to keep the heater on for so long.

7. Make a monthly budget

Sometimes the best way to cut back on spending is to create a budget that tracks your bills, outgoings and savings. This doesn’t mean you won’t have any fun money, it just means you’ll be allocating yourself a specific amount each week, fortnight or month.

8. Shop around for insurance and utilities

When it’s time to renew insurance or utility providers, don’t be afraid to shop around for the best deal. This can help you cut down your monthly outgoings, leaving more money in your back pocket or savings account.

Tips to increase your savings

1. Round-up transactions

There are a range of accounts and apps that allow you to round up your daily purchases to the nearest dollar and transfer the change directly to your savings account.

For example: 

• You spend $4.50
• You’re debited $5.00
• 50 cents will go straight into your savings

This is a great initiative to incrementally contribute to your savings without having to do a thing.

2. Set yourself a savings goal

Sometimes, setting yourself a physical goal can help you feel more motivated to achieve it. If you’re saving up for your first home deposit, new car, dream holiday or something else, have a specific savings figure in mind along with a date that you’d like to achieve it by. Then, break your timeline down so you understand exactly how much money you’ll need to allocate each pay cycle to reach your goal.

3. Automate your savings

Instead of manually transferring money to your savings account on pay day, set up a scheduled automatic transfer. This will help you to increase your savings account balance without even thinking about it!

4. Keep a piggy bank for loose change and notes

As a child, you may have kept a piggy bank to store pocket money, birthday money and loose change given by parents and grandparents. And there was nothing more exciting than counting up all the coins once it was full! Keeping a piggy bank is a useful habit for both children and adults as it helps you to turn loose change into genuine savings.

We hope you found these tips helpful! Which ones will you be implementing into your regular routines?