Simple ways to help you manage the rising cost of living

Feeling the pinch of the cost of living in Australia? As prices for essential goods and services continue to rise¹ (reaching a record high as of March 2023²), it can become challenging to keep up with expenses while maintaining a comfortable lifestyle.

Having the right strategies and services in place could empower you to save, budget, and invest for a strong financial future. From shopping strategies to secure banking options, we explore the many ways to help you manage your hard-earned money amidst the economic climate.  

Trim the fat from your budget

Assess your expenses and consider eliminating unnecessary items such as unused memberships or subscriptions. You could opt for homemade meals instead of regular takeaways and pursue remote work to cut back on your daily commute.

Electricity prices are projected to increase 56% in the coming year³

You can also actively explore better deals when spending on essentials. For example, compare unit prices at the supermarket, switch to home-brand products, and seek out grocery specials to reduce your weekly spending. With a projected 56% increase in electricity prices for the coming year^[3], it might be a good idea to compare energy providers to find the best way to save. If you're a frequent driver, it may also be worth taking advantage of membership fuel rewards for future petrol discounts.

Make use of our online financial tools and other resources

Plenty of resources are available online that may help you manage and improve your financial wellbeing – many of which are available for free. These include:

• Financial blogs, such as our Money Moments blog, which offer helpful tips to help build your financial future.
• Websites covering the latest financial scams and ways to best avoid them, like scamwatch.gov.au. Our Fraud and Security hub offers a wide range of information on various types of scams, how to identify them, and ways to protect yourself and your earnings.
• Budgeting apps like Frollo, Beem, and Finspo can help you automate payments, track your spending, and monitor your savings goals. We also offer calculators for your budget and savings plans.
• Government websites such as MoneySmart and Energy Made Easy offer advice on managing living costs and seeking the best prices for household utilities.

Assess your eligibility for government programs

You may be able to seek government financial assistance to help with your cost of living

Depending on your situation, you may be eligible for certain government programs, including:

• Financial assistance for those financially affected by a natural disaster.
• Centrelink services, such as JobSeeker payments or Low Income Health Care Cards for those from a lower-income background.
• Government schemes and grants that offer low deposit rates for eligible home buyers.
• Revenue NSW's Unclaimed Money – which allows those eligible to claim money rightfully owed to them. This could include money held in a deceased person's name, money held in a trust, certain kinds of superannuation, and money held in inactive accounts.

Service NSW also offers a Savings Finder tool to help you find any further support programs, rebates, or vouchers relevant to your financial situation.

How we can help

Choose the right home loan for your financial needs

Whether you're a first-home buyer or looking to refinance your existing home loan, we offer a range of home loans to help you meet your mortgage needs.

You could also accelerate your mortgage repayment and save in the long run by making additional repayments. Consider using our extra repayments calculator to estimate your potential savings.

Alternatively, if you're looking to refinance your current home loan rate, you could get in touch with us today to find a product better suited to your needs.

Earn interest on our savings accounts

Our range of savings and investment accounts could offer simple ways to help you reach your financial goals faster. Compare our savings accounts or consider a Term Deposit for consistent, low-risk returns.

Consolidate your debts

Consolidating your debts allows you to roll all your existing debts into one loan, giving you a single set of repayments over a given term – rather than multiple repayments across various schedules.

If you're juggling credit card debt, you could also consider a credit card balance transfer. This involves moving your debt from one card to another, potentially reducing interest and fees.

Take charge of your finances

With costs of living on the rise, it could pay to have a proactive and well-informed approach to your finances. Whether you're seeking loan assistance or simply looking to review our products and services, you could call us on 1300 747 747 today to explore the best offerings for your situation.

References

1. Australian Bureau of Statistics. 2023. “Selected Living Cost Indexes, Australia”. https://www.abs.gov.au/statistics/economy/price-indexes-and-inflation/selected-living-cost-indexes-australia/latest-release
2. Australian Bureau of Statistics. 2023. “Employees' annual living costs highest on record”. https://www.abs.gov.au/media-centre/media-releases/employees-annual-living-costs-highest-record
3. International Energy Agency. 2023. “Executive Summary - Energy transition towards net zero”. https://www.iea.org/reports/australia-2023/executive-summary