Must be funny…. yeah, maybe not so much for the majority of us! I read something recently about how the issue isn’t that we should be saving or making a few dollars here and there by whatever means, we should be rallying for higher wages. Well, yes, we should be asking / expecting our politicians and businesses to start paying proper living wages; but when you are struggling to make ends meet and living pay to pay, those few dollars can make a huge difference! So I thought I’d list some of the things that I do in case they are helpful to anyone else. Note that these are things I enjoy doing, have the ability to do, and have the time for. They are obviously not for everyone.
A few of the things I do to make a little extra are:
- recycle containers – I take mine to a reverse vending machine but even less time/effort if you use bag drop off or collection;
- collect FlyBuys and Everyday Rewards, but I never spend just to get points, it’s always money I’d be spending anyway;
- cash back from Cash Rewards, Shop Back, and banks – ING gives you cash back on utility bills and HSBC gives you cash back on all purchases up to $100. There are conditions, but they are easy to meet.
I was curious how much I made doing some of these things and over the past 6 months it’s come to just over $1300. Which is not bad for very little effort. I also sell plants through an honesty stall which was another $1000, but that’s more of a hobby and more effort. Of course doing those things is not for everyone, but I enjoy doing them. If I wanted to I could do surveys and market research, and I used to, but now that just bores me to tears 😉
Something I really wish I’d started earlier is investing. Although when I was younger it was actually harder as you needed $1000’s to get started. Now you can start with as little as $1 with micro-investing apps, or $500 to invest through a CHESS sponsored broker. I finally made the leap into it last year, just relatively small amounts, but I’ve been getting dividends. No matter how small they are it’s exciting! Talking of investments – I’m a low income earner, so don’t get a lot of employer Super contributions, but if I put in $1000 myself I can get the government co-contribution of $500 so I’ve been doing that for the past few years.
The flip side of making money, is saving it. They say for every $1 you save it’s like making $1.30 before tax. So here are some of the things I do to save money:
- checking the weekly catalogues – Woolies and Coles are my main shops and the catalogues come out on Monday’s at 5pm. I write down the specials for things that I would normally buy – the specials go in cycles so I buy enough of whatever non-perishable groceries to get me through to the next time it’s on special.
- meal plan for at least a fortnight based on what we have in the freezer/pantry;
- do a monthly pantry top up shop – I get a 10% discount once a month from Woolies for having a mobile with them, so it makes sense to use that on a big shop.
- make the most of leftovers and any leftover fruit and veg that would otherwise be destined for the bin/compost/dog’s dinner.
- Buying whole chickens (free range when on special as I find it tastes better) and jointing them; freezing the pieces to use whenever, and the carcasses for stock.
- buy things in bulk (honey, tomato sauce, shampoo, handwash, shower gel, laundry powder) and decant into smaller containers. Saves money but also saves on packaging.
I think I’ve posted before on some of the things I do to use up leftovers – I should make a list so I can find them again… Oh and one thing I did at the end of last year when I had some extra cash, and lots of rewards points offers, was to stock up on a couple of weeks worth of meat. I was thinking about needing it in case of covid quarantine/isolation but it’s turned out excellent because I use that up in my meal plan, and then replace it with whatever is on special that week.
Again these are all things I enjoy doing. If I didn’t I wouldn’t do them. I also have the time to do them – I actually find some of these things help to slow me down and be present/mindful. 🙂
Bayside Homestead 