Seven simple ways to save money now!
<p>Could you do with a few extra dollars in your pocket each week? These handy hints make it all too easy.</p>
<p>A few extra dollars in the kitty each week would be handy for any of us. It’s possible! It’s just a matter of finding ways to trim the fat on your expenses and stretch your dollar further. We’ve compiled some simple tricks to start today to get money in your pocket fast. They’re achievable for everyone!</p>
<p><strong>Grow your own food</strong><br />Save at the supermarket by growing your own fruit and vegies. If you have a bit of extra space out in the backyard, why not utilise it with an apple tree, a few vegies and if you have the room, why not some chickens? For beginners, mint, silverbeet, leafy greens, zucchini and cherry tomatoes are great because they don’t need too much love and attention to grow.</p>
<p>If you’d like to start out small, a lovely planter box against the kitchen windowsill to grow herbs could be a good starting point. Basil, oregano and parsley are all simple to start with and can all be grown indoors during winter. By growing your own food you’ll save on your weekly grocery bill and be engaging your mind and moving the body. <a href="http://littleveggiepatchco.com.au/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The Little Veggie Patch Co</a> is a Melbourne-based business dedicated to helping people grow food. Their website offers some great videos on useful tips and tricks to help you grow a vegie patch in no time.</p>
<p><strong>Shop online</strong><br />Not only could you bag yourself some great bargains that you might not be able to find in a store, you can also cut out impulse buying. This can save you a lot at the supermarket if you’re a shopper who loves to buy what’s on special. While you may think you’re saving money by doing this, you’re actually just buying items you may not have necessarily bought if you were buying your groceries online.</p>
<p>Before buying any item online, whether it’s a new bed for your pet pooch or your grocery essentials for the week, make sure you understand the company’s shipping costs and policies. Many places offer free delivery or shipping when you buy their items but it’s best to check first.</p>
<p><strong>Know your concessions</strong><br />If you’re on the pension, you could save on utility bills, travel expenses and many other every day costs. Many companies offer discounts for Aussies on the pension, which could put a few extra dollars in your pocket each week. However, you have to tell them. They won’t apply the discounts automatically. You could save money on books, magazines and travel.</p>
<p>For those over 60, you can apply for a seniors’ card in your state or territory. This nifty little card offers a range of discounts, such as cruises or travel insurance, magazine subscriptions, cinema and event tickets, plus a lot more. The eligibility requirements and discounts differ between states, so it’s best to contact your local social services department to find out more.</p>
<p><strong>Sign up for customer reward programs</strong><br />If you’re buying products from a particular store, you should be rewarded right? You can be, but you’ll need to sign up to a store’s loyalty or rewards program. Generally, these work by rewarding you with points each time you shop in a particular store, and then once you reach a certain amount, you get a reward. It could be a voucher, a special deal or a product.</p>
<p><strong>Keep a money diary or download a budget app</strong><br />It’s hard to save without knowing where your money is going. Nip this in the bud by keeping a record of where your money goes in one week. Be disciplined and write down every expense. If you have a smartphone, iPhone, tablet or iPad, why not download a budget app? There are plenty out there in either the Apple Store or Google Play for those wanting to take control of their savings and take note of their spending habits.</p>
<p><strong>Make your own gifts</strong><br />Do you spend a lot of money buying gifts for your kids and grandchildren? What about friends and colleagues? Birthdays, anniversaries, school achievements and other events you may buy gifts for can quickly add up to be a huge expense. To save money, why not put your skills to the test and make your own gifts?</p>
<p>With so many material things in the world, being given a gift personally made by you could be a much nicer way of showing your affection for someone. Whether you’re great at painting or drawing, cross-stitching, making candles or baking, put your skills to the test by creating a gift that has more heart than anything you could possibly buy in a store.</p>
<p><strong>Cut back for one month</strong><br />Why not try one month without something you regularly buy but don’t need. It could be a morning coffee or tea, a magazine you buy every fortnight or your weekly indulgence of potato crisps on a Saturday night. Whatever it is, try to give it up for one month.</p>
<p>Put aside the money you would normally use to buy this item, and deposit it into a money box at home. While this isn’t going to buy you a round-the-world airplane ticket after one month, if you do this a few times a year, you’ll soon see results.</p>
<p><em>Image: Getty Images</em></p>
