IT ’S EASIER THAN YOU THINK

website Finder.com.au said paying premiums one year in advance would lock in last year’s price and save an average policy holder a couple of hundred dollars.

Peak periods are expensive for travellers, Finder spokeswoman Bessie Hassan says.

“Consider going in the offseason to avoid paying inflated prices,” she added. “Our recent analysis shows that going to Bali for Christmas can cost $6915, However, opting for the off-season will drop the price by $3130. If you halve that for domestic travel, the savings remain impressive.

Ms Hassan said using fuel apps such as Motormouth to find the cheapest prices could save people 19c a litre, or $300 a year. Timing your buying around capital city petrol price cycles could drive even more savings.

Research by comparison site Mozo.com.au found the most expensive financial mistake could be sticking with the same mortgage provider.

Mozo director Kirsty Lamont said the average borrower could save more than $2000 in a year by shopping around. “The difference between sticking with a less competitive provider and switching to a better deal could be in the tens of thousands of dollars over the life of the loan,” she said. Ms Lamont said it was also worth shopping around to ensure you were on the best possible energy deal. “Loyalty and laziness are costing Australians dearly,” she said. Mozo said carrying a debt on a credit card could be costly, with standard credit card interest rates at almost 20 per cent. Research this week by super fund-owned bank ME found that a quarter of Australians hold both savings and debt. ME spokesman Matthew