Bring your own bags and save on groceries
SHOPPERS are now stung at the checkout if they fail to bring their own bags – but there are other fees they need to watch.
Single-use plastic bags have been removed from Woolworths supermarkets across the country and from July 1 Coles stores will do the same in Qld, NSW, Victoria and WA. The bag ban extends to other stores next month, including Big W, BWS, Coles Express, Liquorland and First Choice Liquor.
For anyone living in SA, NT, ACT and Tasmania, the bag ban has been in place for years.
But cost-conscious shoppers will find ways to avoid extra charges, whether it be reusable bags or ordering online.
1USE YOUR OWN BAGS
Woolworths supermarkets are charging from 15¢ for a reusable plastic bag or from 99¢ for foldable, reusable bags.
The supermarket’s chief executive officer Brad Banducci said when the 99¢ bags get damaged they “will replace it free” regardless of when the customer purchased it. Shoppers should buy a handful of these and keep them in their car or somewhere they will remember them each time they do a grocery shop. Keep small foldable bags in your handbag at all times for unexpected shopping trips. Coles charges 15¢ for reusable bags or $1 for tote bags.
2ONLINE SHOPPING
Earlier this month it was revealed supermarket giant Coles was charging customers up to 10 per cent more for many items if ordered online.
Rival supermarket Woolworths does not charge different prices for shopping online or instore.
But in a backflip Coles revealed they have changed the prices on thousands of items so consumers will pay the same regardless of whether goods are bought online or instore. Make sure you do regular price comparisons.
6. TOP UP YOUR SUPERANNUATION
Before-tax superannuation contributions (up to $25,000 a year) reduce your taxable income, so less money goes to the tax man and more goes to your super savings. After-tax contributions (up to $100,000 a year) are also worthwhile because returns are taxed at a maximum 15 per cent, not your regular income tax rate.
7. OFFSET CAPITAL GAINS WITH LOSSES
Profits on selling investments like shares, property or managed funds purchased after 1985, will be charged capital gains tax. While calculating CGT can be complex, it is roughly based on your marginal tax being applied to 50 per cent of the gain. But any losses made on these types of investments can be offset against profits.
So if you have made a big profit on one investment, sell some of your disasters.
8. PRE PAY ELIGIBLE EXPENSES
Talk to your accountant about pre-paying eligible expenses into this financial year to reduce taxable income. For example,
3DELIVERY CHARGES
Customers who order their shopping online will pay delivery charges depending on how much they spend, when the shopping is delivered and how many orders they make.
Coles managing director John Durkan said there’s plenty of flexibility for customers depending on how and when they want to purchase their shopping and have it delivered.
Coles charges customers 15¢ per bag to have their shopping delivered in reusable plastic bags, or groceries can be delivered in a fee-free crate.
Woolworths charges $3.50 for shopping to be delivered in a crate or $1 in plastic bags.
4CLICK AND COLLECT
Supermarkets offer this service where customers can pre-order all their items and pick them up instore without paying a fee.
There is usually a minimum $30 per spend on click and collect orders and make sure you check if your closest supermarket offers this service.
Coles supermarkets do not charge for Click and Collect but it costs $3 at Coles Express.