10 simple ways to SAVE $$$$ thuis year
All the latest ways to save yourself serious cash in 2017
1 YOUR ACCOUNT
No matter how much you earn, saving is tough and bank interest rates are often pretty poor. But some do offer better rates than others, so it’s worth shopping around. Some offer introductory bonus rates of up to 3 per cent for the first three months, whilewhi Citibank, for example, offers the r rate for four months with an ongoing bonusb rate of 1.3 per cent. Compare accounts at finder.com.au to find th the best one for you.
2 GETG PAID TO BE O OPINIONATED
EarnEar a little extra by signing up to completec online surveys for cash. Oneo of the most popular sites is mysumysurvey.net.au, which is free to join and gives you points you can redeem for products, vouchers or gift cards. Typtypically each survey will earn 10-500 poin points, and 1200 points roughly translates to $10 into your Paypal account or a $10 gift voucher.vo Money for jam!
3 SAVE ON FLIGHTS
A Accordingdi to new research conducted by skyscanner.com.au, the best time to book flights is 17 weeks before your departure date. This can save you as much as 5 per cent of your total cost – cash for cocktails when you get there!
LEARN TO LOVE SPAM EMAILS
See spam in a new light by signing up for newsletters from your favourite shops, airlines and hotels. Special offers and discounts are often only sent to email subscribers, so it could be the perfect way to save on that Bali break you’re lusting after. Jetstar and Webjet both offer great sales previews to their subscribers before opening them to the public, and retailers such as Country Road and Witchery give loyal customers a heads-up on discounts prior to putting signs up in store.
RENT OUT YOUR CAR SPACE
If you live near transport hubs or a city centre, make quick dollars by renting out your car space. Try parkhound.com.au – just list your car park or car space on the app or website and potential “buyers” can send a booking enquiry to you directly. How much you earn depends on your state and suburb. For a Sydney city location, for example, Parkhound estimates you can earn more than $274.77 a month, which is as much as a whopping $3322.80 in a year!
BECOME A MYSTERY SHOPPER
If you love shopping this is the perfect option for you! Sign up to getpaidtoshop.com.au and become a paid mystery shopper. You’ll work on behalf of businesses to provide feedback about their customer service or products by posing as a genuine customer. While you won’t earn enough to quit your day job, it’s an easy way to make a little extra cash, with jobs averaging around $5-20 per store visit.
CASH IN WITH CASHBACK
It might sound too good to be true, but if you sign up to a reputable cashback website yyou could make money simply by shopping online. These websites work by directing you, the consumer, to your favourite online stores via their website. Retailers pay to advertise on cashback websites, and any purchase you then make earns you a portion of that commission. Cashrewards.com.au, for example, is free to join, and lists hundreds of stores on its website including Coles, Woolies, Virgin Australia and Dan Murphy’s, to name just a few! Expect anywhereere from 2-220 perp cent of the purchase price to be credited back to your account. Purchasess at David Jones, for instance, will earn you 6 per cent cashback on anythinging you buy. Time for somee new shoes?
READ BOOKSR FOR NEXT TO NIX
If you loveve nothing more thann burying your headd in a book, but hate forkingking out on the cost of the latesttest new releases, join Bookmooch (bookmooch.com) and become part of the global book-swapping revolution. You’ll create a profile on the site, then list the books you own that you’re happy to give away. For every book you post to another member, you earn a point that makes you eligible to receive a book from someone else. There’s no joining fee and the only money you’ll spend is on postage. And with the average new novel costing around $29.99, compared to around $8.50 to send a small parcel, you’re saving yourself more than $20 a book!
FORGET GROCERY STORE LOYALTY ALTY
Believe it or not, supermarket loyalty doesn’t actually guarantee the best price when it comes to your groceries. Try doing your weekly shop online at groceryshop.com.au. Not only are you guaranteed to get the best price for every single item you pop in your trolley, but they’ll deliver to your door too for a flat rate of $10 for most metropolitan areas – so you’ll save on petrol costs, too.
TICK THE TAX BOX
In Australia, the first $18,200 of your annual income isn’t taxed, so check with your employer that you’ve selected to claim the tax-free threshold. This can equate to as much $350 a week, which for lower income earners can make a huge difference to your weekly pay cheque!