6 Ways to Save Money for Summer
Summer is right around the corner. We are so close to getting to dip our toes in warm sand, cool waters, and enjoy more time with family and friends beneath the beautiful Aotearoa summer sun. Before the days warm up, there are some things you can do to save money so that you can smile that little bit more this summer.
Saving money can be simple. We have gathered our 6 best tips to save money around the house so you can smile, laugh and truly enjoy this summer season.
1. Compare Your Bills
Did you know that comparing your household bills such as your broadband, power, and mobile is a powerful way to unlock savings that make a true difference. NZ Compare’s user-friendly comparison platforms make it easy to compare your broadband, power, mobile and finance bills within minutes and for free. You can quickly find and switch to a better deal and find savings that will make a difference to your budget this summer. Why pay more when you can find a better deal in minutes? Save more, smile more. Easy!
2. Lower Power Use
Power bills can gobble up a large chunk of our budget, especially in summer when we are pumping the aircon. But it doesn’t take much to lower your power use to ultimately save money on your electricity bill. Choose to invest in energy efficient appliances – ones that use the least amount of energy possible to do their jobs. You can also help your current ones work more efficiently, such as cleaning the filters in your aircon or decluttering your fridge. Click the button below to see 8 great ideas for saving energy in the home.
3. Cancel Subscriptions
How many subscriptions to streaming platforms do you have? And how many do you really use? It’s okay, we get it! But it’s a good idea to be honest with yourself about how many you use often and cancel ones you don’t need. You’ll be surprised at how much money you save over time. Those subscriptions add up!
4. Start a Budget
A budget is a great way to track where your money goes, and pinpoint where you can make changes in your expenses. Track your spending for a month, including your living expenses, grocery bills, and leisure spending… yes, even the coffee you picked up on the way to work. You’ll soon be able to see where you can make improvements, for example, maybe your power bill is higher than it needs to be or maybe you have a weekly takeaway habit that could be reduced. Put the money you save into a savings account that has a good interest rate!
5. Find the Right Savings Account
Not every savings account on the market is made equal. It’s a good idea to jump on Money Compare to compare the different savings accounts and choose one that best aligns with your goals. You can compare and sign up directly from Money Compare’s comparison tool. Once you’ve opened an account, be sure to set up automatic transfers to it so you can grow your funds in the background, and incur interest.
6. Make a Dinner Menu
You can save money at the grocery store by planning your meals for the week. Create a menu of the dinners and even lunches that you would like to have that week. You then write a list of all the ingredients and produce you need for those meals. Be sure to check your pantry, fridge and freezer that you have some things already before going to the store. You can then head to the grocery store and be sure to stick just to that list. This is a great way to avoid purchasing items without intention and avoiding food waste! You could even order your groceries online to avoid that pesky aisle temptation.