18 Aug 2021

When stuff shut down again, some of us with bank accounts on the ropes were probably secretly a bit relieved. Unfortunately, we now find ourselves in the position where we're blowing all our cash on succulents, oodies and takeout, and we're back at square one as far as the ol' savings account goes.

If you're looking to cut down on your spending, here's a couple tips to help ya out:

Lockdown led to some very questionable purchases and app downloads. And if you’re anything like me, you’ve probably signed up for some ‘free trials’ that you promised yourself you’d remember to cancel, but now they’re chipping away at your poor little savings account. 

Try looking through a month’s worth of your transaction history from your spending account. See if there’s anything that looks odd or that you just don’t use anymore, cancel it and viola! Why pay for something when you’re getting zilch out of it!?

Do dinner parties on the cheap, instead of spenno takeout

There’s nothing wrong with a cheeky pad thai now and again, but if you’re doing that a few nights in a row your wallet will start to feel the pain. If you’ve got a place to yourself (or generous ‘rents), have some mates over for a potluck or some cheap snags to chuck on the BBQ. 

If you really want to stretch your cash, think about doing something like a vegetarian night or buy some stuff in bulk like mince for nachos or spag bol. You can swap recipes, have themes, try new things and save cash at the same time. What’s not to love?


Become a fiend for second-hand marketplaces

If 2020 was the year of picking up weird hobbies, 2021 is the year of people selling their stuff once they realise they weren’t actually into making sourdough from scratch or making lo-fi hip hop beats to study/relax to. 

Thankfully for you, if you’re looking to pick up stuff for your latest obsession, there’s never been a better time. If you’ve got a little patience, definitely check out what you can buy, borrow or take from places like Facebook Marketplace, eBay, Gumtree and Depop, or check out your local markets.

People sell all sorts of perfectly good stuff there on the cheap, and it’s often in mint condition. There’s also great social pages where people post about stuff they’re about to send to the tip. So you can save the planet and your wallet!

The best things in life are free

Sometimes it can feel like there’s nothing to do without spending money, but if you know the right places to look, you can find a bunch of stuff to do that will cost you next to nothing. 

Your local library might be able to loan you e-books, movies or shows, and community centres and parks usually have at least one free exercise class like yoga that you can rock up to and work up a thrifty sweat. There also might be stuff like virtual art exhibitions or open-air performances listed on your local council’s site if you’re looking for some culture. 

Make it easy for yourself

Hey we get it - turning down an exxy night out or a gig you’ve had your eye on can be really hard. That’s why the biggest advice we can give you is to have a goal that you’re working towards, as a big reward for all your hard work. Maybe it’s a post-pandemic trip away, your first car, or a bond deposit to move out with your mates. Really flesh out the vision of how sick it’s going to be when you can spend that money on something that means a lot to you, and it’ll keep you going. 

Beyond that, see how you can make things run smoother for yourself. Westpac has a whole bunch of tools that mean you can set up an amount to put away every week or fortnight so you can’t touch it in a moment of weakness, and even a progress tracker so you can see as you get closer to your dreams coming true. Their savings account also has an interest rate of up to 2.5% as long as you put some money in every month and make 5 purchases on your Westpac debit card, which means you’re making your money work for you.

It’s super quick and easy to get signed up, and over time that extra interest could make all the difference, so why not suss it out over here?

Fees and charges apply. Read the product Terms and Conditions and consider whether the product is right for you. This information is general in nature and does not take your personal objectives, circumstances or needs into account. Products issued by Westpac Banking Corporation ABN 33 007 457 141 AFSL 233714.