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5 simple ways to maximise your savings

Turns out a little effort can go a long way when it comes to easing the pressure on your household budget.

By Bek Day

In the midst of a cost-of-living crunch, more and more Aussies are realising that a few mindful tweaks to everyday habits—as well as household upgrades where possible—can lead to serious savings. Instead of defaulting to pricey convenience, people are getting smarter with their spending—grabbing groceries on special, planning meals to avoid waste, batch cooking to save time and cash and even adding solar to cut energy bills. These shifts don’t just help the budget stretch further, they make life easier, too. And the best part? Once you get into the habit, saving money feels easier than ever.

1. Smart shopping 

Georgie Maslin, Bowral, NSW: “We used to wing it with our grocery shopping, grabbing things here and there and somehow still feeling like we had nothing to cook. But once we started meal planning and doing one big shop a week instead of lots of little ones, we noticed a huge difference—both in our budget and our stress levels. My husband’s a shift worker and I work from home so having a plan (and meals prepped in advance) made life much easier. We’d check what was on special, batch cook things like curries and pasta sauces and freeze portions for busy nights. It meant less waste, fewer takeaway splurges and way more savings—plus, no more midweek dinner panic.” 

Tip: “Stick to a shopping list. Writing down exactly what you need and resisting impulse buys helps you avoid overspending and unnecessary extras.”

2. A happy bottom line

Melanie Carr, Sutherland Shire, NSW: “We have three kids and I started off using cloth nappies with the oldest for environmental reasons but when she was about three months old I switched to cloth wipes as well, which were far less harsh on her skin. We’ve used the same set of wipes for all the kids, because they wash and wear so well. We’ve saved about $4500 on wipes in 12 years—and stopped them from going to landfill.”

Tip: “People can be a bit daunted by the time required when thinking about washing cloth nappies and wipes. My advice to anyone who wants to try is to plan to do it from the beginning—then you’ll never know any differently!”

3. Help turn sunshine into savings 

Lauren Hamilton, Tempe, NSW: “When we bought our house this year, we decided to make it as self-sufficient as possible. We have double glazing, a water tank, a solar system and a battery for energy storage and energy-efficient lighting and aircon. I work for a commercial solar company so I have access to expertise and cheaper equipment, which helped. We don’t use grid electricity, which saves us about $400 per month.”

Tip: “By draught-proofing your house and upgrading to efficient electrical equipment, you’ll save energy before you even look at generating it yourself.”

4. No petrol, no problem 

Brendan Condon, Cape Paterson, VIC: “We test-drove an EV a few years ago and marvelled at the smoother speed and handling and the quietness of the ride. We were also excited about the ability to charge an electric car from our own solar panels and ‘drive on sunlight’. Petrol bills were a drag on our household finances. About three years ago, we crunched the numbers and decided it made sense for myself and my partner, Marie, to both purchase EVs. Marie drives more than 20,000 kilometres per annum and I drive about 40,000 kilometres each year, both in our long-range electric cars. The total savings for us are well over $7000 per annum.”

Tip: “Keep an eye on the market. In 2025, with the lower energy and running costs, many new EV models will likely demonstrate price-parity with comparable petrol cars. I think EVs will soon have lower sticker prices than equivalent petrol cars.”

5. A bountiful backyard

Jaci Hicken, Gippsland, VIC: "In 2008, my husband, Ernst, and I bought a house on three-quarters of an acre in Mirboo North, South Gippsland. Aside from the house, the land—located within the town boundaries and only 200 metres from the main street—was bare, with only three fruit trees and a small vegetable patch. Over the past 16 years, we’ve turned the block into half an acre of fruit and vegetable garden. There are now about 50 fruit trees, various fruiting shrubs, perennial herbs, flowers and 11 raised garden beds, all producing food all year round. At any one time, including in the heart of winter, you can harvest at least 30 different things to eat, with this doubling at the end of summer and the start of autumn.”

Tip: “You can try to grow leafy greens for four people for six months of the year in a space of 1.5 square metres. Two weeks before Easter, in southern Australia, plant a punnet each of celery, kale, silverbeet and sprouting broccoli. This can help you produce greens for the whole winter.”

Discover how you can save on energy costs and contribute to a brighter future with CommBank’s Home Energy Upgrades. It brings together offers, resources and trusted industry participants to enhance your home’s energy efficiency.

Take advantage of CommBank’s zero per cent interest financing for up to five years through InstalPay to purchase solar systems and battery storage with no upfront costs. Start your journey towards energy-efficient savings today.

Applications for finance are subject to credit approval. Terms and conditions apply and monthly repayments required.

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