Beat the cost-of-living squeeze with these practical tips

The truth is, most of us are doing it tough right now.

Families set to enjoy a higher childcare subsidy from last year instead found centres putting up fees, the average monthly mortgage repayment has increased by $2100 since 2019, and some retirees are even delaying retirement.

Renters, too, are not having the best time, economically speaking. Rents in several capital cities reached record highs this year, while vacancies were close to all-time lows across the country.

CHOICE reported that Sydneysiders are paying over a dollar more for a loaf of white bread than they were in 2019. Household staples like white rice have also gone up in price, now costing up to 50% more.

Adding to this, hundreds of thousands of households and small businesses will be hit with higher energy prices after 1 July. The Australian Energy Regulator (AER) has flagged they will be upping the maximum level energy companies can charge. This change will see prices rise between 2.5 per cent and 8.9 per cent for customers in NSW, south-east Queensland, and South Australia.

Plenty of Aussies are finding it harder than ever to make ends meet. If you’re one of the many feeling the pinch, we’ve got your back. Read on for tips, tricks and ideas to save money.

Like many others, you might be asking yourself how to save on electricity bills. Luckily, there are plenty of small changes you can make that can save you energy and money without compromising on your comfort. Try these easy changes:

• Change to LED lightbulbs, which are more energy-efficient and last longer
• Run bigger appliances like the washing machine, dryer, and dishwasher during off-peak energy periods, typically early in the morning or late at night. Check the exact times with your energy provider.
• Line-dry items where possible
• The cost of heating and cooling accounts for 27% of energy consumption in the average home, so run your air-conditioner and heater at more sustainable temperatures – between 23°C and 26°C in summer or between 18°C and 21°C in winter

Like most Aussies, you’re probably paying too much for your energy. But, when was the last time you switched energy providers? Or even thought about switching?

We get it – comparing ever-changing electricity and gas deals can be overwhelming.

Plenty of people sign up to a provider because of a welcome deal, where a certain number of months are offered at a discounted rate.

That’s all well and good, but when the agreed period of time ends, you’ll likely be switched over to the default market rate, which could be a fair bit more than you signed up for.

Now, you can save a decent amount of money by regularly comparing your current energy provider’s rates with competitors. But even better? You can leave it to us with our new service, hipages energy.

With hipages energy, we compare energy prices for you and find you a cheaper deal from a range of leading retailers. Whether you’re a renter or a homeowner, you’re guaranteed to save with hipages energy.

Not only will you get the cheaper deal on your energy, but you’ll be switched automatically each time a better deal pops up that suits your needs. No fees and no ongoing paperwork means you can sit back, relax, and enjoy the savings.

Plus, you’ll save 20% guaranteed* on electricity bills in your first 12 months.

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Easy fixes and small jobs can make all the difference when it comes to saving energy. Use these tips to get your home in top-notch condition and save energy where you can.

Low-cost weatherproofing

The change of seasons is a great time to check if your home is weatherproof. Take ten minutes to consider:

• Feeling draughty? Grab a door snake or use a sealant to fill in gappy windows. You’ll both prevent your precious air-conditioned air from escaping in summer and stop cool draughts from sneaking in in winter.
• If your house faces east or west, you’re likely feeling the full brunt of the summer sun in the morning or afternoon. Blackout blinds can help prevent your home from heating up too much. Blinds also help insulate your home in winter.
• If you’re thinking of repainting your home, opt for ‘cool roof paint’, which reflects the sun.
• Add both visual interest and cheap insulation by laying down a rug or two to keep your home and feet toasty in the cooler months.

Simple maintenance jobs

• Have your air-conditioner serviced; it’ll extend its life, and make sure it’s working as efficiently as it can to keep you cool
• Don’t have an air-conditioner and find them cost-prohibitive? Consider hiring an electrician to instal ceiling fans. Not only is the initial outlay less expensive, fans are considerably less to run than an air conditioner
• Whether you run an electric, gas, or ducted heating system in winter, make sure you’re showing your heating some TLC before the temperature drops. Clean your filters or check the energy rating of your unit to make sure you’re getting the best bang for your buck.
• Get trees trimmed. Avoid branches falling on your roof and remove easy access to your home for pests.
• Hire a gutter cleaner to pull out everything that’s accumulated in your gutters. Blocked and full gutters lead to poor water run-off and mould growth and even provide a home for creepy crawlies.
• Have any dodgy parts of your roof repaired. Cracked or missing tiles can let in rain, leading to further roof damage as well as damage to your ceilings (and potentially a new, unwanted indoor water feature).Provide some appliance first aid. Check seals and filters on your dishwasher, washing machine and dryer and replace parts where necessary.

We’ve all had to learn things the hard way on occasion. Avoid these common mistakes and save yourself time, money, and the extra grey hairs.

If in doubt, don’t DIY

Instead, turn to a trusted tradie. Sure, it might feel like you’re paying more upfront, but you’ll save yourself a lot of money and headaches in the long run. You’ll avoid any ‘I told you so’s’ that might otherwise come your way, too.

We all like to think we’re the best weekend warrior around, but there are some jobs that are more likely to end in tears than success. For these, bring in a pro to lend a hand and get the job done right the first time ‘round!

False economy traps

You’ve reno’d your home, what about your insurance?

Make sure your insurance reflects the value you’ve added to your home. Should the worst happen, you want to make sure your insurance covers the updated value of your home post-reno.

Cheap materials = cheap results

Not only will the end result look cheap, but low-quality materials will degrade sooner as well. There’s nothing wrong with choosing budget-friendly materials, but it’s important to understand when and where they’re appropriate.

Review your quotes

Don’t just go with the first quote you receive. Three quotes is a good number to choose from and won’t overwhelm you with options. You can easily get quotes from trusted tradies through hipages and pick the best fit for your needs.

Never ignore council regulations

Not only could you cop a hefty fine, but the council could force you to restore your property to its original condition. Sounds expensive, time-consuming, and extremely frustrating.

*hipages energy guarantees 20% electricity bill savings on your first 12 months, compared to your previous year’s electricity use, or they’ll make up the difference with gift cards up to $1,000 for each property you sign-up, provided your energy bill for the past year is under $5,000. The property must be in NSW, VIC, SA, ACT or southeast QLD. See hipages.com.au/energy for full terms and conditions and eligibility requirements.