DON’T SWEAT THE COST OF LIVING: By Jo & Carl Violeta
T
he cost of living is rising. Inflation is higher than your child’s fairy-floss-induced sugar rush. So we’ve pulled together 21 practical tips to cope with the cost-of-living pressures and make your money go further.
3. CHECK WHAT’S IN YOUR CUPBOARD AND FRIDGE BEFORE GROCERY SHOPPING
1. CHECK YOUR BANK STATEMENT REGULARLY
4. SWITCH TO AN ANNUAL PLAN ON MUST-HAVE SUBSCRIPTIONS
Set aside 20 minutes each month to go through your bank statements line-by-line and see if there are any subscriptions you can cancel or unusual activity you need to follow up on.
2. REVIEW YOUR HOME LOAN If you’re worried about interest rate rises, see if you can negotiate a discount with your bank. If they won’t help, a mortgage broker can research the market to see if there’s a better deal out there for you. 14 Peninsula Kids – Spring 2022
Use what you’ve already got as a base for your meals during the week to reduce grocery spending.
We saved almost $200 per year doing this with our Headspace and Canva subscriptions.
5. MAKE YOUR COFFEE BEFORE YOU LEAVE HOME Then take it with you in a travel mug. It can save you money on buying coffee.
continued page 16...