9 Tips to Reduce Groceries, Accommodation and Transport Costs

According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics, our biggest 3 expenses continue to be groceries, housing and transport.

While these costs continue to rise, there are many things you can do to reduce them further.

Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links to products and services we personally use.

How to Reduce the Cost of Groceries

A massive expense for many and one of the things we get asked about the most. Groceries are an expensive necessity.

However, there are ways to get food free and super cheap plus there are frugal recipes.

1. Get Free Food

You don’t have to go dumpster diving, although if that is your thing, go for it.

You can forage, barter, grow your own (spring onions, celery, herbs and similar grow from scraps).

Enter competitions with food as the prize and look at the options around you for free food.

Depending on your circumstances, you might be eligible for free food from community pantry’s and similar.

Some churches also give out free food because members bring it in or it gets donated.

2. Access Discounted Food

Look for all the discounts available, shop in sales and use the reward programs.

Do not chase points though. Only buy what you need and stick to your budget.

Ask local vendors such as butchers, greengrocers, farmers markets and similar if they offer discounts and always use cash back apps. 

Get up to $200 off with HelloFresh, spread across your first 6 boxes for new and returning customers. Conditions apply.

Get easy meals from $2.19 per plate with this discount from EveryPlate. Get healthy meals delivered straight to you. 
45% off your first box with Marley Spoon and further discounts.

Up to $140 off Dinnerly, spread across your first few boxes.

3. Plan!

As basic as it sounds, creating a meal plan (even if it only for a few days at a time), shopping with a list and shopping around saves money.

Planning your groceries, having a budget, knowing what food you have and what you need enables you to eat better and spend less.

Check out these ways to save money on groceries in 2022 for more.

How to Save Money on Housing

House prices have soared the past few years, as has rent, making housing unaffordable for many.

1. Free Housing

Housesitting, pet sitting in other people’s homes and couch surfing are the most common ‘free’ housing options.

Alternatively, some people travel and work in different places with accommodation included.

This can be easier if you are single e.g. working as an au pair, in a backpackers, hostel etc.

Owning or renting are not the only housing options available.

2. Make Money From Housing

You can rent out rooms to make your mortgage pay for itself. Rent out your garage or spare spaces, run classes from home and all sorts of things.

Check out how to make your home pay for itself.

Long-term boarders, Airbnb for short term, Spacer for the garage or driveway are all easy options.

3. Get It Cheaper

Live somewhere cheaper either by looking for a cheaper area or downsizing if you rent or look at refinancing options if you own.

Although you need to weigh up all the expenses of moving too.

Transport

Whether it is the cost of owning a car, using public transport or needing a bike, there are costs with transport.

1. Reduce Car Expenses

Most Australians own cars and given how spread out our country is, this makes sense.

If you own a car, keep an eye on fuel prices, top-up when it’s cheap so you don’t have to when it is expensive.

Use an app such as Fuel Map to find the cheapest fuel near you.

Ensure your car is well maintained because it will run smoother and be cheaper.

Clean it regularly, keep it garaged or undercover where possible and always compare insurance.

Never, ever pay your renewal when they send it. It is always more expensive than if you got a new quote, even if it is with the same company.

2. Free Transport

Many locations are offering free public transport now.

Check your area to see what they offer in terms of free or discounted transport.

Using a bike with a basket or backpack is also extremely common in many locations we’ve lived.

Bikes are cheap to run, easy to use and you can carry a decent amount on them. Of course, there is always walking too.

3. Cheap Transport

Aside from owning your own car, rideshare and carshare programs can be an option.

There are a variety of carshare options you can use for an hour, a day or a few days.

Most are located within inner cities. You can also rent your own car out and make some money while saving on insurance.

Groceries, Accommodation and Transport Cash Back

For groceries, accommodation and transport, you can get cash back.

Sign up for the programs below and activate the one with the best deal on the day.

Getting the apps and Chrome extensions installed to maximise benefits.

They can notify you when you are on a site eligible for cash back and how much you will get.

Shopback: Join Shopback for free and get a bonus after your first purchase. Get extra money by doing surveys, challenges, uploading receipts and utilising upsized offers.

Honey: Slightly different, Honey offers cash back but also scans for discounts and coupon codes. Join Honey for free here.

Swagbucks: Best known as an online survey site, they also have a cash back program with the cash being awarded in points you accrue and cash out. Join free here.

How do you save money on these 3 major parts of your budget?

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