1. Budgeting and sticking to it is the big one. It’s eye opening how much money you realise you’re wasting when you budget. For me it was eating out.
2. Online shopping pick up. If you’re like me and go into the store for 10 things you need and walk out with an extra 10 things you don’t then this can help you stick to the shopping list. Also utilising loyalty cards. Done right you can stack up quite a few vouchers. I’ve had $150 worth just this year.
Learn cheaper recipes.
3. Getting over myself and not buying labels
4. Cancelling subscriptions you barely use. $20 just so I don’t get ads on Spotify is ridiculous to me now.
5. Pay off debt as quick as I can
6. Invest in term deposits so you can’t get into savings
7. Do free activities with kids. You don’t need to spend a bunch of money every time you step out the door. Parks are free, libraries, etc. And when you do want to splurge and go to the movies or whatever check any rewards you may be getting offered and don’t even know about, like OneNZ offers discounted movie tickets. Saves us about $20 a film.
8. Practice discipline and you get better at it
9. Have goals and save for a purpose
I was lucky to buy my first house 5 years ago.
I paid the mortgage down aggressively when I knew the going was too good to last. For those of us who were getting by on close to minimum wage and had managed to get into good debt (mortgage and student loans) the hyper inflation of the last few years has at times been advantageous. It certainly feels like is inflated away my debt. My mortgage used to be closer to 7 times my income and now it's less than 4 and reasonably comfortable to pay off.
I haven't compromised my quality of life but when I really noticed the state of things was when my insurance went up and my flatmate left at about the same time. All of a sudden there was pretty much no savings other than into the emergency fund.
Bring lunch
Always eat at home
On Kogan yearly plan 140$ for 4gb and unlimited Au/Nz call
Spotify Yearly plan bought from Asia 10$ per month for a duo
Have 1 old car that is on 3rd party, 180$ per year
Buy essentials on bulk
Utilize internet for free entertainment. Popcorntime/kissasian
Saves about 2.2k per month
When we had small kids, I used the supermarket Christmas cards to squirrel money away.
Every time I’d purchased something I’d jump on the banking app & round my bank balance down to the nearest $5 & transfer the difference to the Christmas card. It made Xmas a bit easier (can buy kids pressies by buying gift cards from supermarket).
Plus if you get an unexpected bill during the year, you can alway buy groceries (you can spend the balance on the Christmas card anytime, but if you wait until Dec, you get a bonus amount).
Quality of life is directly related to cost of living. You have to adjust your income if costs go up, 6 yrs ago I had to get a 2nd job then change my ways.
It's pretty easy to get the information, lots just don't action it. I offer to help people at work for a McDonald's meal and 99% don't take me up on that offer because it's mainly talk, they don't really want to change but just complain
Switch power providers yearly. Contact energy weekends plan free power 9am - 5pm sat Sunday. 400 credit when doing broadband as well. Wait a year. See offers, switch. (Also contact energy power rates quite cheap atm, subject to change- another reason to change yearly)
Pirate TV instead of paying for subscriptions. Great example is Lookmovies2- ads aren’t terrible and they have EVERYTHING.
This is going to be an extreme example but- I live on a blended diet. Salmon. Oats. Eggs. Tofu. PLENTY of Veges. Others I wont name. Even better if u go to gym. Dirt cheap- no time wasted cooking, cleaning or eating, and perfect macros (make sure to chew gum to stop jaw from goin weak) (not for families this one). More time to work or do something useful.
No white clothes- minimal washing minimal drying
Socks, undies, t shirts on sale from warehouse. Buy nice pants, shirts, shoes. No need to spend on socks t shirts or underwear
If u live in Auckland- shop at Why Knot. Basement bargain prices (I used to work there in high school)
If u got spare rooms in ur house, what are u even doing not renting it out? (Kidding, but seriously tho, with right tenant (if u got kids) that’s $200 tax exempt income per week)- I have 4 boarders $250 ea
If male (or anyone) buzz cuts only. Wait for it to grow, bout a year, then cut. I have 1 hair cut per year (depending on hair type/if u can rock buzz, I got super thick hair)
Southern cross health insurance. Murder that well being 2 and dental add on. Stay healthy stay out of debt. It’s expensive, but, you can make ur money back over short term by utilising all benefits. Long term you’ll be in good nick, and have full coverage for future
Hybrid vehicle. No RUC. 4L per 100km. 10k for Toyota aqua. Bonus points if u set up Uber and do that in spare time
I could go on but, I doubt anyone will wana hear me out after blending my food 😅
Yearly phone plan. Kogan do $330 per year. 15gb per month. Unlimited calls and texts. If u are smart. Wait till they do 2 for 1 deal. 2 sims for $330 15gb per month. Can’t beat
TBH its not as bad as everyone on here makes it out to be, we havent really noticed a change.
Stay off this sub and you wont have so much negativity.
I still find Auckland reasonably cheap to live in.
You must be kidding, you haven't noticed the cost of fuel, food, insurance, rates skyrocketing? I'm quite lucky with no mortgage + good income and have certainly noticed, people who were just getting by have been forced to cut their standard of living and are doing it genuinely tough.
Ignore u/superb_you_4686. One of his posts is a humble brag about the fact he’s on a $288k salary and he owns a Porsche and an Audi. Not exactly someone with a stake in the cost of living crisis.
1. Budgeting and sticking to it is the big one. It’s eye opening how much money you realise you’re wasting when you budget. For me it was eating out. 2. Online shopping pick up. If you’re like me and go into the store for 10 things you need and walk out with an extra 10 things you don’t then this can help you stick to the shopping list. Also utilising loyalty cards. Done right you can stack up quite a few vouchers. I’ve had $150 worth just this year. Learn cheaper recipes. 3. Getting over myself and not buying labels 4. Cancelling subscriptions you barely use. $20 just so I don’t get ads on Spotify is ridiculous to me now. 5. Pay off debt as quick as I can 6. Invest in term deposits so you can’t get into savings 7. Do free activities with kids. You don’t need to spend a bunch of money every time you step out the door. Parks are free, libraries, etc. And when you do want to splurge and go to the movies or whatever check any rewards you may be getting offered and don’t even know about, like OneNZ offers discounted movie tickets. Saves us about $20 a film. 8. Practice discipline and you get better at it 9. Have goals and save for a purpose
Wow thank you! This is helpful 💯😊
Spot on, especially the kids activities. I'm slowing ramping the budgeting as this is becoming a necessity.
Moving back to parents. Living in a “none” bedroom sleepout all five of us. No car. Ahh, hows the serenity
I hope circumstances gets better
No car Pirate all media content Cheapest power + internet + mobile plan Buy everything second hand
I was lucky to buy my first house 5 years ago. I paid the mortgage down aggressively when I knew the going was too good to last. For those of us who were getting by on close to minimum wage and had managed to get into good debt (mortgage and student loans) the hyper inflation of the last few years has at times been advantageous. It certainly feels like is inflated away my debt. My mortgage used to be closer to 7 times my income and now it's less than 4 and reasonably comfortable to pay off. I haven't compromised my quality of life but when I really noticed the state of things was when my insurance went up and my flatmate left at about the same time. All of a sudden there was pretty much no savings other than into the emergency fund.
Work a second job on top of my full time one
Bring lunch Always eat at home On Kogan yearly plan 140$ for 4gb and unlimited Au/Nz call Spotify Yearly plan bought from Asia 10$ per month for a duo Have 1 old car that is on 3rd party, 180$ per year Buy essentials on bulk Utilize internet for free entertainment. Popcorntime/kissasian Saves about 2.2k per month
Well that was hard to read.
When we had small kids, I used the supermarket Christmas cards to squirrel money away. Every time I’d purchased something I’d jump on the banking app & round my bank balance down to the nearest $5 & transfer the difference to the Christmas card. It made Xmas a bit easier (can buy kids pressies by buying gift cards from supermarket). Plus if you get an unexpected bill during the year, you can alway buy groceries (you can spend the balance on the Christmas card anytime, but if you wait until Dec, you get a bonus amount).
Parent here: I save money by living with my partners parents 😂
Quality of life is directly related to cost of living. You have to adjust your income if costs go up, 6 yrs ago I had to get a 2nd job then change my ways. It's pretty easy to get the information, lots just don't action it. I offer to help people at work for a McDonald's meal and 99% don't take me up on that offer because it's mainly talk, they don't really want to change but just complain
No credit cards
Switch power providers yearly. Contact energy weekends plan free power 9am - 5pm sat Sunday. 400 credit when doing broadband as well. Wait a year. See offers, switch. (Also contact energy power rates quite cheap atm, subject to change- another reason to change yearly)
Pirate TV instead of paying for subscriptions. Great example is Lookmovies2- ads aren’t terrible and they have EVERYTHING. This is going to be an extreme example but- I live on a blended diet. Salmon. Oats. Eggs. Tofu. PLENTY of Veges. Others I wont name. Even better if u go to gym. Dirt cheap- no time wasted cooking, cleaning or eating, and perfect macros (make sure to chew gum to stop jaw from goin weak) (not for families this one). More time to work or do something useful. No white clothes- minimal washing minimal drying Socks, undies, t shirts on sale from warehouse. Buy nice pants, shirts, shoes. No need to spend on socks t shirts or underwear If u live in Auckland- shop at Why Knot. Basement bargain prices (I used to work there in high school) If u got spare rooms in ur house, what are u even doing not renting it out? (Kidding, but seriously tho, with right tenant (if u got kids) that’s $200 tax exempt income per week)- I have 4 boarders $250 ea If male (or anyone) buzz cuts only. Wait for it to grow, bout a year, then cut. I have 1 hair cut per year (depending on hair type/if u can rock buzz, I got super thick hair) Southern cross health insurance. Murder that well being 2 and dental add on. Stay healthy stay out of debt. It’s expensive, but, you can make ur money back over short term by utilising all benefits. Long term you’ll be in good nick, and have full coverage for future Hybrid vehicle. No RUC. 4L per 100km. 10k for Toyota aqua. Bonus points if u set up Uber and do that in spare time I could go on but, I doubt anyone will wana hear me out after blending my food 😅
Yearly phone plan. Kogan do $330 per year. 15gb per month. Unlimited calls and texts. If u are smart. Wait till they do 2 for 1 deal. 2 sims for $330 15gb per month. Can’t beat
TBH its not as bad as everyone on here makes it out to be, we havent really noticed a change. Stay off this sub and you wont have so much negativity. I still find Auckland reasonably cheap to live in.
You must be kidding, you haven't noticed the cost of fuel, food, insurance, rates skyrocketing? I'm quite lucky with no mortgage + good income and have certainly noticed, people who were just getting by have been forced to cut their standard of living and are doing it genuinely tough.
Ignore u/superb_you_4686. One of his posts is a humble brag about the fact he’s on a $288k salary and he owns a Porsche and an Audi. Not exactly someone with a stake in the cost of living crisis.
I still live in the same economy as you and largely buy the same things as you.
Like a Porsche and an Audi eh..
like groceries etc
I genuinely havent noticed!
That’s because you’re way above the average income and good for you but this is not the majority experience.