The simple swaps that could save you up to $13,000 this year

Saving money can often feel like a chore, but according to the experts at CHOICE there are some simple and easy ways to save significant cash.

By doing all of these things you could potentially save up to $13,000, which would be a massive help as the cost of living crisis drags on for another year.

The changes range from small habits to spending just a bit of time on the phone but all add up to significant savings.

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No more vampire appliances

For a saving of up to $240 a year, start turning off your appliances at the power point so they don't use electricity while being in standby mode.

"Many appliances around your home use up a lot of electricity, with wireless routers and printers particularly notorious for being energy hogs. Turning them off at the power point when they're not in use will ensure you're not wasting money," Mark Serrels, CHOICE editorial director, said.

Switch health insurance providers

This one requires a little more effort than turning off the TV, but can lead to impressive savings of up to $1870 a year.

A South Coast family 9honey spoke to in 2024 managed to save $2000 a year on health insurance by shopping around for a better deal. That move made a huge difference to their budget and helping to make ends meet.

"The same cover with a different insurer can be hundreds of dollars cheaper," Jodi Bird, CHOICE insurance expert, said.

"Whether you have a Gold, Silver or Bronze policy, it's likely that you'll be able to find a cheaper deal that will give you exactly the same amount of cover."

For even more savings you can also shop around for better deals on car and home insurance

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Tweak your clothes washing routine

Skip the hot or warm water washes for cold ones and you'll save big bucks and still have clean clothes. You'll save even more if you also do larger loads instead of smaller ones.

Using less detergent for each wash means you'll be spending less on detergent while getting a better clean since excessive detergent is hard to rinse out fully.

And ditching fabric softener, which can damage your washing machine and clothes, will yield a saving of $77 a year. If you miss the softness, white vinegar will do the trick for $1.85 a litre.

For those with dryers, using them less, perhaps mainly for rainy days, can help save up to $450.

All of those changes could lead to up to $1189 a year in savings.

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Switch energy providers

Like with health insurance, looking around for a better deal can lead to big savings. CHOICE estimates the amount you could slash off your yearly power bill total to be up to $285.50.

You might even be able to get a better deal with your current energy provider simply by looking at your bill statement as providers now have to state on the bill if there is a cheaper plan available to you.

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Buy your groceries from more than one shop

Most of us are in the habit of doing our entire shop at the one store but by splitting the shopping list up and going to multiple stores can save you up to 20 per cent.

There is more time and effort involved in researching and planning which supermarket has the best deal for each item but CHOICE estimates a saving of up to $1861 a year.

Extending the grocery shop to shops like The Reject Shop and Chemist Warehouse also helps as sometimes deals on their food and cleaning products can be cheaper than at the supermarket.

The information provided on this website is general in nature only and does not constitute personal financial advice. The information has been prepared without taking into account your personal objectives, financial situation or needs. Before acting on any information on this website you should consider the appropriateness of the information having regard to your objectives, financial situation and needs.

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