Australian mums spill their biggest money saving secrets as inflation continues to rise – and why you should get kids involved in budgeting

Thrifty mums have been spilling their best money-saving tips as the rising cost of living continues to put pressure on Aussie households.

Many said they’ve stopped ordering takeaways and started making their own versions of their favourite fast food, while others recommended using cash to help see how much money you have left to spend. 

Someone even suggested packing up and moving to a rural town outside of the expensive cities and one mum said to unsubscribe from all marketing emails to eliminate the temptation to shop online. 

A mum asked for everyone’s best money-saving tips in an post to the Mums Who Budget and Save Facebook group and received more than 200 answers. 

One member offered a huge list of her best tricks to save money including shopping at discount supermarkets, only using credit cards that offer points and rewards as well as strictly sticking to a list when at the supermarket.

‘Sign up to every birthday offer under the sun and use the birthday credits you get to buy Christmas presents and birthday presents throughout the year. You have to be diligent not to look at other times of the year though,’ she said. 

‘Do a quick scan to per unit price when shopping, half price isn’t always best.’

She recommended buying kids’ school shoes in the middle of the year rather than at the start when they could be on sale. 

‘Get kids involved in saving…We got our 10-year-old to research gas and electricity plans to see if he could find a cheaper deal, not only did he, he now turns things off and asked to get a power pal so he could see what appliance was using electricity,’ the economic woman added.

‘Buy meat from wholesalers like Steggles and Tip Top. Learn when their sales are on and freeze meat. Supermarkets however discount usually on a weekday after 10am or around 9-10pm.’

‘Make fake-aways instead of ordering takeaways. Pre-loved is good enough. Entertainment should be free,’ one mum said (stock image)

Many joked about leaving the kids and husband at home during shopping trips to avoid spending on unnecessary items they pick pup and one woman said to find free outdoor activities to save on entertainment.

‘Every shop I do I look at the savings part on the receipt and put that money away into savings there and then. Actually saved just over $1300 a year doing this,’ one mum explained.  

‘Make fake-aways instead of ordering takeaways. Pre-loved is good enough. Entertainment should be free. Decide what your goals are and say no to things that aren’t moving towards them,’ another said. 

Other tips included bringing a water bottle everywhere so you don’t get thirsty and buy drinks out, buying secondhand as much a possible and planning meals weekly.

‘Move to a rural small town, there’s no take away and most nights it’s not even an option. When you do go into town you have to be organised as to what to spend money on,’ one mum said. 

Someone said using cash will make you think twice before spending and another said to turn off all powerpoints that are not in use to save on power

‘Any impulse purchases wait 48 hours and often you find your change your mind. I do this with anything over $50,’ a second answered. 

‘Whatever your food shop budget is draw it out in cash on a weekly basis, do a menu plan and see what you have in your cupboards before going grocery shopping. Don’t use your card to pay just the cash you have drawn out,’ a third recommended.

‘Once it’s gone it’s gone. It’s too easy to put groceries on a card and not worry about how much you are spending. I have saved thousands of dollars doing this.’

Someone said using cash will make you think twice before spending and another said to turn off all powerpoints that are not in use to save on power. 

‘I take cash out and put it in a piggy bank and then I tend to forget out it. Out of sight out of mind,’ someone added. 

‘Don’t pay someone to do something you can do yourself; dying hair, nails, toes, cutting lawn, cleaning wheelie bins, washing car etc,’ another replied.