Hey team,
Saving money with less mental effort, you say? Let’s make that happen!
Because the cost of living is cooked, we all know that.
But frankly, it’s tiring to constantly be price comparing, and on our toes, doing our best to fight the rising tide of bills All. The. Time.
SO I decided it was time to round up my favourite apps that help us stay on top of our money, without having to be spending your precious mental energy on it.
We all gotta eat, but not for THAT price, are you kidding me?
Grocer pulls prices across the big supermarkets so that you can see who’s actually cheapest for what’s in your trolley, instead of trusting whoever has the loudest yellow sticker.
Meanwhile Price Pulse is a free browser extension that compares prices across the major grocery chains, as well as their price history, so that you can tell the difference between a genuine special and a “special” that’s just the regular price with a sticker slapped on it. It will even help you switch to buy from the cheaper option.
www.pricepulse.co.nz or grocer.nz
Strait of Hormuz is open, closed, open, closed, and the petrol bill is hurting thanks to it. Gaspy helps you out with crowdsourced petrol prices, updated by actual humans driving actual cars past actual stations. Open it before you fill up, not after. The margin between the cheapest and most expensive pump in the same suburb is bigger than people think, and it costs you nothing to check.
Secondhand is my favourite hack, particularly for finding good quality at a much lower price. Before you buy anything at retail price, have a wee scroll. Nine times out of ten, someone nearby has bought one, regretted it, and is trying to get rid of it for a third of the price. Let them solve your problem for you.
Help your friends find the easier ways to do well with money, share this post.
This one is less an app and more of a mindset shift - they’ll help you stop throwing out perfectly good food that just needs to be used in a different way. Meal planning tools, “use it up” recipes for the vegetables that are getting sad, and portion guides so you stop cooking enough rice for a rugby team. Wasted food is wasted money, full stop.
Have a play on powerswitch.org.nz or billy.govt.nz, to compare power plans and find out fast if you’re getting fleeced. A lot of power companies bank on us never checking for a better deal, but it can save you literally hundreds of dollars. Ten minutes on these sites can beat hours of couponing.
powerswitch.org.nz and billy.govt.nz
Want more of these?
Well, I did a round up of my absolute favourite ways to save money across every area, from food, to petrol, insurance, and even how to create an overall budget you actually STICK with.
It’s all in the latest episode of Making Cents, and if I do say so myself, it’s a good one!
Check it out in all the usual podcast places including YouTube , or Spotify and Apple Podcasts.
How much should you talk to your kids about money?
Should they get an allowance?
Can you gift them a shares portfolio, or should you make them build it themselves?
Talking to kids about money is stressful, ok? We really don’t want to get it wrong!
Luckily we have the lovely Katie Wesney from EnableMe, to take us by the hand and give us some solid strategies to ease the pressure, while we’re trying to guide our kids into a messy area.
It’s out on Thursday, so make sure you’re subscribed on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or YouTube.
Until next time.
- Frances
P.S. I’m a financial journalist of over 10 years, and qualified as a financial advisor, specialising in investments.
However, please remember that this newsletter is general educational information, and not individualised financial advice. If you’d like to talk to a financial advisor, I have a podcast on how to find a good one.
Comments
Nothing yet. Say the first thing.
Sign in to join the conversation.