Easy Ways to Save Money in Australia

Last month I wrote a blog titled Excellent tips to save a lot of money in Australia and soon realised that I have even more tips to share with people migrating to Australia and new immigrants in Australia. These tips might even help individuals who have lived in Australia for a while.

I have uncovered these tips over the years of living in Australia, the type of information I wish I knew from day one!

I invite you to continue reading these tips…

THOSE BIG TICKET items such as contracted or annual expenses – insurance, utilities, mobile phone contracts, medical insurance and internet providers.

Before signing on the dotted line, obtain your credit score (available for free and with no obligation, from a company called “creditsimple”) and use your credit score to negotiate a better rate.

Review these contracts annually, do your research by shopping around (there are websites to assist you such as “comparethemarket”) and negotiate better rates with your current supplier. Once again use your credit score as a negotiating tool. Generally, your existing supplier would be willing to offer you a better rate.

 

Buying a House

Before the purchase of a house, speak to your trusted Mortgage Broker. A mortgage broker will search the entire mortgage funding market for the lowest mortgage rate available based on your particular set of circumstances. The greatest benefit is that your mortgage broker works directly for/with you and their services do not cost you a cent. Our mortgage broker rings us periodically to discuss any changes in our requirements/circumstances, and he has also achieved even further savings for us.  With a mortgage broker, you are a client that matters and not just some (bank account) number.

 

Medical Expenses

  • Hospitals

Often State and Private Hospitals share the same theatres where operations are performed. A bed is a bed, and if your circumstances allow you to choose a state bed, you will be saving money. Recently a friend had this choice and was pleasantly surprised with the level of service at the State Hospital, and managed to save a tidy $500.

  • Choosing and visiting a doctor

Search online to find a physician that Bulk Bills. Bulk Billing means that you can get free medical treatment if your health professional accepts the Medicare benefit as a full payment service.

TOP TIP – Some private practices will bulk bill children and senior citizens, compared to private practices that do not Bulk Bill at all. You can obtain this information from the receptionist or the doctor’s website.

  • Dentists for Children

The School Dental Service provides free general dental care to school children from 5 to 16 or until the end of year 11 (whichever comes first) and attending a Department of Education recognised school. Check the details on your State’s Department of Health website for more information.

  • Medicine

The government subsidises many prescribed medicines in Australia under the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS). The cost of medicine under the PBS is generally capped at $6.20 for concession cardholders and $38.30 for everyone else. Certain medicines can cost hundreds or thousands of dollars, and savings to consumers are huge.

  • Free After-Hours Doctor services

There are several after-hour doctor services that come to your home and who also prescribe medicine. These services are also FREE if it is BULK BILLED. Check with the particular service provider when you ring their call centre.

I trust the above tips might help you in future to save a lot of money. 

If you require help with creating a resume that highlights your Australian value proposition, or assistance with recruitment or setting up your LinkedIn profile, please feel free to contact me. Don’t hesitate to connect with me on LinkedIn and keep up with my frequent updates on both LinkedIn and  Facebook. You can easily reach me through a LinkedIn message or by finding my contact information here. 

About the Author

Having relocated twice from South Africa to China and then to Australia, and also moving from Queensland to Western Australia, has gained valuable insight into the intricacies of job searching in Australia.

Chaleen, who graduated from the University of South Africa with a background in accountancy, decided to embark on a new journey and discovered a passion for assisting others in their job search. Since 2012 she has played a pivotal role as a job coach, developing LinkedIn profiles and coaching job seekers.

Chaleen was eventually offered a position as a recruiter at a specialised recruitment company and later at an outsourced HR firm. It wasn’t long before she discovered that she had a passion for the recruitment process. Chaleen obtained her recruiter’s license and subsequently established her own recruitment company.

Chaleen enjoys reading, staying fit, and spending time with her family and their two furry pets when she is not working.