4 ways to save without sacrificing what you love

Estimated reading time
 3 min

Learn how to:

• Spice up your dinner on a budget
• Host low-cost dates with your loved ones
• Embrace the vintage lifestyle
• Be smart about your shopping
• Set smart money goals

Loving your life now and putting away savings for later don’t have to be conflicting lifestyle choices, especially when the cost of living climate is putting pressure on wallets across the country.

It’s possible to still enjoy life on a shoestring budget just by being clever with how you spend, and not compromising on the things that really matter to you.

Here are four money saving tips you can follow to realise your saving potential, and start living la vida low-cost life.

1. Shake up your home-cooked meals

Quality dining doesn’t always have to include five courses and polished cutlery – it just involves a few flavour hacks to make your meal into a homespun masterpiece.

Cheaper principal ingredients like rice, couscous or even instant noodles can become an instant flavour sensation just by adding your own fresh (or frozen) vegetables, spices, sauces or finishing touches – and remember, a garnish can make anything fancy.

If you’ve cooked more than you need to eat, you can have leftovers the next night! They’re a great way to save on time and money – yesterday’s curry always seems to have more kick and next-day pizza is a slice of heaven.

2. Save the date

Dates with friends and romantic partners are some of the easiest things to do on the cheap. The more we simplify, the more we get back to what’s really important – spending time with the people who make us feel good.

• Choose nature and get out there! Find your friends, pick a place on a map and go on a hike – or rest your legs and relax in the park.
• DIY your dates the next time you want to connect with your partner or friends. You can host a double-feature movie night or host your own trivia event – either face-to-face or online.
• Watch for discounts to make your date even more ‘special’. Be it food, drinks, or entertainment, keeping an eye out for a 2-for-1 or group deal might help you get more fun for your funds. It might be the key to a great night out (or in) that you weren’t even expecting.

  Hot tip:

You can see how much you’re saving by using the ANZ savings booster calculator. Simply enter what you’re wanting to cut back on (like a night out) and the calculator will show you just how much you can save. It’s that easy.

3. It’s not old, it’s vintage

Whether it’s a projector for your at-home movie night or a car for going on adventures, you don’t have to feel like buying new things is out of bounds while you save. You might just have to buy something that’s new to you. With the huge market for second-hand goods, you can usually find something original with a simple search. Do some digging and wait for a price that suits your budget so you can have everything you want – at a fraction of the cost.

4. Be smart about your shopping (and get some cash back)

Want to know how to save money fast on a low income (or high one)? Then use a cashback reward program whenever you shop online. These websites and apps can help you save money every time you shop through them, which can quickly add up over time. Another benefit of using a cashback rewards program is that they can give you a heads up on when the sales are about to land, which can help you plan your spend.

Don’t forget to set a goal

Hyperbolic discounting (also called present bias) is our tendency to favour immediate rewards over ones that might come later, like some of our savings goals. When it comes to saving, it can be tempting to spend your hard-earned cash on a little treat here and there because it makes you feel good now. But what if you put that money towards a savings goal for future-you?

Setting a goal doesn’t cost a cent, plus it can help you reduce the impact of hyperbolic discounting and work towards something bigger in the future – be it a home deposit, an international holiday, or a new gaming console. Saving for the future also doesn’t mean you have to give up the little things in life that make you smile – you just have to adjust your mindset and consider low-cost alternatives to save smarter and enjoy what you like.

  Hot tip:

You can download our SMART dream board to help map out your goals, so you can save smarter and reap the rewards later.

Living large doesn’t mean you have to break the bank. By making simple lifestyle changes like hacking your menu choices and choosing fun budget friendly activities with your favourite people, you can keep living your best life – without sacrificing your savings.