With the heatwave this week causing many of us to reach for the controls to the air conditioner, it’s good to know that a few simple lifestyle changes could have big payoffs when it comes to making savings this year.
Experts from consumer group Choice recently examined their data on everything from insurance to energy providers, and have revealed five simple ways to help households save thousands in 2025.
“Saving money doesn’t always have to be complicated or stressful’, says Choice Editorial Director, Mark Serrels.
“Something simple like switching your health insurance provider or changing how you wash your clothes could save you a lot of money in the long run.”
Here are five ways to save this year:
1. Turn appliances off at the power point – save up to $240 a year
“In one of our nationally representative surveys last year, 79 per cent of Australians said they were concerned about their electricity costs”, Serrels says. “Many appliances around the home use 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.”
2. Switch health insurance provider – save up to $1870 a year
“We independently compare policies across 46 health funds and often see significant savings if you shop around”, Serrels says. “The same cover with a different insurer could save you hundreds. Whether you have a Gold, Silver or Bronze policy, you’ll likely be able to find a cheaper deal that will give you the same cover.”
3. Change the way you wash clothes – save up to $1189 a year
According to Choice research, the way you do your laundry can have an impact on your finances. “We recommend doing full loads in cold water rather than small loads in warm water, switching to a cheaper top-performing detergent, and using less of it”, Serrels suggests.
“Stop using fabric softener – it’s not worth it and will save you around $77 a year”, he says, adding that reducing how much you use your dryer could save you nearly $450 a year.
4. Change energy provider – save up to $285.50 a year
It is too easy to sign up for an energy plan based on a cheap initial offer, then when the deal ends we tend to stay with the provider but on a different, more expensive plan. To help consumers deal with this, Choice has partnered with Bill Hero to help make it easier to find a better deal on energy bills. According to Serrels, a Bill Hero subscription will cost between $49 and $79, with the average first switch saving of $350 meaning you could save between $270 and $300.
5. Spread the weekly shop – save up to $1750 a year
“We recommend spreading your weekly shop across multiple stores when possible to get the best savings”, Serrels says. “Exactly how much you save will depend on your household size and the items you buy, but by doing a little more planning and taking advantage of the specials on offer, you could save up to 20 per cent on your groceries.”
To read the full list of savings tips, visit www.choice.com.au/2025savingtips
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