To celebrate our latest and greatest giveaway ($25,000 cash!), we’ve enlisted the Nimble hive-mind to collect our best budgeting tips and bill hacks!
Quick and Simple budgeting tips and bill hacks to help you
Budget Budget Budget
Got a wedding coming up? Budget in your present, your outfit, your travel, your missed shift, your fabulous hair and nails. This stuff adds up and can be a killer when your usual bills arrive and you wonder why your bank balance is too low to cover it. We’ve all been there. Here’s a list of sneaky bank balance assassins to watch out for:
- Birthday pressies. Think of cheap DIY present ideas that also score thoughtful friend points.
- Netflix, Stan, Apple TV, the list goes on, look over your bank account and see if you can strategise so your subscription services are staggered. Bonus tip: Pick ONE streaming service at a time.
- Kids’ sports, music lessons, textbooks, school fees… they grow up so fast! Budget that in.
- Morning coffee. Now you do you, but if you make your coffee at home you’re saving the big bucks. OR if you can’t live without your barista, make sure you’re good to pay close to $1,500 a year.
The moral of the story is that the little stuff adds up big time. If you plan ahead you can forecast when and where you need to save to make your bills on time. Your peace of mind AND your bank account will thank you.
Make Friends with Your Calendar. No, Really.
Hands up who has been personally offended by their car rego bill? That bill is IMMENSE and a pearl-clutching moment every 12 months. Next time that bill arrives, pop a reminder in your calendar for say 11 months’ time, so you can make sure you have that money ready to go! Future-you will be very grateful. Apply this same formula for all your other big bills, as soon as you open the envelope, ask Siri to remind you when the next one is due.
Don’t procrastinate
If you know you can’t cover a bill, give the company billing you a ring and talk about your options, before that late fee comes. Some services offer an option to pay in instalments or reschedule your due date, look into this as far in advance as possible and it could really save you.
Quickfire round of cash-saving hacks:
- If you’re a shopaholic, unsubscribe from a brand’s marketing emails, shoo temptation away. (Did someone say shoes?)
- Don’t get sucked into ordering UberEats just because it’s free delivery. Instead, make an effort at learning how to cook your kryptonite. Whether that’s Thai green curry, carbonara or butter chicken, get that recipe under your belt! Your wallet and your inner chef will be proud.
- Did you know that 40% of your energy bill comes from heating and cooling? (yikes) Source Close the doors of rooms not in use, and at the risk of sounding like a nagging dad, maaaybe put on a jumper and some socks if you’re chilly.
No one likes bills, but you don’t have to be enemies. Setting yourself up with a clean budget, a spot-on schedule, and extra cash in your pocket when the inevitable surprise bill or fine arrives will set you up for success. Disclaimer: Please note this content is provided as general information only and does not take into account your objectives, financial situations or needs. For advice tailored to your financial situation, it is advised that you seek guidance from an accountant or financial advisor. The above post refers to application software (“App, Apps”) that is not affiliated or associated with Nimble. We do not have any control or responsibility over the content of the Apps. Use of the Apps may be subject to further terms and conditions imposed by the App provider, the owner of the mobile operating system and/or other related parties. Nimble does not endorse and is not affiliated or associated in any way whatsoever to the businesses named in this blog post. The information contained in this article is correct at the date of publication.
