Cost of living is putting pressure on everyone’s budgets but here are some handy tips on how you can save a little here and there – some of them even thanks to your union membership. 

Groceries:  

Meal plan, freeze and shop for what you need. Making a meal plan ensures you buy only what you need and it reduces impulse purchasing and food wastage. Make extra for dinner and pack it for your meal on shift. On your days off, make some time to prep meals and freeze them for the week ahead, so you can also defrost them for post shift.  

Don’t be afraid to buy frozen or canned: Buying seasonal produce helps to reduce the impact on your wallet, but don’t be scared to look in the frozen aisle. Need baby spinach for a meal? Check out the frozen spinach in the freezer section, it’s just as good and a fraction of the price.  

Check out iSave: Log onto the Member Central (NSNWMA Member Portal) and check out iSave – the NSWNMA members loyalty program. iSave gives you exclusive deals on a range of products, including supermarket gift cards. By purchasing discounted gift cards via iSave you will save at the checkout when paying for your weekly shop using the gift cards. This is all thanks to your union membership. 

Transport:  

Fuel: Try out the NSW government fuel check app and find the cheapest petrol/diesel near you.  

Thinking about buying a new car: Consider an electric vehicle or hybrid (Yes, they are expensive but the market is changing). According to the Australian Electric Vehicle Council, the average Australian driver can save up to $1560 a year on fuel and $2400 a year on maintenance by switching to an electric vehicle. Check out the exclusive discounts on EV’s available through Maxxia.  

Electricity: 

Turn off your devices at the switch: As the price of electricity continues to skyrocket make sure you know what is chewing up the most of your power bill.  Turn off devices at the wall socket when not in use and invest in a smart meter that can identify what your biggest power consuming devices are in the home.  

Check out the NSW government’s energy price comparison service – available through Service NSW. All you need to provide is a copy of your recent energy bill and the online comparison tool will let you know if you are getting the best deal on the market. Check it out here.