Money saving ideas that take the hassle out of shopping around

For those of you, like my girlfriend, shopping around is second nature. From looking at who has the best styles of dresses available this season, to comparing where she can find the shoes she wants at the best price. It is a pastime which brings her plenty of joy. Opening up her Macbook involves escaping from internet browser windows crammed with ASOS and Lookbook pages.

I’m yet to stumble upon her shopping around for personal finance products online. In fact, I’d say the only thing that gives her pleasure is getting these decisions done quickly and relatively painlessly. She doesn’t derive pleasure from the process which is fair enough. The main objective is to not get ripped off. It’s no small wonder people hate money issues. We enter these decisions emotionally wondering how hurt we are going to get. So, if you are like her, how do you make quick and informed financial choices? The easiest way is to compare online at comparison websites like finder.com.au, which compares credit cards, home loans, savings accounts, life insurance, mobile phones, broadband plans and more. What we want to do with you in the first of our regular monthly blogs, is ask you to share your experiences. The MoMs community should help each other out with tips on these pesky financial essentials.

Speaking of shopping, here are my tips on managing a credit card, what are yours?

Smart saving ideas
1. Use the money you save on low interest offers to repay the balance faster
2. Make lump sum payments to reduce the balance – use tax returns, birthday money or inheritance
3. As you repay and reduce the balance, reduce your credit limit.
4. If you have a credit card debt, you can save money by doing a low interest balance transfer.

144 Comments

- - sapshu936 said
  - 24 Apr 2013
    10:32 am
I use credit card but always pay the amount on time……

- - allisonbriggs said
  - 23 Apr 2013
    8:53 pm
i avoid credit cards because of the high interest i would rather pay cash and save up 🙂

- - tc_burcu_genc_ilhan said
  - 22 Apr 2013
    5:40 pm
i have 3 accn for this. but best one for younth acc. because the interest high.

- - tc_burcu_genc_ilhan said
  - 22 Apr 2013
    5:38 pm
thanks for Smart saving ideas

- - andrea240 said
  - 22 Apr 2013
    4:58 pm
I avoid using credit cards as much as possible, and use cash more often so I actually realise im spending money. Great tips Thanks!

- - sisterhood27 said
  - 22 Apr 2013
    2:43 pm
I only have one credit card just for emergencies, luckily I have had not used it as yet
I also put $20 a week away in a money box and o not use it until Christmas to help with Christmas food

- - jaymarie12 said
  - 22 Apr 2013
    12:09 pm
My hubby and I don’t have our credit card activated to use but we have one in case there is ever some sort of emergency but other than that I hate shopping for myself and only shop for the babies!

- - riss_whatever said
  - 22 Apr 2013
    9:42 am
What great advice. Shopping around is such a pain.

- - snoopy said
  - 20 Apr 2013
    3:12 pm
I am also one for getting financial product decisions done quickly and painlessly, whilst I could spend hours scrutinizing who has the best deals in a pair of boots or a new handbag, or set of sheets etc.

- - kyliebaby22 said
  - 15 Apr 2013
    8:14 pm
I always pay off my credit card immediately – it’s only used for online shopping – and if I don’t have enough cash for something, too bad – I go without!
I grew up really poor so I’ve no intention on getting into unnecessary debt and struggling.

- - fengari said
  - 10 Apr 2013
    5:08 pm
All the “smart saving ideas” are good tips. Great article Jeremy!

- - kikidaz12 said
  - 07 Apr 2013
    4:51 pm
My fiancé and I use credit card for everything, if he has money in his pocket… It’s burns a holes it so to speak. No cash for him the less he spends! Plus we get points for things like holidays…. We don’t go out of our way to earn these pints just our normal purchases… But we ALWAYS pay the credit card off in full…… No interest….

- - hilltopdental14 said
  - 23 Mar 2013
    8:43 pm
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- - jkmartin said
  - 01 Mar 2013
    8:54 pm
we only use our credit if it’s really necessary, my husband only gets pays after days of finishing a job and sometimes when we come in short, we use our credit card to buy groceries and pay bills. as soon as we get the money, we pay it off straight away so it won’t attract any interest.

- - mimi81 said
  - 01 Mar 2013
    9:26 am
We make our credit cards work to our advantage. We earn points which can be redeemed for gift certificates for the grocery store and by paying our balance before interest can accrue, and including the fee for the reward system, we come out ahead several hundred dollars a year. I find using a credit card simply more convenient than cash!

- - kyliebaby22 said
  - 28 Feb 2013
    10:54 pm
I only use my credit card for online shopping etc and pay it off immediately.
I recently opened a new online saver with a great intro rate – I plan on having my money in there until the intro rate runs out and then open another at a different bank – that way I’ll earn around 6% on my savings for a year!

- - mrs-harkness said
  - 23 Feb 2013
    10:25 pm
To manage a credit card DONT HAVE ONE! Why go into debt for something you cant afford, i use a debit card to pay for my goods and thats only after i have saved the money to pay for the item. I use laybys to get items and even then i have to think about layby service fees as some stores charge $20. If you can’t afford an item then just don’t buy it.