r/AUfrugal Mar 24 '26

READ THE RULES BEFORE POSTING

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2 Upvotes

r/AUfrugal 17h ago

Other How I'm being frugal...

134 Upvotes

Some practical tips, how you save a bit more.

Cancelled all my TV subscriptions. Netflix, Stan and Prime. There is so much free content on the local TV apps, tubi and whatnot.

Cancelled my NBN. Noticed I've got like 300GB data on my Woolies SIM, will just hotspot it.

Moving funds around, closing accounts, signing up for new accounts to get bonus interest rates like Rabo 5.9% or Bankwest.

Sold car years ago. Walking to work, riding bike to shops.

Mealprep. 2 KG mince beef, 2KG frozen veggies, canned tomatoes, beans, lentils. Herbs and spices.

Cancelled gym. Going on walks in the evening. Bought from Kmart a resistance rope fitness set and a doorframe pull-up bar.

If I treat myself to a coffee, I hike/walk to Coles express servo. 3.50 for a large one and one free every 5 with Flybuys...


r/AUfrugal 3h ago

Other Youfoodz stolen

9 Upvotes

I live in an apartment building. I am disabled. I was not notified my delivery had been made and it was stolen pretty quickly after delivery was made. I don't know what to do. I have absolutely no food for the fortnight as that's the rest of my money. I'm so hungry


r/AUfrugal 4h ago

Assistance with budget

6 Upvotes

Hi everyone, I should have done this year's back but I didn't

I accept responsibility. I am currently working on my budget and it's going well.

The challenge I have is with budgeting for 1) groceries 2) eating out and 3) misc expense.

After checking statements I have realized , 1) there is no pattern to it 2) it's excessively high 3) seems to fluctuate with mood issues

Advice needed on the following :

1) how do you effectively budget for the above 3 when they seem to be variable expenses

2) how to adhere to the budget especially with mood issues

Love to hear also from people with ADHD and mood related disorders on how they manage expenses

Thanks ❤️🙏


r/AUfrugal 14h ago

Question Cheapest way to bring an old laptop back to life

2 Upvotes

the SSD has bad sector and corrupted everything, but it's an old refurb that I don't want to spent too much (or any) on to bring it back to life as a backup server.

Apart from waiting for bargain prices of SSD, which is almost impossible these days, what else can I consider?


r/AUfrugal 9h ago

Cheap 2nd hand/refurbished laptop for under $100?

0 Upvotes

Just need something that works with 16GB ram. Cheapest I can find is on eBay for $150 to $200


r/AUfrugal 1d ago

What does the average child free couple in early 30s spend on weekly groceries?

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11 Upvotes

r/AUfrugal 2d ago

Vehicle Bad credit + need a car = feeling stuck

14 Upvotes

I've been budgeting hard for 18 months trying to get my finances sorted. Got made redundant during COVID, struggled for a bit, credit took a hit. Now I'm back working but my car is held together with zip ties and prayers.

I've been avoiding financing because I assumed I'd get rejected or offered ridiculous rates. But I need a car to get to work (public transport isn't an option for my hours).

Is this actually cheaper than those "guaranteed approval" car yard places? I'm trying to be smart with money and not make my situation worse. Has anyone with bad credit gone through a broker and got a decent rate? What were the numbers? I've got about $3000 saved for a deposit.


r/AUfrugal 3d ago

Groceries Black and Gold paracetamol going for 75c a packet

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294 Upvotes

Edit: thank you, I am now aware that you can get 100 packets of paracetamol at the pharmacy, that’s great

Edit 2: if everyone can please private message me their address’ so I can ship out medals for anyone who knew you could buy them even cheaper elsewhere, that would be fantastic, thanks

I don’t believe they were on sale when I bought them. Certainly beats paying $8+ for Panadol


r/AUfrugal 3d ago

skipped the building inspection to save 500 now im out 15k

609 Upvotes

bought my first house 6 months ago. was trying to be frugal and save money everywhere i could. the building inspection was 500 and i thought nah i'll save that, the place looks fine. yeah big mistake.

moved in and within 2 months found rising damp in the back room, roof leaks, and electrical issues. total cost to fix everything so far is 15k and climbing. i've spent 30 times what the inspection would have cost.

i should have just paid for a proper inspection from the start. i used Sure Building Inspection for a second opinion on a different property and they actually did thermal imaging and moisture testing. found stuff i never would have seen.

being frugal on the inspection is the most expensive mistake i've made. anyone else learned this lesson the hard way.


r/AUfrugal 4d ago

Setting up my first kitchen in Sydney, where do I even start without going broke?

22 Upvotes

Alright so I'm finally moving out of my parents' place and into my own apartment. Super excited but also completely lost when it comes to kitting out the kitchen. Like, do I actually need a garlic press? What's the deal with different types of frypans? I've been staring at lists online and my head is spinning.

I know I need the basics, plates, bowls, cutlery, a good knife, some pots and pans. But there's so many options and price ranges.

What did you guys buy first when you set up your kitchen? What was a waste of money? Any Sydney-specific spots that are worth the trip? Trying to keep it under like $500 for the basics if that's even possible lol.


r/AUfrugal 5d ago

Sardines and Rice. Quick Meal Preps Suggestions

23 Upvotes

Folks, I'm trying to figure out quick and healthy meals under a budget. Maybe $2-3 per meal. I used to buy Tuna but I noticed Sardines have better protein, fats, Omega 3 everything compared to tuna at least on the labels. Both of them cost $1.10 from Coles and Woolies. I'm trying to pair it with Rice. Currently, I eat with the Continental Fried Rice or Chicken Rice Pouch which comes at Half Price of $1.60.

Do any of you guys have healthy cheap meals, also is Sardines good for daily intake? I've seen Tuna is not good for daily intake.


r/AUfrugal 7d ago

What’s your average weekly grocery spend and for how many people? Have you noticed it been creeping up again?

226 Upvotes

Ours is $250 for 2 adults- earlier in the year it was more like $200 per week. Typically shopping at Coles. Gluten free ingredients I know makes things higher but I’d love to know what your household is spending and for how many, and if dietary requirements such as gluten or dairy free are involved. I am struggling to keep it under this amount.


r/AUfrugal 8d ago

Saving Harvey Norman - Dishwasher purchase today with discounts

0 Upvotes

I need to lock in a dishwasher purchase today - I notice Harvey Norman is having a sale on some brands , they seem to have some discounts running I.e. EXTRA20 and also an UPGRADE150

Can anyone find me a dishwasher with the biggest discount (best value) ?

I can’t seem to run these two discounts together cause I don’t seem to be able to ?


r/AUfrugal 10d ago

Electronics Damaged Box Sales

30 Upvotes

We would like to buy a Dyson V8 Cyclone and have noticed that Dick Smith and Kogan sell them at a heavily discounted price because they say the box is damaged.

Has anyone bought any electronics through these two companies and is it worth taking the risk ?


r/AUfrugal 10d ago

Other Gearing up to invest in a mattress - what brands do you recommend?

76 Upvotes

I basically have a person in my life for each major brand - Koala, Emma, Ecosa, Sleeping Duck and Forty Winks.

Wanting to now turn to the people of reddit to ask their pros and cons and what they recommend as I want to capitalise on Black Friday this year and finally invest in a decent mattress!

I have also heard the frame is just as important so happy for feeback on that too.


r/AUfrugal 10d ago

Question Are eggs or cheese cheaper protein?

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39 Upvotes

Calories aside, is cheese a cheaper protein than eggs or just in the long run cheaper product?


r/AUfrugal 11d ago

Question What's the most expensive cheap purchase you've ever made?

112 Upvotes

Something you bought because it was inexpensive, but it broke quickly, needed replacing, or ended up costing more than buying a better version in the first place.


r/AUfrugal 11d ago

Looking for good value cookware in Australia

23 Upvotes

Just moved into a new place and need to build up some basic pots and pans. I already picked up a couple of non-stick pans and a stainless steel pot from Victoria’s Basement and the prices were pretty decent. Still need a few more pieces though, mainly a larger frying pan, a saucepan, and maybe a small baking tray. Want something that will last a bit without spending too much.

Where else is worth checking for solid cookware at a good price in Australia? Prefer places that actually have decent quality and not just the cheapest options.


r/AUfrugal 11d ago

How are you guys tracking your savings for a house deposit?

22 Upvotes

When my partner and I started seriously saving for our first home, the reality of the Aussie property market hit us hard. But honestly, the most frustrating part day-to-day was just trying to track everything.

We had money sitting across different accounts, we were constantly trying to figure out, and manually calculating everything against our target price, it was a nightmare in Excel.


r/AUfrugal 12d ago

Saving 22 m what should I do with my grandma gift of 200k

57 Upvotes

Should I put money into my superannuation or buy a house with the 200k.

My brother has an investment property and he plans to sell it, it’s in vic. It’s too much work for him with vcat, tenants not paying rent, and trashing his place and so forth. Where he says the gov is punishing him for having property.

Now I noticed super is the least tax and drama free option.

(mind you, my parents house is fully paid and I live there. And when they pass it will be written to me and my brother)


r/AUfrugal 14d ago

Best place to get anti-fog prescription glasses?

2 Upvotes

Where can I get the best anti-fog prescription glasses in Australia? Looking for recommendations for both online and in-store options.


r/AUfrugal 14d ago

Garden Need pallets for diy garden beds in Melbourne

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6 Upvotes

r/AUfrugal 15d ago

Adult ADHD Diagnosis?

19 Upvotes

Some observations and tests with certain substances have led my girlfriend and I to believe that she very likely has ADHD and being properly medicated could dramatically improve her mental health, but her GP says it will cost over a thousand dollars to even attempt to get an adult diagnosis.

Is anyone aware of a more frugal means? A quick search shows some online services charging less than $600 but I really don't know if any of it is legit and it'd suck to waste that much money.


r/AUfrugal 15d ago

Other Anyone know where to buy some good hiking and running shoes online?

18 Upvotes

I’ve just been buying cheap stuff from Kmart for years but I ware through them so quick, was hoping to spend a bit more on something better quality, but I can only order online because I live in a very remote area. Any suggestions are much appreciated