We’re all feeling the pinch right now when it comes to money.
To help you out, Woman’s Day has created a cheat sheet guide on how you can save on essentials.
Bread
We all want bakery items to be as fresh as possible, but “best before” dates can be overly cautious.
If you don’t mind serving the bread or pastry that night or freezing it, then head to the supermarket before closing time.
There’s a good chance you can get markdowns for a “quick sale” of perishable delights, especially when there’s a bakery on-site.
This also goes for other perishable food such as roast chickens and meat.
Petrol
Want to know when to fill up? Head to the ACCC petrol price cycle page (accc.gov.au/consumers/petrol-and-fuel), which details when prices are lower in big cities.
For example, based on the ACCC historical pricing data, cheaper petrol can be had in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, and Adelaide on Wednesday.
Additionally, it’s a good idea to download a fuel check app or website and compare prices.
A finder.com.au analysis found that prices can vary by as much as 15 per cent between stations in adjacent postcodes.
We’re all feeling the pinch right now.
(Getty)Takeaway food
In no mood to cook? Swing by your local shopping centre’s food hall on the way home from work.
Businesses will often try to clear their food by closing time, which can mean big savings.
Prefer to order from home? Go as local as possible and choose pickup instead of delivery.
Plus, if you deal with the restaurant directly they may have specials on. If you prefer apps like Menulog and Ubereats, look for promotions.
Fruit & veggies
While the price difference can sometimes be small, consider doing your shop on weekends directly from farmers’ markets.
Cutting out the middle man can not only mean extra freshness but some savings, too.
Bigger markets such as Sydney Produce Markets in Flemington caters primarily to buyers from supermarkets, restaurants and greengrocers but are also open to the public.
Jennifer Garner is a farmer’s market regular.
(Getty)Whitegoods & electronics
If you have a brand that you love, keep track of when a new model is released.
When that happens, retailers reduce prices on older models to clear stock.
You could bag a new fridge, washing machine or computer for a bargain.
