By Matt Bowen, Head of Consumer & Market Insights, ING Australia
With interest rate changes kicking in this week, for many Aussie households right now, the financial focus might not be on major long-term shifts. It’s the everyday stuff – groceries, bills, and those smaller daily costs that are adding up a bit faster. We’re all looking for simple, tangible ways to create some breathing room in the budget.
And the good news? That’s usually where the biggest wins are found.
In fact, Aussies who adopted small money-saving habits estimate they save around $1,366 on average, just by being a bit more intentional with their everyday spending. Nothing overly complicated, just a handful of smarter habits that quietly add up over time. That’s real money, back in your pocket.
Here are three easy places I always suggest starting.
1. The 20-minute subscription audit
This is hands-down the lowest-effort, highest-return move you can make.
Streaming services, apps, cloud storage, meal kits, gym add-ons… individually, they seem small. But together, they quietly chew through your pay each month.
A standard streaming service might only cost $20 per month, but that quickly becomes $240 over a year. Add another two, four, or ten services onto that, and the total bill stretches into the thousands.
These services may also be going up without you realising, with some common Aussie streaming subscriptions now hitting almost $50 per month.
Our research shows there is serious money being left on the table, with savvy Aussies saving an average of $1,2611 a year by cutting back on subscriptions and other regular outgoings they have forgotten about or don’t use.
Try this:
- Open your banking app.
- Scroll back through the last 2–3 months of transactions.
- Identify anything recurring.
- Ask yourself: “Would I sign up for this today?”
- If the answer’s no, cancel it.
Even dropping two or three services can claw back $30–$60 a month. That’s $360–$700 extra in your pocket annually without changing your lifestyle.
2. Tighten up the grocery “drift”
Most households don’t overspend at the big weekly shop.
It’s the in-between spending that sneaks up on you. The extra takeaway, the impulse coffee runs, the quick stops at the supermarket that somehow turn into a $40 haul. Individually, they don’t feel like much, but across a month, they really add up.
In fact, ING research shows Aussies could save an additional $1,159 per year just by ditching the midweek impromptu grocery trip and planning ahead a bit more. We’ve also found that takeaway food, dining out, and convenience spending are among the first areas Aussies plan to rein in this year, and for good reason.
A couple of small tweaks can make a big difference:
- Plan your meals for the week before you shop.
- Do one bigger shop instead of multiple smaller, impulse-driven ones.
- Set a rough “fun food” budget so treats are intentional, not accidental.
It’s not about cutting everything out but being deliberate. Most people are surprised by how quickly this alone saves $50–$100 a week.
3. Review your bills like your phone plan
Here’s something I see all the time: people comparison shop for flights or a new phone with great attention to detail… but stay on the same insurance or utilities plan for five years without a second thought.
It often takes just a few minutes to review these essential services, and if you haven’t done it in a while, chances are there’s a better deal out there.
Take a bit of time to review your key providers and policies across:
- Energy
- Internet
- Insurance
- Mobile phone
Providers regularly offer sharper rates to new customers, and a quick comparison or phone call can often shave hundreds off your annual costs with zero lifestyle change. It’s not the most exciting task, but it absolutely works.
You may also be able take advantage of cashback services, such as ING’s 1% Orange Everyday cashback scheme, which could save you $100 per utility account each financial year.
The bottom line
Everyone approaches saving differently. Some people prefer bigger financial resets or structured challenges, while others just want a few small, manageable changes that fit around everyday life.
There’s no single “right” way, but starting with these easy wins tends to build momentum.
As a rule, think about:
- Cancelling what you don’t use.
- Planning a little more.
- Reviewing your big bills.
Do that, and you can build yourself a decent buffer without feeling like you’ve missed out on life’s pleasures. A quick audit here, a smarter shop there, a better deal on your bills, and suddenly, you’ve created significant breathing room in your budget.
And if you ever need extra support or guidance, reach out early. A quick chat can often help you find options you didn’t know you had.
Matt ✌️ @mattyb_money
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Matt Bowen is ING’s Head of Consumer & Market Insights. He appears daily on Ch7 Sunrise program with commentary on the top money stories for Australians. For interviews or media enquiries, or interview requests, please contact Cassandra Geselle.
