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Peninsula Kids
Home»Finances»Seven ways to start saving money today!
Finances

Seven ways to start saving money today!

Updated:January 24, 20234 Mins Read
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By Jo Violeta

Saving money is a great habit although, it can sometimes feel overwhelming. I believe that saving money has received a bad rap, many people see it as boring, restrictive and too difficult. The truth is saving money can be relatively painless and the benefits far outweigh any perceived pain. Saving is fun and achievable if you have a strategy and are committed. When our youngest Marcus was born, we had to adjust from living on two incomes to one.  This provided a great opportunity for us to examine our money habits to find ways to stretch our dollar further and maximise our reduced income.

Here are our favourite, easy to implement strategies to help you get started with increasing your savings today:

1. Track spending

Record everything that you spend money on for at least 3 days. This will help you understand where your money goes, and allow you to make adjustments.

Print out your bank account transaction records and spend 30 minutes going over them line by line. Look for subscriptions and direct debit payments that you may have forgotten about and/or no longer need. Cancelling unwanted subscriptions can save you heaps.

2. Save loose change

Every day when you get home, empty coins from your pockets, wallet and handbag into a money box.
Deposit those saved coins into a high-interest savings account every month. If you were to save $2.50 a day in loose change for 12 months, making monthly deposits into a high-interest savings account, with compounding interest (at 5%) you could save approximately $1000 in a year.

3. Find fun things to do for FREE!

Activities to keep kids occupied can be expensive. Fortunately, the Mornington Peninsula and surrounds offer an abundance of free and cheap activities for families. We spoke with local mums to discover their favourite low-cost activities.

Here are their top picks:

  • Exploring different playgrounds
  • Visiting the ducks at Seaford creek
  • Hanging out at the beach
  • Wandering around McClelland Sculpture Park
  • Exploring Rock Pools

4. Mortgage refinance

If you own your own home it’s smart to review your mortgage every 6-12 months to make sure you are still getting the right deal for your circumstances. Refinancing your mortgage could potentially save hundreds of dollars on your repayments every month.

Be mindful of exit fees and penalties though, and check that the new mortgage has all the features you want and need; for example you may want the option to make extra repayments.

You could also try negotiating with your current lender directly. Give them a call, let them know that you are shopping around and ask for a better rate.

5. Meal Planning

We started meal planning about 5 years ago, and it has slashed our total weekly food spend by approximately 40%.

Our best budget meal planning tips are:

  • Shop from your pantry and fridge first – build your meal plan around what you already have
  • Include lunches in the meal plan – bring homemade lunches to school/work
  • Slow cook cheaper cuts of meat
  • Include at least one meat free meal each week

6. Negotiate with providers

Okay, this may take about an hour or two and is kind of boring, but it could save you serious dollars.

Grab the account details for all your utilities and health insurance (if you have it).

Visit a few comparison websites and find out what deals are on offer.

Call all your providers, tell them you are shopping around and thinking of leaving them; they will very likely offer you a better deal to keep your business.

7. Declutter

It’s amazing how much stuff families accumulate over time. We recently decluttered our home and discovered stuff that we hadn’t used in years!

Decluttering helps you gain an understanding of what you own, which in turn can stop you from buying items that you already possess but may have just forgotten about.

Decluttering can also make money.

Try selling items that you don’t need on eBay, Gumtree or similar and put those earnings straight into a high-interest savings account.

Once you get started with saving and get into a routine it’s quite surprising just how quickly your money can grow. The key is to start, even if you start small – start today!


Jo and Carl Violeta are self-confessed numbers nerds, parents of an energetic toddler and a super switched-on teenager, and co-founders of the award-winning business, Violeta Finance. They are a husband and wife team who are passionate about empowering their community with financial education, love the odd glass of wine, and get a kick out of helping families achieve their homeownership and financial dreams.

As published in Peninsula Kids – Winter 2017

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Roll up to the PARC County Fair these school holidays 
 
Immerse yourself in a world of entertainment and family fun at the PARC County Fair. Enjoy a splashing good time on PARC’s inflatable obstacle course, Splash Island! With slopes, slides and balancing beams, it is the ultimate water adventure. To book or learn more, visit PARC’s website. 
The PARC County Fair school holiday program will run daily from Monday 22 September – Friday 3 October. Excluding the Grand Final public holiday.

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Roll up to the PARC County Fair these school holidays Immerse yourself in a world of entertainment and family fun at the PARC County Fair. Enjoy a splashing good time on PARC’s inflatable obstacle course, Splash Island! With slopes, slides and balancing beams, it is the ultimate water adventure. To book or learn more, visit PARC’s website. The PARC County Fair school holiday program will run daily from Monday 22 September – Friday 3 October. Excluding the Grand Final public holiday. https://parc.peninsulaleisure.com.au/events/september-school- holidays-parc-county-fair/ @parcfrankston
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Have you seen our spring Things We Love giveaways in the winter edition of Peninsula Kids mag? Older Reader Pack Selection of books suitable for older readers, 8+ years/teens/adults valued at $225. **PLEASE NOTE ALL prizes must be collected from Peninsula Kids HASTINGS office. Winners will be notified by email. Please only enter if you can collect and make sure details are entered correctly so you don’t miss out!** 👉ENTER VIA LINK IN BIO
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Have you seen our spring Things We Love giveaways in the winter edition of Peninsula Kids mag? Nano-Mals Hasbro is excited to introduce Nano-Mals, their brand-new line of interactive, pocket-sized electronic pets that are here to win hearts… literally! The handheld Nano-Mals team the appeal of digital pets with the fun play of fidget toys, creating a sensory experience specifically designed for today’s kids. Measuring just 6.9 cm, Nano-Mals are perfectly pocket-sized with an oversized personality. Nano-Mals are the ultimate gift for kids who love fidget toys, animals, and interactive digital fun. With unlimited ways to care, style, and connect, this new range is set to be the must-have mini pet of the year. These collectibles are available now in major retailers including Big W, Target, and independent toy stores. RRP: $25.00 each **PLEASE NOTE ALL prizes must be collected from Peninsula Kids HASTINGS office. Winners will be notified by email. Please only enter if you can collect and make sure details are entered correctly so you don’t miss out!** 👉ENTER HERE: https://peninsulakids.com.au/spring-2025-things-we-love-giveaway/
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Have you seen our spring Things We Love giveaways in the winter edition of Peninsula Kids mag? 

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Suitable for 10+ – Create a playful display featuring a lovable astromech droid Chopper (C1-10P) with this LEGO® Star Wars™ buildable model kit with a buildable figure of Chopper, as seen in Star Wars: Ahsoka™.

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Have you seen our spring Things We Love giveaways in the winter edition of Peninsula Kids mag? LEGO Star Wars™ Chopper (C1-10P) Astromech Droid Suitable for 10+ – Create a playful display featuring a lovable astromech droid Chopper (C1-10P) with this LEGO® Star Wars™ buildable model kit with a buildable figure of Chopper, as seen in Star Wars: Ahsoka™. Move the lever on his back to remotely activate his iconic head movements, pose his arms and legs, fold out a tool from his chest, and more. Choppers arms and his center wheel are detachable so he can be displayed as if his arms and wheel have been retracted into his body. Suitable for 10+. RRP: $179.99 https://www.lego.com/en-au **PLEASE NOTE ALL prizes must be collected from Peninsula Kids HASTINGS office. Winners will be notified by email. Please only enter if you can collect and make sure details are entered correctly so you don’t miss out!** 👉ENTER HERE VIA LINK IN BIO
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Have you seen our spring Things We Love giveaways in the winter edition of Peninsula Kids mag? Little Jellies Swimwear Assorted – Size 4 Bright. Bold. Bursting with personality. Little Jellies is the new Australian swimwear label on a mission to make water play safer and more joyful for little ones and a little less stressful for parents. The brand is redefining safety-focused swimwear for safe, active summers. Little Jellies caters to children aged 6 months to 6 years. The collection includes baby swimwear, rashies, sun tops, surf suits, mix-and-match separates, and bucket hats—each made with a snug-but-stretchy fit, UPF50+ sun protection, and quick-dry technology. https://www.littlejellies.com.au/ @little.jellies.swim We have a Long sleeve rash shirt in pink, briefs in purple, and yellow surfsuit all size 4 to give away valued at $139.85 **PLEASE NOTE ALL prizes must be collected from Peninsula Kids HASTINGS office. Winners will be notified by email. Please only enter if you can collect and make sure details are entered correctly so you don’t miss out!** 👉ENTER HERE VIA LINK IN BIO
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Get your skates on (or hire some of theirs) and get down to Sk8house in Carrum Downs for good old-fashioned family fun this school holidays. They’re OPEN EVERY DAY with General Sessions, Skate Classes and Birthday Parties, plus by popular demand, they’re also running Sensory Sessions every Friday morning! Find out more: https://www.sk8house.com.au/ @sk8houseau
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