Many people are feeling the stress of rising bills, increases in the cost of food and realising that their money just isn’t stretching as far as it used to. Here are some smart ways to beat the cost of living crisis over the summer. These are specific to Adelaide, but the principles will apply in other States.
1 The Fun Things
When money is tight, it’s the fun things that are sacrificed to make ends meet. This is really tough to explain to your kids who want to go to the movies, to an escape room, out for their birthday party etc etc. It also impacts couples who may not be able to afford their usual date nights or a weekend away every now and again.
If you are an RAA Member, you can buy a movie voucher through the website for a greatly reduced price, and then redeem it at the cinema for a movie ticket. There are also discounts for the Zoo, Gorge Wildlife Park and Sporting Events. To get you there, some petrol stations give a discount on fuel if you show your RAA Members Card.
https://our.raa.com.au/membership/member-discounts?gad_source=1&gclid=CjwKCAiA9vS6BhA9EiwAJpnXwxK9o6Yso0z3MbwpzU2w346YQ0DF1FyGrnnxtIuwu1-E2D9dCb9TCBoCI18QAvD_BwE
You might like to consider doing things that are free, or have a minimal charge, instead of an expensive outing. Tripadvisor, YHA and https://southaustralia.com/travel-blog/top-5-free-things-to-do-in-adelaide have lists of free things to do in the City. Low cost doesn’t equate to boring. Outdoor destinations are free, but great fun.
Kids might like the Linear Park that runs alongside the OBahn has playgrounds dotted along the way, a cool creek and the regular buses that run by at high speed. It’s ideal for transport-loving kids. Alternatives might be the beach, local skateparks and playgrounds. https://kidsinadelaide.com.au/play/playgrounds/
If you’re heading to the City by car, Wilson Parking has reduced rates when you book on their website in advance. Driving in circles looking for a park is my definition of torture, so I think this is well worth it. However, whenever I can, I catch the train into the City. It’s a temperature controlled, interesting way to get from the Northern Suburbs right into the heart of the CBD.
2 The Christmas Necessities
Christmas food and drink are costs that are difficult to reduce if you leave your shopping to the last minute. Buying things that won’t go off early, when you see them at a good price, is a hack that people have been using for decades.
For fresh food, finding a local fruit and veg shop is a must. Their produce can be much cheaper than a big grocery shop, and is often fresher. They may be open to reducing the cost if you buy in bulk. You’ll also know that you’re supporting a small business owner and most likely a local producer.
Work out what is cheaper to make, and what is cheaper to buy ready-made. If your family is flexible, you can ask them to contribute to the meal rather than buy gifts – that way everyone enjoys what they bring.
As ridiculous as this sounds, going to the Christmas sales where this years’ decorations, cards, t-shirts and candles are hugely reduced, and putting those things aside for next year will save you a lot of money. This is particularly useful if you are the person who always gives the kids Christmas PJs or t-shirts. You can pick up incidental stocking stuffers and Kris Kringle gifts easily this way.
Manage your expectations around Christmas. Notice I said, YOUR expectations, because you can’t manage someone else’s expectations. As kids get older, having the right things with the right brands and the right logos becomes really important to them. Unbranded and knock-offs items just don’t cut it. You can, however, put a limit around how many of these items you give. You may also pick up a bargain in the Black Friday and Boxing Day sales. Having one thing that your teenager will really, truly love amongst some other things that they’ll just like is not a bad compromise.
As an extended family you may like to have a conversation about what is within your budget (money and time-wise). Discussing this early, clearly and kindly will help to ensure that you are not over-stretched. For families who demonstrate their love through gift-giving, this is going to be a hard conversation. This is why talking about it before everyone has finished their shopping is important. Collaborate on setting a gift price limit, or negotiate only buying for those under 18 years of age, or do a Kris Kringle. There are ways to make sure everyone can give, and everyone can receive on the day.
3 The Day to Day Expenses
There are plenty of other blog posts and websites telling you how to reduce energy bills, how to keep insurance and car-related costs down etc etc. The Barefoot Investor is a great place to start, as is She’s On The Money. https://www.barefootinvestor.com/
https://www.shesonthemoney.com.au/ Educate yourself as much as possible, because feeling in control of your money is very empowering!
Overall, you will spend money according to your values. The things that are important to you will be prioritised and the other things will not. The difficulty comes when you don’t have enough money to live according to your values. Managing this may involve seeing a financial counsellor. Overspending as a coping mechanism is as damaging as a drug habit. Therefore, understanding that nothing you buy will meet an emotional need can be life-changing.
I’m going to suggest an unusual way to beat the cost of living crisis. Doing some inner work to learn how to express what you need, set some boundaries, identify your values and address your emotional needs would be a great first step to coping with the cost of living crisis. You might like to consider giving yourself the gift of support this Christmas. In the form of self-guided research, some reading (check out the library before you buy a book), or more formal counselling, knowledge is power.
