As most of the country gears up for the much-anticipated Easter break, you're probably daydreaming about relaxing, adventuring or just lazing on the couch eating your body weight in chocolate eggs.
But a four-day weekend is also a good time to do some adulting and sort out those life admin tasks you've been ignoring.
Taking care of these dull but do-able things will free up some extra coin to help ease the cost of living
Yes, it's not as fun as stuffing your face with chocolate, but it'll give you a sense of satisfaction as good as any sugar high.
If smug satisfaction isn't enough, there's another incentive: cold, hard cash. Taking care of these dull but do-able things will free up some extra coin to help ease the cost of living. (Or to buy more chocolate.)
Our simple steps will help you get these life admin tasks sorted quickly so you can go back to gorging on Easter eggs on the couch.
1. Em-power yourself
Hands up if you stick your head in the sand every time the electricity bill arrives? I know I do. And direct debit makes it even easier to ignore – it's all taken care of without you having to lift a finger (or look at the scarily large number next to the dollar sign!).
If you're not sure how much you're paying, there's a good chance it's too much
But that blissful ignorance could end up costing you more: electricity prices are climbing along with everything else, and if you're not sure how much you're paying, there's a good chance it's too much.
Changing your energy retailer might sound like a huge headache, but it's actually simpler than you think – and you don't even have to pick up the phone to do it.
Here's our step-by-step guide to switching electricity companies.
Life-admin can be boring, but is ultimately rewarding.
2. Give your finances a tune-up
In this economy, every dollar counts, so make sure you're getting the most out of your money.
Home, health and car insurance
Insurers used to reward their customers' loyalty, but these days it's more about attracting new customers than looking after existing ones.
It's unfair, but you can beat them at their own game by taking advantage of all the perks they're offering to secure new business.
Check what price your current insurer is offering new customers, then call and ask them to match it, or find out if they have any discounts or offers for existing customers.
If they don't, find a better deal with another insurer and take your business elsewhere.
Our experts know all the tricks in the book to help you save:
- How to save money on home insurance
- Five steps to better, cheaper health insurance
- How to pay less for your car insurance
Superannuation
Super can seem complicated, boring and, if you're young, like something you just don't need to worry about right now.
But the time you put into checking up on your super now will pay off in the future, so it's well worth the effort. Our experts say there are six simple steps that'll help you get the best out of your retirement savings. Even if you just do one or two, you'll reap the rewards later in life.
Want more advice? Check our superannuation articles, tips and guides to managing your retirement.
Credit cards and personal loans
There's a lot to like about buying something right now and paying it off later – who wants to wait until payday?
Unfortunately if you don't stay on top of your repayments, they can get out of hand and before you know it, those smaller purchases can add up to one big debt.
Need help? We'll talk you through what to do if you're struggling with buy now, pay later debt, and how to choose the best credit card.
If you're lucky enough to have some cash squirrelled away for a rainy day, ensure it's earning the best interest possible with our round-up of the best high-interest savings accounts.
3. Switch up your shopping habits
One of the simplest ways to make room in your budget is by changing your grocery shop:
- First, change where you shop: you could save 40% by splitting your grocery shop between supermarkets.
- Then, check our reviews while you write your shopping list to make sure you're getting the best products for your money. We test everything from dishwasher detergent and tea bags to stain removers and Dutch ovens (for those Aldi Special Buys).
- Consider switching from your usual brands. Some supermarket home-brand products will give you better performance for far less money. Here are the home brand products that top our tests.
- Don't get sucked in by so-called 'specials' – always check the unit price to make sure you're paying the cheapest price. Using unit pricing can help to make your grocery budget go further.
- Watch out for 'shrinkflation', where a product gets smaller but the price stays the same – or even goes up. Watch out for these 10 grocery items that are victims of 'shrinkflation'.
4. Show your appliances some love
Household appliances like fridges, washing machines, air con and ovens are big purchases. And the costs keep on coming even after you've left the store: you'll be paying energy bills, repair costs and, eventually, buying a new one.
A little bit of cleaning here and there will help keep your machines humming along happily (and efficiently) for as long as possible.
Want a quick and easy win? Give your appliance filters a clean – it'll extend their life, make them easier to use and, even better, save you money.
While you're at it, take care of these kitchen cleaning jobs you should be doing (but probably aren't). They'll boost your appliances' energy efficiency and performance even more.
If you think an appliance might be coming to the end of its life, we'll explain how long your appliance should last, whether you can (or should) repair it, or if it's time to replace it.
5. Sort out your will
Just like sorting your superannuation, writing a will might seem like something you won't need to worry about for a long time yet. (Or at least you hope!)
But none of us know when our day will come, and if you die without a will it can make things tricky for your loved ones.
Online will kits are one way to take care of the situation, but are they any good? We compare online will kits and explore their pros and cons.
Our end-of-life checklist will walk you through what you need to do to get your affairs in order, and give you advice if you're dealing with the loss of a loved one.
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With no self-interest behind our advice, you don't just buy smarter, you get the answers that you need.
You know without hesitation what's safe for you and your family.
And you'll never be alone when something goes wrong or a business treats you unfairly.
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Stock images: Getty, unless otherwise stated.
