▲ 38 r/AussieFrugal
What you need to know before claiming your phone as a tax deduction
abc.net.auu/abcnews_au — 17 hours ago
r/AussieFrugal
▲ 74 r/AussieFrugal
PSA: It is now after 1 July 2026, good time to compare your energy/gas plans
Welcome to the new financial year, which means your power/gas bill ... probably increased. X__X
The Australian Energy Market Commission (AEMC) last year announced some new rules to improve consumer confidence in retail energy plans which is effective 1 July 2026. Some of the new rules include:
- prevent retailers from increasing prices more than once a year
- ban excessive charges like late-payment fees for all retail contracts
- ensure all consumers are entitled to a fee-free payment method
- prohibit retail fees for vulnerable consumers
- ensure vulnerable Australians are receiving their retailer’s best offer
- prevent retailers from charging more than the standing offer price if the customer's initial offer changes or expires. This will protect customers from paying higher prices for their loyalty.
If you're in VIC, there are some new rules effective 1 July 2026:
- If you have been on the same energy plan for over four years, your energy retailer must ensure you are paying a reasonable price. If you are not paying a reasonable price, the retailer must lower your tariff or switch you to a cheaper plan. A retailer must undertake this check at least once a year for all its customers who are on contracts four years or older.
- Your retailer will also have to take all reasonable steps to ensure you receive any concession you are eligible for and must let you know if you become ineligible for a concession you were receiving.
In addition, from 1 October 2026:
- Your retailer must move you onto its cheapest plan if you are on payment difficulty support or have been in debt for more than three months and owe more than $1,000.
- Retailers will no longer be able to make a particular payment method mandatory for an energy plan. For example, they will no longer be able to limit access to an energy plan to people who pay by direct debit. This will enable all customers to access the best energy plans.
More info and other new rules on the ESV website: https://www.esc.vic.gov.au/electricity-and-gas/codes-guidelines-and-policies/energy-retail-code-practice/reviewing-energy-retail-code-practice/changes-victorias-energy-rules
Now is a good opportunity to check your current electric/gas plan and compare prices to see if there is a better deal on the market. Easiest way to compare prices is using the official government comparison websites:
https://www.energymadeeasy.gov.au/ - NSW, QLD, SA, Tas and ACT
https://compare.energy.vic.gov.au/ - Vic only
I did a quick check of the comparison sites and it seems like you can see plans effective new financial year.
u/EdenFlorence — 1 day ago
▲ 5 r/AussieFrugal
Food Box/Meal Kit Referral Megathread - Weekly July 05, 2026
What is a food box/meal kit?
A meal kit or food box is a subscription service – food service business model where a company sends customers pre-portioned and sometimes partially prepared food ingredients and recipes to prepare home-cooked meals. There are also options where you can already receive pre made meals, or fruit/vegetable boxes.
Examples of popular meal kits/food box include: HelloFresh, Marley Spoon, Quitelike, The Food Box, Good and Fugly, Lite n' Easy
🥬🥬🥬🥬🥬🥬🥬🥬🥬🥬🥬🥬🥬🥬🥬🥬🥬🥬🥬🥬🥬🥬🥬🥬🥬🥬🥬🥬🥬🥬
For your information...
This is the Megathread for all referrals relating to food box/meal kits only.
This Megathread will refresh on a weekly basis, usually on a Monday.
If you are looking for any food box/meal kits referrals, this is the place to ask.
All other food related referrals that is NOT food box/meal kits should be shared in the All other Referrals Megathread.
No "DM me for the codes" of the sort.
🥙🥙🥙🥙🥙🥙🥙🥙🥙🥙🥙🥙🥙🥙🥙🥙🥙🥙🥙🥙🥙🥙🥙🥙🥙🥙🥙🥙🥙🥙
See here an excellent post for a guide on churning food boxes/meal kits
A full lifehack guide for mealkits (HelloFresh, MarleySpoon, Everyplate and Dinnerly originally by HikARuLsi
The archive can be found here:
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u/AutoModerator — 2 days ago
▲ 62 r/AussieFrugal
PSA: AusAlert National Test on 27 July 2026
Hi r/AussieFrugal!
This isn’t a post that relates to frugality, nor it contains information how to budget and save $$. However, this is a very important event that is happening across Australia so please share with your friends and loved ones if they are not aware of this. If you watch any media content (including TV, newspaper and social media) you may have already started seeing some ads about this.
Please note all of this information is extracted from the official Government site for AusAlert.
This same post will be reposted on the week before the 27 July 2026 for visibility.
What is AusAlert?
AusAlert is a new national warning system that uses the latest technology to send emergency messages to compatible mobile devices.
It’s a fast and reliable way to help people be informed and better prepared during local and national emergencies. AusAlert will be ready to use in October 2026, but before it launches, the system needs to be tested across Australia.
What is happening?
A national test of AusAlert will take place on Monday 27 July 2026. During the national test, everyone with a compatible mobile device will receive an alert. This includes most phones, and some smart watches and tablets.
Time of national test
The test alert will be sent at the same time on Monday 27 July at the following times:
Australian Capital Territory (ACT)
2:00 pm (AEST – UTC+10:00)
New South Wales (NSW)
2:00 pm (AEST – UTC+10:00)
Queensland (Qld)
2:00 pm (AEST – UTC+10:00)
Tasmania (Tas)
2:00 pm (AEST – UTC+10:00)
Victoria (Vic)
2:00 pm (AEST – UTC+10:00)
Northern Territory (NT)
1:30 pm (ACST – UTC+9:30)
South Australia (SA, incl. Broken Hill)
1:30 pm (ACST – UTC+9:30)
Western Australia (WA)
12:00 pm (AWST – UTC+8:00)
What to expect
At the time of the test, a single Critical AusAlert test will be sent to every mobile device in Australia. Everyone with a compatible phone or other device in Australia can expect to receive the alert.
During the test, your device will vibrate, play a siren‑like sound for about 10 seconds and display a test message which will clearly say it is a test.
Exactly how it appears will depend on your device type and operating system.
It will look something like this:
What the test Critical Alert looks like.
Depending on your device, you may get a test alert with the heading ‘Presidential Alert’ or ‘Extreme Threat Alert’. This is still a valid AusAlert test and the content of the alert will be the same.
What to do if you don’t receive a test alert
You don't need to do anything. Your device might not be compatible or maybe it wasn’t connected to a mobile tower at the time of the test.
To make sure you're AusAlert ready, always install the latest software updates on your device when asked. Be sure to restart your device after updating.
What to do if you don’t want to receive the AusAlert national test
AusAlerts contain important information and should be turned on to help keep you safe. As the AusAlert national test is a Critical Alert, you can’t turn it off via your device settings.
The only way to not receive a Critical Alert is to turn your mobile device off or switch it to ‘aeroplane mode’ for the duration of the test.
If receiving an AusAlert test message will disrupt you or cause you or a family member to feel unsafe, turn off your mobile devices or switch them to aeroplane mode before the scheduled test time in your location and leave them off for at least one hour.
More info on the above here: https://www.ausalert.gov.au/receiving-alert/turning-alerts-off
All information about AusAlert including news and updates are available on https://www.ausalert.gov.au
u/AutoModerator — 2 days ago
▲ 4 r/AussieFrugal
Cheapest way to send money oversea?
I need to send some money oversea recently and i did a quick comparison between Remitly and Wise.
I found that you generally get a better rate and better overall outcome with Wise.
Do you guys know any better alternative when sending money oversea?
cheers
u/NoVast1305 — 3 days ago
▲ 46 r/AussieFrugal
Crazy electricity bill
So I live in Sydney in post code 2206 and my electricity bills are insane.
This quarter was 540 and last year July- sept was 900 something. As the numbers are looking similar I’m trying to find a solution before I have to pay 900again for next quarter.
My whole house is electric sourced( stove, heating etc) I don’t have an AC in the house, we are only people living in the house as well.
I just don’t understand why the bills are so obnoxiously high
I need help!
Currently on red energy, but open to advise!
u/Patient_Damage2214 — 5 days ago
▲ 140 r/AussieFrugal
I mapped out the fastest route through my local Coles to stop backtracking. Here's what I learned about saving time and money.
Been trying to fix my grocery shop after realising I was wasting time and money every week. Two things were killing me: wandering the aisles forgetting what I came for, and impulse buys because I didn't have a proper plan.
So I got a bit obsessive and mapped out the actual walkthrough order of my local Coles. A few things that genuinely helped:
Shop the perimeter first. Fresh produce, meat, dairy are almost always around the edges. Do those last-minute-fresh items in one loop instead of criss-crossing.
Order your list by aisle, not by meal. Writing "onions, pasta, milk" in the order they appear in your kitchen means you zigzag the whole store. Reordering by store section cut my time massively.
Plan meals before you write the list. Sounds obvious but deciding "what's for dinner" while standing in the store is where the impulse spend happens.
Check the unit price, not the sticker price. The little per-100g number on the shelf label is where the real savings hide.
Curious how others here do it. Does anyone else order their list by aisle, or is that overkill? And do you plan meals first or just shop from specials?
u/TraditionalBelt5854 — 7 days ago
▲ 87 r/AussieFrugal
Blackberries and brussels sprouts top Australia’s best-value fruit and veg for July
theguardian.comu/EdenFlorence — 5 days ago
New financial year, new rules and how today's changes affect your wallet
Today marks the beginning of a new financial year, with a host of new rules coming into effect. We've broken down what it means for you.
u/abcnews_au — 7 days ago
▲ 19 r/AussieFrugal
From meaty mushies to rhubarb, the best July produce on offer
abc.net.auu/abcnews_au — 5 days ago
▲ 4 r/AussieFrugal
Cash Back Referral Megathread June 30, 2026
What is cashback?
Cashback is when you receive a credit back to your account. For example, when you make a purchase, you may get a fixed amount or a percentage of the amount you paid returned to your account.
Essentially, cashback programs give you cash back when you make an eligible purchase at a participating retailer. They work a bit like a piggy bank – you could earn a little bit of cash each time you shop online, which adds up over time.
For example, Topcashback is a cashback program that is free to join and offers a wide range of popular retailers, including food and grocery providers like Menulog, online marketplaces such as Amazon, and travel sites like Booking.com. There are often great deals for everything from everyday products to big-ticket items like furniture and appliances from popular brands like Koala and Bing Lee. Your furry friends are even covered with Petstock!
Some of our users are big fans of Cash Back apps! Example of Cashback program includes: Cashrewards, Shop Back, and Top Cash Back.
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For your information...
This is the Megathread for all referrals relating to cashback programs only - Topcashback and Shopback are the current two biggest cashback programs in Australia.
This Megathread will refresh monthly, usually on the 1st day of the month.
If you are looking for any cashback referrals, this is the place to ask.
All other referrals that is NOT related to cashback programs should be shared in the All other Referrals -Megathread.
Food box/meal kits referrals should be shared in the dedicated Food Box/Meal Kit Referral Thread.
No "DM me for the codes" of the sort.
💰💰💰💰💰💰💰💰💰💰💰💰💰💰💰💰💰💰💰💰💰💰💰💰💰💰💰💰💰💰💰💰💰💰💰💰
u/AutoModerator — 7 days ago
▲ 107 r/AussieFrugal
Do you qualify for three hours of free electricity? Here's how it works
abc.net.auu/abcnews_au — 9 days ago
▲ 66 r/AussieFrugal
Airport lost property and unclaimed post to be auctioned off
Annual auction of lost & unclaimed items from the airport, and undeliverable AusPost parcels.
u/Ted_Rid — 8 days ago
▲ 35 r/AussieFrugal
New measures coming to NSW include end to 'one of the biggest rip-offs'
abc.net.auu/abcnews_au — 8 days ago
▲ 2 r/AussieFrugal
Food Box/Meal Kit Referral Megathread - Weekly June 28, 2026
What is a food box/meal kit?
A meal kit or food box is a subscription service – food service business model where a company sends customers pre-portioned and sometimes partially prepared food ingredients and recipes to prepare home-cooked meals. There are also options where you can already receive pre made meals, or fruit/vegetable boxes.
Examples of popular meal kits/food box include: HelloFresh, Marley Spoon, Quitelike, The Food Box, Good and Fugly, Lite n' Easy
🥬🥬🥬🥬🥬🥬🥬🥬🥬🥬🥬🥬🥬🥬🥬🥬🥬🥬🥬🥬🥬🥬🥬🥬🥬🥬🥬🥬🥬🥬
For your information...
This is the Megathread for all referrals relating to food box/meal kits only.
This Megathread will refresh on a weekly basis, usually on a Monday.
If you are looking for any food box/meal kits referrals, this is the place to ask.
All other food related referrals that is NOT food box/meal kits should be shared in the All other Referrals Megathread.
No "DM me for the codes" of the sort.
🥙🥙🥙🥙🥙🥙🥙🥙🥙🥙🥙🥙🥙🥙🥙🥙🥙🥙🥙🥙🥙🥙🥙🥙🥙🥙🥙🥙🥙🥙
See here an excellent post for a guide on churning food boxes/meal kits
A full lifehack guide for mealkits (HelloFresh, MarleySpoon, Everyplate and Dinnerly originally by HikARuLsi
The archive can be found here:
🍜🍜🍜🍜🍜🍜🍜🍜🍜🍜🍜🍜🍜🍜🍜🍜🍜🍜🍜🍜🍜🍜🍜🍜🍜🍜🍜🍜🍜🍜
u/AutoModerator — 9 days ago
▲ 0 r/AussieFrugal
PSA: Heated Blankets
Hi all, just thought I’d share my thoughts on heated throw blankets.
I only discovered them recently through this sub, hence me posting here. I bought a 130 x 160cm blanket for $45 and tried it for the first time yesterday.
Now, this may not be everyone’s experience, but I realised something that made me regret buying it. Sure it heats, but does it even need to? I reckon a standard fleece throw would do the job and costs way less. I wish this had occurred to me before and it’s crazy that it didn’t. I used to have some of those throw blankets but haven‘t seen them for ages and I think I had just forgotten how effective they are.
Last night when I tried out the heated one I bought, I ended up using it (happily) unpowered. I doubt I would ever want it to be hotter tbh. A regular one would be way better though, because it doesn’t have the uncomfortable wiring through it, nor the plug connector and cord.
Anyway, just thought I’d share as others may have seen the heated blanket mentioned and thought they’d buy one too. I actually would have assumed that a standard throw wouldn’t be that much cheaper either, but am very wrong apparently. I had no idea you can get them for around just $10!
The only use case I can see for a heated blanket is if your house was ice cold or you used it outside during winter.
Save your money and buy standard fleece. Just my 2c.
u/Mysterious_Dot2090 — 9 days ago
▲ 13 r/AussieFrugal
Anyone bought a cheap online sofa?
I am living in a rural area with no furniture shops - so it has to be online/delivered.
Only going to be here 7 more months so need to dump it / give it away on marketplace for free or cheap afterwards.
These are all about 300 shipped but I am not sure how to choose one.
Doesn't have to be great, just somewhere to relax after work.
Any recommendations? Thanks in advance.
u/Old_Meeting_9438 — 10 days ago
▲ 106 r/AussieFrugal
Mini bulk and freeze meal prep lunches and weekday dinners $1.50-$3 a serve, and weekend dinners $4-7 a serve
* Weekday dinners +$1-2 for a side.
Hi everyone. I’ve done a mini bulk meal prep and I thought I’d share what I’ve been doing for weekend dinners in case it’s of interest to someone.
These meals in freezer bags freeze well, and I just need to defrost, heat and steam my veg for weekday dinners.
Weekday dinner meals are generally around 120/150g meat per serve and fresh steamed veg adds $1-2 a meal. Using rice, pasta, potato or possibly frozen veg instead might make it cheaper.
Having a second freezer helps, and I go for easier recipes as I’m not a great cook. It takes time but less than cooking every night overall, less lunch prep, makes my day to day easier and I’m not tempted to buy takeaway.
I use my own herbs, mushrooms, eggs, and home made stock but the costs listed are as if buying these, and I haven’t included the cost for basic pantry items (oil, cornflour, sauces etc).
I buy from a local F&V shop, Spudshed (WA), and Woolworths which I get a 13% discount through rewards extra once a month and gift card discount (not included in the prices below). Whole free range chickens or drumsticks are around $5-6 a kilo, I allow for 50% finished meat and I now make my own stock.
Recipe links and other meal ideas are in the first post.
Sweet and sour pork (slow cooker): variations on the recipe include 2k pork leg (cheaper and meant to be leaner), doubling the tomato sauce and adding a 3/4 tinned baby corn. It’s not the take away sweet and sour, or the kantong sauce type, but still very tasty. Around $26, 9 serves.
Honey mustard chicken, an old favourite I’d forgotten and suggested by a member in another post: about 600g cooked chicken and a jar of honey mustard sauce. $9-10, 4 serves
Weekend dinners
For a cheap Chinese I have been buying frozen spring rolls and gyoza having 2 each a serve with a sauce, a take away special fried rice (4 serves) and making (fresh, doesn’t freeze well) plain Egg foo (Chinese omelette). Estimating due to the eggs, around $28 for 4 serves.
I may start adding some of the sweet and sour pork (adds $3 a serve) or make Mongolian beef again (adds maybe $3.50 a serve). Seeing how well the omelette went I’ll be trying it again on its own with some with veg soon.
Chicken Parma: coles/woolies deli large chicken schnitzel, ham slice, passata/tomato puree and cheese, with chips. I have a half but a whole with chips is around $4.50 a serve.
Honey soy chicken wings and drumsticks: Using wings and drumsticks from whole chickens used for meals (otherwise I’ve seen them from $5 a kilo) they taste and smell amazing.
Tacos: lean beef mince with packet seasoning (bulk cooked and frozen in portions), tomato, lettuce, tomato sauce, and a little cheese and lite sour cream. 3 are around $4 a serve, cheaper using other mince and making your own seasoning. Lighter using turkey mince.
For lunches
Quesadilla: around 250g cooked chicken, Tortillas, cooked onion and garlic; lightly sautéed capsicum mushroom and tomato; fresh baby spinach, a little BBQ sauce and cheese. Lightly toasted in a flat sandwich maker then frozen. 5 serves, approx. $7.
Asian chicken rice noodle soup: 500g cooked shredded chicken, carrot, baby corn, spring onion/onion/leek, capsicum, bok/pak choy, snow peas (if cheap), bean sprouts, some mushrooms, rice noodles, homemade chicken stock, Shaoxi (Chinese) cooking wine, soy sauce and garlic. 6 450/500ml serves, $14 (if buying stock).
A new breakie for the rotation
Egg and ham muffins: 6 each of English muffins (toasted), eggs, and ham; and bbq sauce. They freeze and reheat well. 6 serves, around $9.
u/Ashnicobell — 11 days ago
▲ 29 r/AussieFrugal
NBN 500 plan for $54 offer end 30 June
NBN 50% off for 6 months ($54 for 500 plan) New activations ends on 30 June.
Origin have a 50% off promotion for 6 months. The regular prices are too expensive but at half price they appear to be the cheapest available for the higher end plans.
u/psikeau — 10 days ago
▲ 23 r/AussieFrugal
Petrol prices tipped to rise as fuel tax relief shrinks
Just a reminder the fuel excise discount is dropping on Wednesday July 1st. Prices will increase by about 16 cents.
Worth topping up your tank, or locking in a 7 eleven price lock if that's available to you.
u/ediellipsis — 9 days ago