Tips for Saving (or Reducing Your Home Loan) in Winter
Winter is a great time in Perth for saving money honestly, why don’t more people go out here in winter? We’re definitely in the “stay in and stay warm” camp. If you’re like us, this season is perfect for getting ahead: paying down your home loan, building up some savings, or just taking it easy while your budget breathes. Here are a few ideas to make the most of it:
Staying Home
Rather than braving the cold for dinners and drinks, why not get creative and cosy at home? Think DIY date nights, mulled cider on the stove, a slow cooker meal bubbling away… bliss.
To keep costs down, Synergy has some great tips on managing your power bill in winter:
- Winter Energy Saving Tips
- How to Save Energy in Winter
We weren’t sure 18°C on the thermostat would feel warm enough — but we’ve tested it and it does take the edge off without the bill blowout!
Winter Holidays
Escaping Perth's cold? Europe calling with that dreamy summer vibe? Thailand? Singapore? If you're heading away, here’s a tip … instead of stashing your travel savings in a regular account (or under your mattress...), put them in your offset account. That way, you're reducing your loan interest while counting down to cocktails in the sun. Win-win!
If you're staying local, WA has some incredible winter destinations. Here are 7 of the best places to visit in WA this winter; think red wine, wood fires, and coastal escapes.
Keeping Bills Low
Let’s face it, winter bills can creep up. Go back and check what you paid last year for electricity, gas, and water. Then ask yourself: can you cut that down this year? Fewer heating binges, more cosy jumpers.
For reference, here’s what our place came in at last winter:
- Electricity: $809.86
- Water: $330.38
While writing this, we discovered Water Corp’s Waterwise tool — turns out we aren’t so waterwise after all (cue red sad face emoji 😅). It flagged a potential leak, and sure enough, we had one! Worth checking out — see if your house is waterwise.
Little things can make a big difference. Whether it’s a better energy habit, a smarter place to stash your savings, or just a night in instead of a night out — winter is a great time to get ahead.
