Hole in your pocket? The totally avoidable money-wasters costing you $5,000 each year
Kelly Emmerton | 17 Oct 2017
You might think your little vices, like cigarettes, a punt on the pokies or forgetting that you have a gift card at the bottom of your purse don’t add up to much in the end - but you’re wrong.
Mozo research has found that Aussies are shelling out an incredible $5,000 every year on avoidable spending habits, including things like cigarettes ($1,217 bill per year), food waste ($950 per year) and household energy waste ($511 per year).
“The silver lining is that these money-wasters are largely things you can control, which means you have the power to turn $5,000 of wasted money into $5,000 of savings,” said Mozo Director Kirsty Lamont.
“Changing a few of your bad spending habits can mean saving thousands of extra dollars, so it’s well worth the effort.”
One of the habits costing Aussies big time is letting bank charges pile up. Between credit card interest, bank fees and ATM charges, $1,200 a year is drained out of the average household budget - a whopping $10.4 billion in total.
“With our credit cards about to get another workout over the festive season, now is the perfect time to work on reducing your credit card debt and the interest you're paying. Transfer your debt to a 0% balance transfer card and work on clearing your card balance as quickly as possible. The quicker you can get on top of things, the better it will be for your wallet,” said Lamont.
Ready to stop wasting your hard-earned on credit card interest? Check out some of the top balance transfer credit cards below.
Blast debt with a top 0% balance transfer deal - rates updated daily
- Woolworths
Woolworths Everyday Platinum Credit Card
0% p.a. for 14 months and then 21.99% p.a.
19.99% p.a.
$49 $0 in the first year
Perfect for practical spenders, pay no annual fee in the first year and save up to $50 on your Woolies shop each month. Plus new cardholders can score a $50 Woolies eGift Card when you spend $150 a month for the first 3 months. Too easy!
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0% p.a. for 14 months and then 21.99% p.a.
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$49 $0 in the first year
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19.99% p.a.
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55
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21.99% p.a.
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3%, minimum $5
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Woolworths Money Shopping Card sent every 4 months if enough points have been accrued.
Read our Mozo Review to learn more about the Everyday Platinum Credit Card
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Apply By 28 February 2019
Qantas MoneyQantas Money Qantas Premier Platinum Credit Card
0% p.a. for 18 months and then 21.99% p.a.
19.99% p.a.
$299 $149 in the first year
Receive 70,000 bonus Qantas Points when you spend $3,500 within 90 days of card approval, and an additional 30,000 bonus points after the first anniversary of the card.
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0% p.a. for 18 months and then 21.99% p.a.
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$299 $149 in the first year
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19.99% p.a.
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55
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21.99% p.a.
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3%, min $3.00
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Points are automatically credited to the Qantas Frequent Flyer program.
Read our Mozo Review to learn more about the Qantas Premier Platinum Credit Card
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- American Express
American Express Explorer® Credit Card
0% p.a. for 12 months and then 20.74% p.a. (1.00% balance transfer fee)
20.74% p.a.
$395
Generous perks include a massive 50,000 bonus points when you apply online and meet the spend criteria, a $400 Travel Credit each year, 2 complimentary Amex Lounge passes and more! Note: point redemption rates will change as of 15 April 2019, please visit the Amex website for more information. Credit Card Provider of the Year in the Mozo Experts Choice Awards 2018.^
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0% p.a. for 12 months and then 20.74% p.a. (1.00% balance transfer fee)
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$395
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20.74% p.a.
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55
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Transfer points to a range of airline programs or redeem your points for travel, gift cards, retail rewards and shopping gift cards.
Read our Mozo Review to learn more about the Explorer® Credit Card
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- CUA
CUA Low Rate Credit Card
0% p.a. for 13 months and then 21.74% p.a.
11.99% p.a.
$49 $0 in the first year
0.0% balance transfer rate for 13 months & up to 55 interest free days. No annual fee for the first year and $49 after.
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0% p.a. for 13 months and then 21.74% p.a.
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$49 $0 in the first year
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11.99% p.a.
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55
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21.74% p.a.
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2.00%, Min $3.50
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Read our Mozo Review to learn more about the Low Rate Credit Card
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- Australian Military Bank
Australian Military Bank Low Rate Visa Credit Card
0% p.a. for 12 months and then 11.99% p.a.
11.99% p.a.
$49
A great card for everyday spending, with a competitive low interest rate and up to 45 interest free days on your purchases. A great choice for savvy spenders in a hurry, apply online for a quick assessment. Mozo Experts Choice Awards 2018 - Balance Transfer Credit Card.^
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0% p.a. for 12 months and then 11.99% p.a.
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$49
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11.99% p.a.
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45
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19.99% p.a.
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$4.50
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Read our Mozo Review to learn more about the Low Rate Visa Credit Card
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