November 2018 Financial Checklist

Post Halloween sugar rush, Melbourne Cup and a day for vegans everywhere, it’s all happening in November. We don’t know about you but October was a massive month and we’re thinking November is set to be even bigger since we’re gearing up for the busiest time of the year, Christmas. So let’s not horse around (I’m not even sorry) and kickstart this month’s financial checklist!  

Go meatless for World Vegan Day

Everyone knows that when it comes to our diet, the more green, the better. But it might surprise you to know that having a plant-based diet is not only great for the waistline, but the wallet too! November 1 is World Vegan Day and while I’m not asking you to give up all your favourites just yet, take things slow by ditching your steak for a vegetarian option.

Plus, if you’re game to go meatless once a week for a year, you could be looking at an extra $650 in your pocket!

Work on getting the perfect score

According to peer-to-peer lender, MoneyPlace, less than 0.5% of Aussies are likely to have the perfect credit score. And with comprehensive credit reporting (CCR) well and truly here, there’s never been a better time to take your credit score a little more seriously. So if you’re serious about getting your credit history in tip top shape, start by making sure you always pay your bills on time and paying more than the minimum on your credit card.

But if it’s lingering debt holding you back, a balance transfer card could be your answer and with perfect timing too because we’ve rounded up some of the best balance transfer cards around in our 2018 Mozo Experts Choice Awards!

Get your Christmas bargain face on

If you love a good bargain, then consider Christmas shopping your time to shine. This month, stores will start rolling out sales on everything from food to gifts, so why not use this to your advantage by starting your Christmas shopping now. The trick to getting a killer deal on your food is to buy items that won’t perish before Christmas, think alcohol, chips and chocolate.

This tactic will not only help you save some coin, but you’ll be well clear of the Christmas crazy mob come mid December.

Turn savings pain into savings gain

Let’s face it, times have never been tougher for Aussie savers, especially since there are now no ongoing savings account rates in the Mozo database above 2.90%. But before you say goodbye to your long term savings dream, it’s still possible to boost your savings balance by shopping around on savings accounts.

For instance, the UBank USaver account remains the best high interest ongoing savings account in the Mozo database with an ongoing rate of 2.87%. Now if you already had $5,000 in savings and met the required $200 monthly deposit, within 5 years, you’d have a final balance of $18,658 - not too shabby.

Get top cover for a cheaper price

We all love our cars and want them to have the best protection around when disaster strikes. But sadly according to recent Mozo research, our location plays a big part in how much we pay in premiums, with Victorians having to fork out the most at an average $1,411 a year, followed by the Northern Territory ($1,365) and New South Wales ($1,255). And while no one expects you to move states just to save on your car insurance, there is still a way to save big bucks.

The research revealed that Aussies had the potential to save up to $1,000 a year on their car insurance by shopping around and choosing the best value policy. But don’t worry if you’re not an expert on car insurance because our Expert Choice judges have handpicked the best value car insurance policies around for you!  

Between your car insurance, savings account and even your home loan, there are ways to save around every corner. So make your next stop our Life and Money hub to find more ways to get the best bang for your buck.