How to save money during a recession

Since the Australian Bureau of Statistics released the GDP summary last Wednesday, the word ‘recession’ has really been bandied around. According to the summary, Australia’s GDP fell by 0.03% in the March quarter, meaning quite simply that the economy is on a downward spiral.
Now if you’re a millennial or Gen Z’er, it’s quite likely that you’re worried about what to expect, after all Australia hasn’t officially been in a recession since 1991. The truth is though, you’ve probably already been living through it in the last few months. The ongoing Coronavirus pandemic has led to increased unemployment and let’s not forget the economic impacts of the bushfires in more regional areas.
With all this in mind, we’ve come up with a list of ways to not only help you cut back on your spending, but also adopt a thriftier lifestyle, prepare for the future and build your emergency savings fund.
1. Adopt a minimalist attitude to spending
We know, minimalism often gets a bad wrap, but the thing is it’s so much more than a grey, sparsely furnished room. Minimalism is about taking a step back from the easy-come-easy-go world that we live in and being able to truly understand what matters most to you.
Once you let go of the need to buy new things all the time, you’ll find your paycheck goes further and you’ll be more in control of your money. Ask yourself, do you really need new clothes every month? Is it imperative that you have a brand new copy of a book you’ve never read before?
Rather than being quick to hand over your hard earned dollars, think about joining a library for free or digging around in your closet to see if there are any gems you’ve forgotten about. Take part in the circular economy; borrow where you can and if you can’t, prioritise pre-loved over new. You’ll be surprised at just how much money you can save.
2. Work on banishing your credit card debt
Although credit cards can be useful to have in case of emergencies, you can also easily get yourself into debt if you start using your ‘emergency’ credit card on a regular basis.
If you’re constantly reaching for your card to pay for groceries and other everyday items, try creating a budget to review your spending habits. You could be living beyond your means. Plus, if you are worried about not having a credit card to fall back on, you could think about building up an emergency savings fund as an alternative.
In the meantime, if you have debt to pay off, look at transferring it to a balance transfer credit card. With this type of card you can usually take advantage of a 0% interest rate on balance transfers, for a fixed period of time. Just make sure that you can pay off the full balance before the 0% balance transfer offer ends, otherwise you could find yourself hit with another high interest rate.
Use Mozo’s debt repayments calculator to figure out how many months you’ll need to pay off your debt in full.
3. Keep your resume up to date
Even if you do have a steady job right now, don’t let the grass grow under your feet. Keep your skills and your resume up to date.
According to a report by Roy Morgan, nearly a quarter of Australians either aren’t working or aren’t working as many hours as they would like to be. To prepare yourself for the worst, or even if you hope to switch jobs, make sure you keep up to date on any developments in your field.
For instance, if photography is your thing, download free trials and play around with the latest photo-editing software. Or, if you want to expand your knowledge, check out free online courses on websites such as Future Learn.
4. Put your money in a high interest savings account
As of 1 June 2020, the average ongoing savings rate in Mozo’s database was a low 0.74% p.a., in comparison to the most competitive savings rate, which is currently 1.85% p.a.*
So if you’re not actively looking around for a more competitive interest rate, you could be missing out on some serious dollars. Let’s look at an example of this.
Say you have $5,000 in a savings account and you deposit around $200 into it each month. Over the course of one year the average savings rate of 0.74% p.a. would make you around $45 worth of interest, while the most competitive savings rate (currently 1.85% p.a.) would earn you more than twice that amount with approximately $114 worth of interest.
Of course bonus savings accounts often come with some conditions. These usually include making minimum deposits into your savings account or a linked everyday account each month or making a certain number of transactions in a set period of time.
The goods news is if you are worried about meeting the conditions that come with this type of savings account, you can still bag a no-strings-attached interest rate, well over 1.00% p.a. For instance, neobank Volt’s Savings Account currently offers a competitive interest rate of 1.65% p.a. with no conditions to meet.
Keen to give your emergency savings stash a boost with a more competitive interest rate? Check out the accounts below for a quick snapshot of what’s on offer right now, or if you’re after a more thorough list, head to Mozo’s compare high interest savings accounts page.
Compare high interest savings accounts - last updated 6 August 2022
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Save Account
Maximum rate
standard interest rate
Govt Deposit Guarantee
2.35% p.a. (for $0 to $250,000)0.10% p.a.(for $0 and over)Yes up to $250,000Deposit at least $200 to either Spend or Save account from an external source each month.
Earn up to 1.85% p.a in interest. No monthly fee to pay. Split your money in up to 10 Save accounts. Track your progress on each of your save accounts. Instant access to cash via PayID and Osko. Deposits guaranteed up to $250k per customer.
CompareCompareSave Account
Earn up to 1.85% p.a in interest. No monthly fee to pay. Split your money in up to 10 Save accounts. Track your progress on each of your save accounts. Instant access to cash via PayID and Osko. Deposits guaranteed up to $250k per customer.
- Maximum rate
- 2.35% p.a. (for $0 to $250,000)
- standard interest rate
- 0.10% p.a.(for $0 and over)
- Govt Deposit Guarantee
- Yes up to $250,000
- account fee per month
- $0.00
- Maximum rate conditions
- Deposit at least $200 to either Spend or Save account from an external source each month.
- Access
- Internet banking
- Minimum balance
- $0.00
- Other restrictions
- Bank and saving account only accessible through iOS or Android app.
Read our Mozo Review to learn more about the Save Account
-
Mozo experts choice awards won:
- Best New Savings Account - 2022
Boost Saver with Go Account
Maximum rate
standard interest rate
Govt Deposit Guarantee
2.30% p.a. (for $0 to $250,000)0.05% p.a.(for $0 and over)Yes up to $250,000Bonus rate of 2.30% is made up of the Base rate of 0.05% and Bonus rate of 2.25%. Deposit $2,000 each month and make 5 eligible payments from your Go Account. If you are between 18 and 25 deposit $1,000.
Enjoy a high interest savings account bundled with an everyday spending account. No monthly fees. And new customers can get a welcome bonus of 5,000 bonus Virgin Money Points (ends 31/08/22. Offer criteria & T&Cs apply).
CompareCompareBoost Saver with Go Account
Enjoy a high interest savings account bundled with an everyday spending account. No monthly fees. And new customers can get a welcome bonus of 5,000 bonus Virgin Money Points (ends 31/08/22. Offer criteria & T&Cs apply).
- Maximum rate
- 2.30% p.a. (for $0 to $250,000)
- standard interest rate
- 0.05% p.a.(for $0 and over)
- Govt Deposit Guarantee
- Yes up to $250,000
- account fee per month
- $0.00
- Maximum rate conditions
- Bonus interest 2.30% is made up of the Base rate of 0.05% and Bonus rate of 2.25%. It only applies when you deposit $2,000 into your Go Account and make 5 debit card purchases, direct debit or BPAY payments in the previous month. If you are between 18 and 25 you need to deposit $1,000 and fulfil the other criteria.
- Access
- BPay, Internet banking
- Minimum balance
- $0.00
- Other restrictions
- Bank and savings account only accessible through iOS or Android app.
Read our Mozo Review to learn more about the Boost Saver with Go Account
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Mozo experts choice awards won:
- Young Adult Savings - 2022
Life - 18-29 years old
Maximum rate
standard interest rate
Govt Deposit Guarantee
2.75% p.a. (for $0 to $30,000)0.65% p.a.(for $0 and over)Yes up to $250,000Make 5 card purchases/month with a Westpac Choice account and min 1 deposit and higher balance than at the beginning of the month in Life savings account.
Are you 18 - 29 years of age? Earn up to a generous 2.75% p.a. variable interest on your savings when you spend and save with Westpac. For individuals aged 18 to 29 on Westpac Life account balances up to $30k.
CompareCompareLife - 18-29 years old
Are you 18 - 29 years of age? Earn up to a generous 2.75% p.a. variable interest on your savings when you spend and save with Westpac. For individuals aged 18 to 29 on Westpac Life account balances up to $30k.
- Maximum rate
- 2.75% p.a. (for $0 to $30,000)
- standard interest rate
- 0.65% p.a.(for $0 and over)
- Govt Deposit Guarantee
- Yes up to $250,000
- account fee per month
- $0.00
- Maximum rate conditions
- Make 5 card purchases/month with a Westpac Choice account and min 1 deposit and higher balance than at the beginning of the month in Life savings account.
- Access
- BPay, Branch access, Phone banking, Internet banking
- Minimum balance
- $0.00
- Other restrictions
- Must hold a Westpac Choice transaction account. If 5 card purchases are made each month, but savings account balance hasnt increased, a 2.05% interest rate still applies.
Read our Mozo Review to learn more about the Life - 18-29 years old
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Mozo experts choice awards won:
- Regular Saver - 2022
Bonus Saver Account
Maximum rate
standard interest rate
Govt Deposit Guarantee
2.10% p.a. (for $0 to $250,000)0.05% p.a.(for $0 and over)Yes up to $250,000Bonus rate when at least $20 is deposited each month and five Visa Debit transactions are made each month using linked Glide transaction account.
Winner of a Mozo Experts Choice Award 2022 in the Regular Saver category. No monthly account fees. Available only on balances up to $250,000.
CompareCompareBonus Saver Account
Winner of a Mozo Experts Choice Award 2022 in the Regular Saver category. No monthly account fees. Available only on balances up to $250,000.
- Maximum rate
- 2.10% p.a. (for $0 to $250,000)
- standard interest rate
- 0.05% p.a.(for $0 and over)
- Govt Deposit Guarantee
- Yes up to $250,000
- account fee per month
- $0.00
- Maximum rate conditions
- Bonus rate when at least $20 is deposited each month and five Visa Debit transactions are made each month using linked Glide transaction account.
- Access
- Phone banking, Internet banking
- Minimum balance
- $0.00
- Other restrictions
- Must link to a transaction account
Read our Mozo Review to learn more about the Bonus Saver Account
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Grow Saver
Maximum rate
standard interest rate
Govt Deposit Guarantee
1.80% p.a. (for $0 and over)0.05% p.a.(for $0 and over)Yes up to $250,000Make at least 1 deposit per month and no more than 1 withdrawal, including internal transfers or external payments. Must enable the Lock Saver feature. 32 days notice for withdrawal and T&C's apply.
Pay no monthly fees. Set-up to 9 personalised savings accounts and choose to lock as many accounts as you like to earn the maximum variable interest rate. With just 32 days notice to access your money again, your future self will thank you.
CompareCompareGrow Saver
Pay no monthly fees. Set-up to 9 personalised savings accounts and choose to lock as many accounts as you like to earn the maximum variable interest rate. With just 32 days notice to access your money again, your future self will thank you.
- Maximum rate
- 1.80% p.a. (for $0 and over)
- standard interest rate
- 0.05% p.a.(for $0 and over)
- Govt Deposit Guarantee
- Yes up to $250,000
- account fee per month
- $0.00
- Maximum rate conditions
- Bonus rate is made up of the Base interest rate of 0.05%, Bonus interest rate of 1.45% and Notice interest rate of 0.30%. Make at least 1 deposit per month and no more than 1 withdrawal, including internal transfers or external payments. Must enable the Lock Saver Feature. 32 days notice for withdrawal and T&Cs apply.
- Access
- Minimum balance
- $0.00
- Other restrictions
- Savings account only accessible through iOS or Android app. Daily ATM withdrawal limit not applicable.
Read our Mozo Review to learn more about the Grow Saver
^See information about the Mozo Experts Choice Savings Account Awards
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