Simple steps Kiwis can take to save more than $1200 as the cost of living crisis bites
The consumer protection organisation advises that the easiest way to cut costs is to be power savvy and New Zealanders should start by checking if they are on the best power plan for their household.
Gemma Rasmussen, Consumer head of communications and campaigns, said it only takes minutes to check what savings could be made by using Powerswitch.
“It could not be simpler to switch power plans or providers.”
This year the average saving netted by Powerswitch users was $385.
Other steps households can take is to load-shift and only use ‘power-hungry’ devices during off-peak hours - Consumer NZ says this can save people up to $440.
Meanwhile, washing only in cold water, using LED bulbs and switching appliances off at the wall could save Kiwis more than $100 a year for each step taken.
“Loads of devices use power even on standby mode, so cut them off at their source,” said Rasmussen.
Finally, when you feel like a cuppa – only boil the amount of water you need.
“You can save $25 a year by halving the amount of water you boil in your kettle,” said Rasmussen.
Rasmussen said these power-saving steps alone could save New Zealanders more than $1200 a year, but there were even more ways to ensure money was staying in pockets.
Consumer NZ advises Kiwis to shop around to find the best prices, something made easier thanks to a range of apps and online tools.
Grocer App is great for comparing prices between supermarkets.
“We want to remind New Zealanders there’s little reward in being loyal to one supermarket chain,” said Rasmussen.
Gaspy is a great app to scan fuel prices while PriceSpy is an online tool which tracks the prices of items between different stores and over time.
Consumer NZ said that using these three tools means shoppers could save more than $200 a year.
Furthermore, the organisation is reminding people to review their insurance policies and mobile phone plans.
“Our insurance survey found a huge difference between the cheapest and most expensive insurance policies for a standard-sized house,” said Rasmussen.
“It’s worthwhile taking the time to explore different insurance providers – you could stand to make a sizeable saving.”
Finally, Consumer NZ advises Kiwis to get their credit cards under control - a timely reminder following Christmas shopping.
They say to start by paying more than just the minimum payments required which can lead to less interest being paid and can easily be done by setting up a direct debit.
Rasmussen said checking a bank’s offering is also a good idea as many offer low interest and even zero interest balance transfers.
“Taking a bit of time to use tools like Powerswitch, Grocer, PriceSpy and Gaspy, as well as being deliberate about how, when and where you spend could net you well over $1200 in 2023,” she said.
===================================================
Poll: Should drivers retake the theory test every 10 years?
Drivers get where they need to go, but sometimes it seems that we are all abiding by different road rules (for example, the varying ways drivers indicate around a roundabout).
Do you think drivers should be required to take a quick driving theory test every 10 years?
Vote in the poll and share any road rules that you've seen bent! 😱
-
49.5% Yes
-
48.6% No
-
1.9% Other - I'll share below
Here's Thursday's thinker!
I am lighter than air, but a hundred people cannot lift me. What am I?
Do you think you know the answer to our daily riddle? Don't spoil it for your neighbours! Simply 'Like' this post and we'll post the answer in the comments below at 2pm.
Want to stop seeing riddles in your newsfeed?
Head here and hover on the Following button on the top right of the page (and it will show Unfollow) and then click it. If it is giving you the option to Follow, then you've successfully unfollowed the Riddles page.
Why make picking up reserved library books harder? What do you think? Challenge: Write the last stanza for the first poem attached below.
Once books are reserved in Auckland Libraries books, when they are available no longer go alphabetically by customer but instead go into a Holds pickup shelf number based presumably somehow on when each book needs to be picked up by.
I had two books reserved that arrived on two different days in the Blockhouse Bay Library and hence each book has a different shelf number. Hard to find unless you knew the shelf number in the notification email. Even if you knew the shelf number I found myself three books by the same author on the two shelf numbers.
More recently yesterday a book I reserved was on a different shelf number than was specified in my notification email (see image below).
Sadly it is clear from library staff that a numerical system for reserves is here to stay.
I suggest that so that all books for each person has the same shelf number, the shelf number becomes the last digit of a person's library card (0-9).
Within each shelf number a book is found under the day the reserve arrives in the library (01 to 31, hopefully the same date the email is sent).
Since a customer appears to have 10 days to pick up a book, ten days of the month would appear to be required at any time (for each digit 0-9).
Once there are 10 days used the next day's reserves could go back at the beginning of the shelf number after any remaining books not collected (hopefully none) are removed (along with the old day number and the new day number (01 to 31) inserted) after the last day available and future days' books remaining moved forward to make room.
Each day number (01-31) would appear once for each shelf number (0-9) before the first book on that day- perhaps cover an old withdrawn book with paper with each day number on the spine?
When a reserved book arrives in the library the last digit of the library card could be placed on a piece of paper in the book to be removed when it is put on the shelf, to be recycled the next day.
What do you think?
See the image below and page 3 below for a letter appearing in the Western Leader on 9 September:
www.neighbourly.co.nz...
Loading…
