Whether your New Year’s resolutions are to completely transform yourself, or to just hang in there until your next holiday, a fresh year can be a good opportunity to take charge of your life.
We’re not talking green smoothies, gruelling crack-of-dawn runs and hyperbolic mantras – just some simple steps to help you get ahead in 2025 before life gets in the way.
Taking care of these dull but do-able things will free up some extra coin to help ease the cost of living
Yes, even thinking about adulting when you’re still recovering from a Christmas coma is painful, but knocking over a few key life admin tasks can give you a sense of satisfaction that feels better than that afternoon nap after Christmas lunch.
If smug satisfaction isn’t enough, there’s another incentive: cold, hard cash. Taking care of these dull but do-able things will free up some extra coin to help ease the cost of living.
Our tips will help you get these tedious tasks sorted quickly so you can go back to planning your next holiday (which as we all know is the only antidote to the back-to-work blues).
1. Em-power yourself
Hands up if you stick your head in the sand every time the electricity bill arrives? I know I do.
And direct debit makes it even easier to ignore – it’s all taken care of without you having to lift a finger (or look at the scarily large number next to the dollar sign!).
But that blissful ignorance could end up costing you more: electricity prices are climbing along with everything else, and if you’re not sure how much you’re paying, there’s a good chance it’s too much.
Changing your energy retailer might sound like a huge headache, but it’s actually simpler than you think – and you don’t even have to pick up the phone to do it.
(Check your other bills while you’re at it: you could find a better deal on your gas, internet and mobile phone plan too.)
2. Give your finances a tune-up
In this economy, every dollar counts, so make sure you’re getting the most out of your money.
Home, health and car insurance
Insurers used to reward their customers’ loyalty, but these days it’s more about attracting new customers than looking after existing ones.
It’s unfair, but you can beat them at their own game by taking advantage of the perks they’re offering to lure in new business.
Beat insurers at their own game by taking advantage of the perks they’re offering to lure in new business
Check what price your current insurer is offering new customers, then call and ask them to match it, or find out if they have any discounts or offers for existing customers.
If they don’t, take your business elsewhere – there’s sure to be another insurer who’ll offer you the same for less.
Our experts know all the tricks in the book to help you save:
There’s a lot to like about buying something right now and paying it off later – who wouldn’t want to get their hands on the goods ASAP rather than waiting while you save?
Unfortunately, if you don’t stay on top of your repayments they can get out of hand, and before you know it those smaller purchases can add up to one big debt.
If you’re lucky enough to have some cash squirrelled away for a rainy day, ensure your money is working for you: here’s our round-up of the best high-interest savings accounts.
Audit your accounts
The new year is the perfect time to ask yourself whether you’re getting value out of what you’re paying for.
Take a look at what’s coming out of your account on a regular basis.
Do you have a gym membership but never work out? Are you paying for apps you never use? Is there a streaming service you don’t watch much? What fees is your bank charging you? Do you ever use your health insurance extras?
These little expenses can really add up, and they don’t usually take long to sort out, so spending an hour doing a quick scan of your direct debits and cancelling a few subscriptions will put that wasted money back in your pocket.
Little expenses from unused memberships and subscriptions can really add up. A quick audit of your accounts will likely help you identify some savings.
3. Switch up your shopping habits
One of the simplest ways to make room in your budget is by changing the way you do your grocery shop:
Then, check our reviews while you write your shopping list to make sure you’re getting the best products for your money. We test everything from dishwasher detergent and tea bags to stain removers and Dutch ovens (for those Aldi Special Buys).
Consider switching from your usual brands. Some supermarket home-brand products will give you far better performance for a far lower price. Here are the home brand products that top our tests.
Household appliances like fridges, washing machines, air con and ovens are big purchases. And the costs keep on coming even after you’ve left the store: you’ll be paying energy bills, repair costs and, eventually, buying a new one.
A little bit of cleaning here and there will help keep your machines humming along happily (and efficiently) for as long as possible.
A little bit of cleaning will help keep your machines humming along happily (and efficiently) for as long as possible
Want a quick and easy win? Give your appliance filters a clean – it’ll extend their life, make them easier to use and, even better, save you money.
If you think an appliance might be coming to the end of its life, we’ll help you find out how long your household appliances should last and whether to repair or replace them.
5. Sort out your will
Just like sorting your superannuation, writing a will might seem like something you (hopefully!) won’t need to worry about for a long time yet.
But none of us know when our day will come, and if you die without a will it can make things tricky for your loved ones.
Our end-of-life checklist will walk you through what you need to do to get your affairs in order, and give you advice if you’re dealing with the loss of a loved one.
Alice Richard is a Content creator and marketer. Alice writes on a range of topics, from health insurance to heaters and BBQs to bargain-hunting, always with the aim to help consumers find the best products to buy, and which to avoid.
Alice can take vast amounts of data from CHOICE product tests and turn it into content that is easily digestible and fun for readers.
Alice has a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Queensland. LinkedIn
Alice Richard is a Content creator and marketer. Alice writes on a range of topics, from health insurance to heaters and BBQs to bargain-hunting, always with the aim to help consumers find the best products to buy, and which to avoid.
Alice can take vast amounts of data from CHOICE product tests and turn it into content that is easily digestible and fun for readers.
Alice has a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Queensland. LinkedIn
For more than 60 years, we've been making a difference for Australian consumers. In that time, we've never taken ads or sponsorship.
Instead we're funded by members who value expert reviews and independent product testing.
With no self-interest behind our advice, you don't just buy smarter, you get the answers that you need.
You know without hesitation what's safe for you and your family. And our recent sunscreens test showed just how important it is to keep business claims in check.
So you'll never be alone when something goes wrong or a business treats you unfairly.
