In doing so, I stumbled across a website called Aussie Farmers Direct – offering some nice pre-packaged bundles of everyday staples for home delivery. I am yet to try them, though have read a few good things about them.

What do Aussie Farmers Direct sell?

From what I can see – they focus on the basics; such as milk, bread, eggs, bacon, juice, fruit and vegies and meat.

They offer all of these products bundled up into easy to understand packages for a set fee delivered to your door. The idea is to put an esky out the night before and awake with fresh produce delivered as frequently as you want.

What is the benefit of using Aussie Farmers Direct?

All produce is 100% Australian and fresh from the farms of working Australians. This means it is trying to make the grocery game a bit fairer for the farmers themselves while providing high quality, farm fresh products to nearly all corners of Australia (including the cities!).

The bundles are likely a clever way to help bring the cost into a more fairer realm. E.g. they may have more profit on one of the items in the bundle, so in turn can subsidise some of the other items. A great way to not lead on price, but focus on quality and quantity.

Will Aussie Farmers Direct save you money?

Although the milk prices are a little more than in a major supermarket, the value does appear to be there. For instance, I was pretty blown away at the $35 deal called the ‘Family Time Saver’.

The ‘Family Time Saver’ has the following items:

• 12 free range eggs
• 1 chicken breast
• 1 packet of sliced tasty cheese
• 1 box of fruit and veg
• 1 beef mice (1kg)
• 1 whole milke
• 1 bacon packet
• 1 loaf of bread
• 1 esky bag

All of this for $35 with free delivery. Not bad at all.

What I hope to see from Aussie Farmers Direct

I am about to sign up, so they could already have it – though I would be really keen to get a little more picky with my bundles. E.g. I would want light milk, light mince, the ability to swap the bacon for something else etc.

If that is doable – I will be a very happy saver indeed!

More details on Aussie Farmers Direct

Aussie Farmers Direct’s website is www.aussiefarmers.com.au – check them out and see some of the popular bundles people are getting delivered.

Once inside, I instantly regretted my procrastination. And instantly realised the many ways in which a food co-op can save you money, while improving the quality of what we eat.

Membership

Membership at my food co-op (‘my’ food co-op I say, having been a member all of thirty seconds) is $35 a year. This gets you 10% off everything in the store so will probably have paid for itself within ten loads of vegetables. The food is already cheap, being straight from the supplier without any transportation or middle-man costs, and membership makes it even cheaper.

Get What You Need

Wasting food is one of the biggest drains on our incomes, money thrown away for nothing. As soon as I walked into the co-op, I realised one of it’s major advantages over big supermarkets. You can buy exactly the amount you need. Yes, bulk buying can save money. It’s great if you can bulk buy some staples and get them closer to wholesale price. But often we buy bargains we don’t need, buying in excess of what we will ever use. At a food co-op, you fill up paper bags with what you need and nothing extra. No waste, and instantly saving you money.

No Additional Costs

The co-op gets vegetables and fruits delivered three days a week. Generally, most things in the store are organic and information about who grows them and how is provided. Fresh vegetables and foods grown without pesticide do more than taste good, they’re great for your health. That means the amount of money we spend on supplements, on vitamin boosters and energy drinks, on coffees and chocolate bars and, inevitably, on health care may be dramatically reduced. It’s not a silver bullet, obviously. This won’t happen in isolation, just because we shop at the co-op. But a healthy diet does wonders, for every facet of our lives.

It appears that Woolworths are behind the website and are looking to break into the daily deals arena with new ecommerce venture. It is yet to launch, though I am guessing it will be quite a competitor given my knowledge of the Woolies online teams.

Why Launch Doorbuster.com.au?

With the group buying category of websites estimated to be earning over $400 Million in ecommerce sales for 2011, it poses a real money maker for Woolies.

Their intention is to snag a piece of that action and look to offload products that are likely in demand yet still difficult to push at certain times of the year.

Doorbuster – What Will They Offer?

We are still unsure what exact products DoorBuster intends to offer, though my guess would be around selling popular products that the Woolworths buying consortium can conjure up at a deal and sell on for good money.

This might mean things as simple as Easter Eggs come Easter time all the way to popular video games they intend to release through Dick Smith.

Will Doorbuster Save You Money Or Waste Money?

Well much like any daily deals website, if you actually need the product then you will get a saving. However these sites are built to purposely convince you of the need to buy the product when you don’t actually need it.

This means the websites have been made to help convert you into a sale, so please take a second to think whether or not you will actually use/need the product before buying.

Tell Us More About Doorbuster – Woolworths Daily Deals Website

If you have further details, drop us a comment below.

The Customer Is Always Right

As someone who has spent years working in hospitality, I struggle to support that particular phrase. That said, a lot of businesses operate on that principle and that gives us, as consumers, some not insignificant bargaining power. I am not, for a minute, suggesting we use it when there is no cause. But if you feel the product or supplier hasn’t provided the quality you paid for, you have every right to let them know and expect a refund.

Bills

Automatic deductions from our bank accounts to pay our bills are the staple of every personal finance writer. Yet, an experience last week, caused me to wonder whether we needed to balance that with some extra vigilance, as automatic deductions can lead us to be on auto-pilot. The experience: I had decided to upgrade my phone and move from 3 to Vodafone for a cheaper plan. The phone arrives, and three months go by. I attempted to upgrade it four times, and by last week, I was on the warpath. My phone bills had gone through the roof because of roaming, and my previous phone was barely limping along. This time, I asked to talk to a supervisor and my phone was switched over within the hour. I then called 3 and refused to pay my current bill due to the costs I had incurred from the delay. They were great, and have now refunded all of my roaming costs over the past three months.

Keep It Civil, Keep To Your Rights

There’s no need to chuck a tantrum. If your meal isn’t hot enough, there’s a mistake on your bill or your internet hasn’t been connected, as frustrating as that might be, keeping your cool might get you further than a footstomping episode. That said, don’t just accept whatever you’re told. Ask to speak to a supervisor, discuss what costs you think are fair and which you think you should not have to pay, politely suggest a refund would be in order considering the chicken was undercooked. Business runs on the premise that they want you to spread a positive message about them, not a horror story.

The Right Language

I’ve discovered the magic word of customer relations, and you can use it too. Ombudsman. Seriously, it’s the password for Aladdin’s cave. I’ve yet to work out whether it’s because the companies are seriously concerned the case will be lodged with the Ombudsman, or whether it’s just a case of using the right language and signalling your seriousness about your complaint. The Ombudsman is a series of fantastic government organisations, set up to protect your rights as a consumer. If you have a problem and the company isn’t meeting you halfway, get in touch with them. A quick research should show which particular branch will suit your needs best. Ignoring your rights as a consumer and copping it on the chin could end up costing you money. Or, the reverse. Asserting your rights could save you a deserved dime.

The Cost

Research from Australia has shown that the increase in food prices has shifted a hefty price tag to the grocery bill. People who are financially exposed- people living in remote areas, people of a low socioeconomic background- are the first to feel the effects, though the ramifications spread throughout all of society. In America, an article on MSNBC quoted research that found almost 15% of households in America don’t have enough money to eat the way they want to eat. Adhering to the food pyramid is likely to cost you around $10 per week. The suggestion that the poor eat less well as a result of lack of awareness has been shown to be only half the picture- people aren’t eating well because they simply can’t absorb the costs.

The Ups And Downs

An article on ABC quoted research that found that healthy food prices are increasing faster than junk food prices. As the article suggested, healthy food often has a short shelf life- it’s a greater logistical exercise for the supermarket and therefore the prices go up. The shelf life of Coca Cola is never something I hear talked about. ‘Food stress’ is now a term to describe the choices people are being forces to make when it comes to eating- having to choose quantity over quality, and choosing solely in terms of cost.

Supplements

Which leads us to nutritional supplements. Whether it’s the cost of simply the sheer amount of spinach-eating that is demanded of us, many people are now turning to supplements to fill out their diets. People who don’t eat dairy take calcium supplements, and a lot of people over 50 take vitamin B12 as a supplement. It’s never suggested as a replacement for a balanced diet. Yet, the cost of supplements is as expensive as eating properly, with many varieties of supplements (vegetable proteins, green supplements) costing around $40 a bottle).

The NItty Gritty

So, yes. Eating healthily is expensive. but, as an article in Salon suggested, maybe it’s time we started taking some responsibility for our expenditure and making the decision to prioritise healthy eating. Of course, food is a social and economic issue. And trying to eat healthily when you’re on a low income or live out in woop woop can be nigh on impossible. So, perhaps what’s needed is moves from both the government and consumers. The government to look at taxing junk food in order to subsidise healthy food, and the consumer to perhaps eat out one meal less a week and use the money on groceries.

Most people will order a pizza, whether it be Pizza Hut, Domino’s or Eagle Boys and simply pay full price. The trick however is to grab a coupon from one of the many voucher websites and quote the voucher to them when ordering. These vouchers float around the internet and have a huge success rate.

Below are some tips for saving money on your next takeaway from one of the major pizza franchises.

Dominos Vouchers

Vouchers to use on dominos.com.au are readily available. We suggest searching the website RetailMeNot.com or something similar. These websites will have a list of regular vouchers and coupons that are used frequently and list their success rates.

Another trick is to search for Dominos vouchers by looking up the alternate spelling that some people use. Many coupon websites spell Dominos pizza differently and often misspell the name by writing dominoes online.

So to save a quick buck, do a search for both versions of the spelling and hunt down your dominos pizza vouchers to save a bucket on your next order. PS: They are also referred to as Dominos pizza codes.

Pizza Hut Vouchers

Pizza Hut do far less in the field of coupons and vouchers. Pizza Hut coupons can be harder to come by though they do still exist. Search RetailMeNot.com for what vouchers they may have. The last time I used a coupon for Pizza Hut it was expired although did still get honoured by the person taking my order over the phone.

If you are going to order from pizzahut.com.au – be sure however to do a Google search for exclusive online ordering vouchers just in case.

Eagle Boys Vouchers

As Eagle Boys becomes bigger in Australia, so does the hunt for Eagle Boys vouchers. If you are wanting to save some money, do a quick search as the coupons are often listed but not as visible as the likes of Dominos or Pizza Hut.

Quick final tips to save money on your pizza order

• Always search for coupons and vouchers before ordering.
• Even if the coupon or voucher is expired, ask the operator if they will honour it. They often will.
• Weigh up whether you should order online or order by phone depending on the coupon you find.

But those days are over. Meet your new best friend at the supermarket- the grocery unit pricing. This little gem is found in all major supermarkets, and is going to help you to save money.

Grocery unit pricing gives you the basic level of cost- per litre for fluids, per sheet for something like paper towels and per kilogram for meat and the rest. If, like me, you’re mathematically challenged, it’s godsend.

It cuts out all the calculation, and can usually be found in one of the bottom corners of the price tag, helping you to understand the actual value of an item.

The trick to grocery unit pricing

When I first moved out of home, I became obsessed with working out the cheapest rate. Whatever gave me the cheapest price for the quantity, I would buy. Which of course meant that sometimes I bought things that were going out of date in thirty seconds, or bought more than I could use because it worked out at a cheaper rate.

To improve upon grocery unit pricing, try looking at the best value for quantity and shelf life. There’s no point buying it if you’re going to need it in a week’s time. Remember that buying in bulk is only cheaper if you don’t have to throw any of it away.

Spend your money wisely; the cheapest thing may not always be the best if it requires a big sacrifice in quality. Like $5 shoes that fall apart in thirty seconds and need to be replaced, it’s short-term savings with a long-term loss.

I was quite surprised at what I found. I managed to find perfumes, cosmetics, aftershaves and more – for what appears to be a saving of nearly 50% in most cases.

For years we have spent hundreds of dollars a month, only to find we can now save hundreds of dollars a month. I was quite excited to say the least.

Buy cheap cosmetics online

So where did I find the cheap cosmetics? A website in Australia called StrawberryNet. I didn’t look around much on the other sites as they seemed to be consistently cheaper.

Buying cheap perfume online

This was my next big test. Could StrawberryNet also save me money on my favourite cologne I was inches away from buying duty free? Surprisingly yes.

I found my Estee Lauder Intutitions for men, 100ML cologne spray for $75.

That is $30 cheaper than anywhere else I could find on the net without scraping the back pages of eBay (did that before, think I received a half used stolen bottle from DJs – never again!)

We now have a cosmetics savings strategy

With my wife spending good money on concealer, eye shadow, eye liner and more – we have resolved to now start buying them online instead of the department stores.
Will let you know how our first order goes. Amazed at the savings!

The furniture isn’t exactly the most durable, lifelong pieces that you will hand down to your children – but they sure do look nice, serve a purpose and save you considerably in the purchasing process.

So does buying IKEA furniture save you money or simply delay the inevitable of buying more lifelong pieces?

Well to me, I think I should clarify that the idea of a lifelong piece of furniture is like a myth. Furniture is there to match your house, increase your level of living and serve a purpose. What you need now isn’t necessarily going to fulfil your requirements in 2 years time let alone a life time.

IKEA catalogue

Whenever I flick through the IKEA catalogue, I seem to find so many items that I could utilise. It’s marketing brilliance, beautiful design at prices that make you think why not?

My thoughts are that although the quality and longevity can sometimes make you worry about buying from IKEA Australia – the cost savings far outweigh the concern.

The cost of buying from IKEA Australia

I bought two book cases to house my hundreds of books for $89 each, I could however have had a bookshelf built into my wall for a cost of $5000. The saving I made means that the money can instead buy me a new bookshelf many times over in my lifetime plus gives me that savings to better utilise towards my more current concerns – my mortgage and credit card debt.

Impulse buying at IKEA Australia

Living in Sydney, I often visit the IKEA Sydney store and find myself going there for a single item only to emerge from the mouth of IKEA with candles, pots, pans, glasses, pillows and more. IKEA manage to draw you in with the items you require such as bookshelves and have you walking away with hundreds of dollars in extra items.

Very clever on their part as not only do I walk away spending more money, I do so feeling proud of myself for SAVING money.

Verdict on IKEA Australia

IKEA does save you money. You just simply need to know what you require and stick to it. If you do decide to impulse buy, consider whether the items are going to truly benefit you or simply create more clutter.

IKEA has allowed me to setup my apartments as a student and now my house as an adult while saving huge money. I am not sure at what point IKEA will no longer be desirable to me, though for now I cannot imagine paying for furniture anymore than that of which an item is listed in the IKEA catalogue. Definitely a money saver if you play your cards right.

It is quite the art form, asking a question that you think you know the answer to – you worry that the person will laugh at you. What if I told you that by asking the unbelievable I was able to save myself thousands of dollars in interest, consolidate my debts and get interest rates that you will never see advertised anywhere? Much like my wife, you may be thinking it impossible. To the contrary, let me show you how I asked 5 questions that resulted in me getting a better deal than any other consumer in Australia.

If you don’t ask, you won’t get – here are the 5 areas you can save thousands on by simply asking some at first awkward questions.

Get a lower home loan rate

I rang my main bank, told them I had a loan with a non-bank lender due to their great rates and bluntly asked them – can you do me a better deal? If so, the business is yours.
The outcome was the bank offering me an interest rate that was lower than any of the advertised rates they have on the market – it was as if I skipped the line of general consumers and got offered a deal that would win my business firstly and make me defect from my current lender.

Seems strange doesn’t it that you can simply ring and ask for a better deal and they will gladly except. What you need to know here is that home loans are fiercely competitive in Australia – meaning the banks are willing to do whatever possible to get you to join them. Ring and ask them now, even if you already have your home loan with them – tell them you are considering moving as their rates aren’t competitive – watch them crawl all over you and compete to make you stay.

Improve your credit card situation

I have been living credit card free for a number of years now, although recently had to take out a card to help pay for a holiday. This means I have a debt, at a low interest rate and am now 100% focused on paying it off.
I rang my credit card provider, told them I wanted to transfer my debt to another company as my interest rate was high (it was actually one of the lowest) and that I wanted an interest free period to help me get on top of my debt.

The outcome? They gave me an interest free period on my debt, much like I would have got should I have refinanced with another company. That is big money saved.

Quit paying fees

While I was on the phone to my bank previously, I also mentioned that my everyday accounts all had monthly fees. I explained to them that a major bank was willing to waive these fees by simply depositing a minimum amount of money per month. My bank obliged and in turn matched that deal – I am now banking fee free with my bank of choice.

Making a big purchase (or a little purchase for that matter)

After coming back from my holiday, I needed to replace a camera accessory that I unfortunately broke. I went into JB Hi Fi, found the item (valued of $280) and told the sales person I am willing to buy right now if they can give it to me for $200. Sounds stupid right? They conceded and processed the sale. A saving of $80 in just 15 seconds, not a bad saving!

The moral of the story?

If you don’t ask, you don’t get. Take a second to evaluate your finances, chuck a sick day and spend the day trying to improve your finances. A few phone calls and practice at asking the unthinkable can result in some big savings.