Travel

I have just recently got back from a snowboard trip in New Zealand. The trip came up quite fast and I needed to organise it in little time. I had little money but knew I needed a sure fast way to save the cash. I came up with the "change in my wallet" plan firstly. I hate having change in my wallet so wherever I would go if I purchased an item that broke a note and gave me small change I would put it in a separate purse until I got home which then I would change it to a money box, after 4 months of doing this I ended up saving over $1,500… …I ended up saving $4,000 over 6 months. So that is how I saved enough money to go snow boarding. Rhiannon Kearsley QLD

In planning our travel around France on a budget, we packed a small thermos, a pocket knife and a small lightweight plastic chopping board. I also packed lots of Cup-of-Soups sachets (removed from their boxes) and teabags. This helped our budget enormously. We ate breakfast at our accommodation and had our thermos filled with hot water.  We would buy two baguettes, a couple of tomatoes and some cheese and that made lunch. Our thin chopping board was worth its weight in gold! Dinner was either soup with left over baguette or if the budget allowed, dinner could be eaten out. It was amazing how little this cost us each day, particularly if we bought at the market square. Carole Pyne NSW

Working

I began full time work last year after uni. I was daunted each time I saw my $40,000 debt created from HECS and a new car. I am earning less than $50,000 a year and found it really difficult to save at first. With my job I needed new clothes and had various expenses such as work functions. The car also wiped me out at first with insurance, rego etc. I decided to open up a second bank account for saving purposes. Part of my pay went into this each fortnight to cover car repayments which were $150. I put in $200 a fortnight and after a year, I had saved enough for insurance and rego without having to dip in to my regular funds. I am pleased to say I limited my spending after 6 months of full time work, and paid off my $20,000 car in 18 months. I have not stopped the $200 being put into the separate account however, as I felt I did not miss the money but certainly valued it at Christmas time! Lauren Ogden ACT

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