If you\u2019re like most people, saving money doesn\u2019t come naturally.<\/strong><\/p>\n And when you\u2019re trying to put some extra money towards securing a deposit and a home loan, every dollar counts.\u00a0<\/span>But it needn\u2019t be so hard.<\/span><\/p>\n Check out these pain-free tips from\u00a0UBank to help you save extra money, without even realising it.<\/span><\/p>\n The problem with debit cards and credit cards is that you never physically see the money you\u2019re spending.<\/span><\/p>\n Tap, tap, and away you go. Retailers love it, but your bank balance and savings won\u2019t.<\/span><\/p>\n Take out a small amount of money at an ATM and use that to buy the things you need. Picture: Getty Images<\/p>\n<\/div>\n So why not go old-school, and deal only in cash? Take out a small amount of money at an ATM and use that to buy the things you need. Handing over actual notes is a small mental barrier that might stop you splurging.<\/span><\/p>\n Having larger notes, like $50 or $100, is another handy psychological deterrent, as many people are reluctant to break them.<\/span><\/p>\n Want to unlock some money you didn\u2019t even know you were spending? Sift through your quarterly bank statements, and look for recurring expenses that you no longer need.<\/span><\/p>\n How often do you sign up for a gym membership or an online subscription and then stop using it, but fail to shut off the weekly or monthly payments?<\/span><\/p>\n The same goes for bank fees. Are you being slugged with regular fees that you weren\u2019t aware of? Would you be better off with your money in a less costly account? It pays to check. <\/span><\/p>\n Would you be better off with your money in a less costly account? It pays to check. Picture: Getty Images<\/p>\n<\/div>\n It\u2019s a staggering statistic that 35% of Australians don\u2019t have a dedicated savings account, according to UBank\u2018s research.<\/span><\/p>\n If you don\u2019t, you stand a good chance of winding up living paycheck to paycheck, as your savings will never be separate from your living expenses.<\/span><\/p>\n So start by opening a savings account, and then set up an automatic transfer, so that a set percentage or amount of your weekly pay is transferred into the savings account on payday. <\/span><\/p>\n You won\u2019t miss that money, as you\u2019ll never actually see it in your day-to-day account, and you\u2019ll quickly learn how easy it is to live on slightly less each week, while banking thousands in savings every year.<\/span><\/p>\n It doesn\u2019t have to be a huge amount \u2013 $20 a week is better than nothing. It\u2019s about creating a habit, which is one of the fundamental principles for successful saving.<\/span><\/p>\n It\u2019s a staggering statistic that 35% of Australians don\u2019t have a dedicated savings account. Picture: Getty Images<\/p>\n<\/div>\n If you don\u2019t think you have the willpower to keep your finances on the straight and narrow, enlist the help of someone who will.<\/p>\n It needn\u2019t be difficult. Just write down your expenses each day and share them with a family member or friend. Giving someone else visibility over your finances can be a powerful way to stay disciplined about your spending.<\/p>\n Emotion can play a major part in impulse buying, and creating a reason to think twice about making those purchases could be enough to save you some significant money throughout the year.<\/p>\n If you want to save money well in advance, do your homework and seek out home loans<\/a> with lower interest rates. <\/span><\/p>\n All home loans are not created equal, and a home loan with a lower interest rate will save you tens of thousands in the long run, without you even noticing it\u2019s happening.<\/span><\/p>\n The easiest way to save money without even realising it is to simply spend less of it, which you can easily achieve by planning ahead and being organised.<\/p>\n For example, if you buy ingredients for all of your weekly meals at once, you could save more than $50 a week in comparison to doing four or five individual trips to the supermarket, as well as a couple of nights of eating out or ordering takeaway.<\/p>\n And rather than throw the leftovers away, slip them into a container and take them to work for lunch \u2013 there\u2019s another $10-15 you\u2019ve just pocketed without lifting a finger.<\/p>\n There are lots of little things you can do to save more money:<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n
\n <\/p><\/div>\n Realestate au <\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Use actual cash<\/h2>\n
![\"cash](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.realestate.com.au\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/08\/30131759\/cash-only-spending_2000x1500.jpg?resize=2000%2C1499&ssl=1\")
<\/p>\nCheck your bank statements<\/h2>\n
![\"check](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.realestate.com.au\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/08\/30131808\/check-bank-statements_2000x1500.jpg?resize=2000%2C1500&ssl=1\")
<\/p>\nSet up an automatic transfer<\/h2>\n
![\"bank](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.realestate.com.au\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/08\/30131751\/bank-transfer_2000x1500.jpg?resize=2000%2C1500&ssl=1\")
<\/p>\nMake yourself accountable<\/h2>\n
Seek out a cheaper loan<\/h2>\n
Be organised<\/h2>\n