k1ooo, re the 7 Eleven fuel app. For people that don't know, it scans your closest 5 servos. The 5th servo could be hundreds of miles away depending on where you are. The lock in is valid for 7 days and can be used anywhere in the country, but only once. My best saving was 90c/litre. I decided to check the prices at my destination location and they were horrendously higher. So, I filled up here, then locked in the cheap price, knowing I'd need to fill up to come home. The servo attendant was very impressed by the saving! On Thursday, I saved 19c/L. I was happy with that! Better than 4c at Woolies.
Countess, while we don't use the Woolies insurance, we changed over to Woolies Mobile for the phones a couple of years ago. It also means we get 10% off each month. Sometimes it can be quite a significant saving and it definitely adds up over the year.
k1ooo, re your mention of the Woolies mobile. We both switched over a couple of years ago. It runs on the Telstra network, so mostly reliable. Only had one time it go down, and that was for about half an hour. We have prepaid phones. We get 16GB of data and unlimited phone calls for $20 a month. Even without the home NBN, there is no way we'd get through 16GB in a month! Any unused data carries over to next month.
Spingy's mention of the herbs. Yes, it's awesome to have fresh chemical free herbs. BUT, NEVER put them in your garden. Herbs are essentially weeds, and grow that way. My, what once were beautiful, raised garden beds have been completely over run with herbs. Rosemary and Sage are generally OK, but most will take over everything, so leave them in pots. Especially Marjoram, Thyme and Oregano. As for the coriander Springy, it needs to be planted in winter. By around mid December, it starts to go to seed. Collect those seeds in Jan/Feb for next year's crop! I live in a cold climate that gets heavy frosts and occasional snow. I plant my coriander seeds in July. Oh, and case you didn't know, celery can be frozen! I have my step daughter to thank for telling me that.
From me: Turn your blasted lights off! I have been to so many homes where every single light is on, when it's not necessary. Once dinner is over, we have the light in the rangehood on in the kitchen, and a low voltage smart light lamp in the loungeroom. I don't get the need for lights blazing right throughout the house well into the night.
For cars, refill up when the tank gets to half. A car will use more fuel per KM once it's under half. No idea why, but they do.
If something is on sale, buy extra. You'll use it. If it's perishables, freeze them. Yes, you can freeze celery!
As far as energy bills go, we now pay an amount fortnightly to avoid bill shock. At the moment we are $1200 in front with the gas, and $900 in front with the power. Apparently we are 2 years in front with the land rates! I have the payments set up as a Bpay in my bank, so I'm not physically having to remember to pay them, it happens automatically every fortnight. It's only a small amount each fortnight, but gee it's taken the pressure off. Yes, I can get the excess money back from the utilities if I want it, but I'd rather stay in credit. I have reduced the fortnightly payments so more stays in my bank, while staying in credit. I no longer dread utility bills!
