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10 budgeting tips to save you time and money

Tips and tricks to help you create a budget and stick to it to meet your savings goals.

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Andrew Munro

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Alison Banney
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A budget is a spending plan which helps you understand your real financial position, so you're not spending more than you're earning.

10 quick budgeting tips

  1. Use a budgeting app
  2. Analyse past spending
  3. Make sure you're earning interest
  4. Consider a digital account
  5. Pair up with a budget buddy
  6. Use cash
  7. Learn about micro-investing
  8. Pay yourself
  9. Set realistic goals
  10. Adjust your budget constantly

Now let's go into more detail on each of these tips.

Top 10 budget tips: explained

1. Get a budgeting app

Are you excited to pull out receipts, scribble figures into tables and assess your spending in painstaking detail? Didn’t think so.

Thanks to apps, you don’t need to anymore. There are dozens of these clever tools available for free, and they can automate the hard parts. With an app, all you have to do is key in your expenses of the day and let the app handle the rest. At the end of the month it will have everything in one place for you to review. The Finder app lets you see all of your money in one place and also helps you save by finding better deals across products, like your credit cards and savings accounts. Pocketbook is another popular choice, but there are other options too.

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2. Analyse your past spending for quick wins

Take a look at your spending habits over the last few months. You can do this by looking at your transaction history in your mobile banking app or Internet banking. Try to group your spending into categories such as eating out, entertainment, online shopping, grocery stores etc. You should be able to see where you're overspending. Perhaps you thought you didn't eat out as much as you actually are? Or, maybe you're visiting the grocery store each day and spending more than you would if you did the grocery shopping for the entire week in one go.

The truth is that having a budget doesn't mean you need to cut out "bad" spending. Instead, you should simply budget for it. Set yourself a daily, weekly or monthly allowance for certain expenses and then stick to it. You can set a budget to suit your habits, but you can also let your habits shift to suit your budget. You don't have to cut these expenses from your routine when you can adjust them instead.

3. Make sure your money is earning lots of interest

If you've got a savings account, look up what interest rate it's currently paying (it'll say this in your banking app or via Internet banking). By switching to a high interest savings account you could be earning more interest on every dollar you save. This can really add up over an entire year, and you could be hundreds of dollars better off (depending on your balance).

Promoted
Savings account offer
Savings account offer
Promoted
1.50 % p.a.
max rate
0.10 % p.a.
standard variable rate
  • Maximum rate: 1.5% p.a.
  • Standard variable rate: 0.1% p.a.
  • Monthly fees: $0

Virgin Money Boost Saver (25+ year olds)

Go to site More info
Go to site More info
Intro rate of up to 1.50% p.a. for the first 3 months and an ongoing bonus rate of 1.20% p.a. thereafter when monthly criteria is met (T&Cs apply). To earn these bonus rates customers aged 25+ need to deposit at least $2,000/month into your bundled Virgin Money Go Transaction Account and make 5+ transactions/month.

Compare high interest savings accounts below

Data updated regularly
Name Product Maximum Variable Rate p.a. Standard Variable Rate p.a. Bonus Interest p.a. Fees
Virgin Money Boost Saver (25+ year olds)
Virgin Money Boost Saver (25+ year olds)
1.5%
0.1%
1.4%
$0
Intro rate of up to 1.50% p.a. for the first 3 months and an ongoing bonus rate of 1.20% p.a. thereafter when monthly criteria is met (T&Cs apply). To earn these bonus rates customers aged 25+ need to deposit at least $2,000/month into your bundled Virgin Money Go Transaction Account and make 5+ transactions/month.
Go to site
More Info
Rabobank High Interest Savings Account
Rabobank High Interest Savings Account
1.35%
0.25%
1.1%
$0
Maximum variable rate of 1.35% p.a. for 4 months, reverting to a rate of 0.25% p.a. No deposit or withdrawal conditions. Available on balances below $250,000
Go to site
More Info
MyState Bank Bonus Saver Account
MyState Bank Bonus Saver Account
1.1%
0.05%
1.05%
$0
Ongoing, variable 1.2% p.a. when you deposit at least $20 into the account each month and make 5 or more Visa Debit card transactions from a linked MyState transaction account. Bonus interest available on balances up to $250,000.
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More Info
Great Southern Bank Home Saver Account
Great Southern Bank Home Saver Account
0.95%
0.05%
0.9%
$0
Ongoing, variable 0.95% when you deposit at least $2,000 into a linked Everyday Snap Account each month and make 5 or more Visa Debit card transactions per month. Bonus interest available on balances up to $250,000.
Go to site
More Info
AMP Saver Account
AMP Saver Account
1.16%
0.01%
1.15%
$0
Earn an ongoing variable 1.16% p.a. when you deposit at least $250 a month, with no monthly spend requirements to meet. Available on balances up to $250,000.
Go to site
More Info
Bank of Queensland Fast Track Starter Account (for 14-24 year olds only)
Bank of Queensland Fast Track Starter Account (for 14-24 year olds only)
2.5%
0.05%
2.45%
$0
Only available to those aged 14-24. Ongoing, variable 2.5% p.a. when you link to an BOQ Day2Day Plus Account, deposit $200+ into the Day2Day account each month from an external account and make 5 eligible transactions a month. Max bonus interest applies on balances up to $10,000. Balances between $10,001 and $250,000 will earn a lower bonus rate. Base rate applies on balances over $250,000.
Go to site
More Info
Citibank Online Saver
Citibank Online Saver
1.1%
0.35%
0.75%
$0
Introductory rate of 1.1% p.a. for 4 months, reverting to a rate of 0.35% p.a. Available on balances Up to $500,000.
Go to site
More Info
Virgin Money Boost Saver (18-24 year olds)
Virgin Money Boost Saver (18-24 year olds)
1.5%
0.1%
1.4%
$0
Intro rate of up to 1.50% p.a. for the first 3 months and an ongoing bonus rate of 1.20% p.a. thereafter when monthly criteria is met (T&Cs apply). To earn these bonus rates customers aged 18-24 need to deposit at least $1,000/month into your bundled Virgin Money Go Transaction Account and make 5+ transactions/month.
Go to site
More Info
Bank of Queensland Fast Track Saver Account
Bank of Queensland Fast Track Saver Account
1.05%
0.05%
1%
$0
Ongoing, variable 1.05% p.a. when you link to an BOQ Day2Day Plus Account, deposit $1,000+ into the Day2Day account each month from an external account and make 5+ eligible transactions per month. Available on balances up to $250,000.
Go to site
More Info
Virgin Money Grow Saver
Virgin Money Grow Saver
0.65%
0.1%
0.55%
$0
Earn an ongoing variable 0.65% p.a. each month you make at least one deposit of any amount and no more than one withdrawal.
Go to site
More Info
Bank of Queensland WebSavings Account
Bank of Queensland WebSavings Account
1%
0.05%
0.95%
$0
Introductory rate of 1% p.a. for 4 months, reverting to the standard rate of 0.05% p.a. for balances between $2,000 and $5,000,000.
Go to site
More Info
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4. Consider a digital bank account

There's a bunch of new digital banks available in Australia which offer modern apps with budgeting and savings features. These bank accounts will analyse your spending for you throughout the month, and group your expenses into categories so you can see where your money is going. Some of these banking apps also let you enter in your own savings goals, and the app will help you stay on track to meet these by keeping an eye on your balance and alerting you when you're overspending. Take a look at our digital bank comparison to learn more.

5. Get a budgeting buddy

If you’re fighting a war against your own spending habits, call in some backup. Just like going to the gym with someone else keeps you accountable, budgeting is easier with a support system. It could be a partner, friend, family member, financial coach or almost anyone else in the same boat as you. They can help keep you on track if you find yourself backsliding or overspending, so don’t underestimate the power of moral support. And don’t underestimate how much you can learn from each other either. Share useful tricks that worked for you and they might do the same. Support groups like Debtors Anonymous mean almost anyone can find an understanding crowd to help them change their habits.

6. Use cash

If you struggle to stick to your budget because tapping your debit card is just so easy, keep spending simple with cold hard cash. No credit, no fees and no way to spend more than you have. Set aside a certain amount of money each week and withdraw enough cash to see you through, with whatever kind of discretionary spending buffer, if any, you think is right. Save your credit cards for emergencies and don’t buy it until you can pay for it in cash to automatically change your own spending habits.

7. Leverage micro-investments

Micro-investments can simultaneously let you make investments and more easily balance the budget. The premise is simple: whenever you buy something, round it up to the nearest dollar and invest the excess in the share market or in a high interest savings account. This adds up over time, letting you continually invest even if you’re living on a tight budget. For example, round up a coffee that costs $2.60 and deposit the extra 40 cents. Do this every day and over the course of a year you’ve invested $146 with relatively little effort. This can all be done near-automatically with investing apps like Raiz Invest, or banking apps like ING's.

8. Pay yourself

Paying yourself might seem like a surprising way to save money, but a good budget can (and should!) allow for it. Instead of drawing from your living expenses account for luxuries, consider setting up a special account for these. Many banks will let you segment and set up your accounts as desired. Pay 10% (or however much you can) of your typical income into this special fund every time you get paid, and use only this account for non-budgeted expenses. Consider keeping up with a separate savings account as well and combining the two to pay for big expenses like holidays.

9. Set achievable goals

If you don't set goals that are achievable, you're setting yourself up for failure.

  • You need to set realistic goals. Don’t plan on halving your body weight in a week, and don’t plan on cutting your budget by 80% unless you actually think it’s possible. The money has to come from somewhere.
  • You need to stick with it. A lot of people diet until they lose weight, then quit the diet and immediately bounce right back to their former size. Likewise, a lot of people budget carefully until they’re out of debt and then figure they can go right back to their old ways. If circumstances change, adjust your budget rather than throwing it out entirely.

10. Adjust your goals if you don’t meet them

If you managed to perfectly nail your budget down to the last cent on your first try then neither this guide, nor this world, was meant for you. If you didn’t, you’re just like everyone else. Some of the things that end up in your budget might simply be unfeasible or inaccurate. You may have misquoted how much you spent, set an unattainable budget or forgotten to consider important expenses. Don’t panic – it’s okay to make amendments. This is not cheating, and is in fact a normal part of keeping a budget. Your spending needs and financial situation will naturally evolve and your budget needs to keep up. Making amendments is a learning opportunity, and a chance to look at your expenses in a different light.

Don’t think of your budget as a necessary evil or a chore, but instead as a powerful ally in the fight for savings. If you haven’t already created a budget and aren’t doing anything else at the moment, start now.

Budgeting has several benefits

  • Budgeting is for everyone. Today, someone who doesn't budget is the odd one out. How else can you balance phone plans, credit card bills, mortgages, car payments, insurance, utilities, rent, groceries, travel expenses and the countless other day-to-day living expenses? Unless you're a genius and can work it all out in your head, budgeting might be essential.
  • Meet your savings goals quicker. A budget can help you get there faster by showing where your money is going and where you can make cuts.
  • Get a real picture of your finances. A lot of people think they're spending wisely only to check their budget at the end of the month and realise that they've still got a long way to go.
  • Keep improving your spending. Once you get used to following a budget, it'll become second nature and you'll continue your good savings habits naturally.

Have you got your budget set and now need help meeting it? Check out these 50 easy ways to save money.

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