Top consumer tips to beat cost of living pressures

With ongoing cost of living pressures impacting household budgets, we’re sharing some tips to help you be a savvy consumer and save some money along the way.

• Use unit pricing when grocery shopping. Unit pricing shows the value of grocery items as a cost per standard unit of measurement. This is usually displayed on shelf labels. Use unit pricing to compare between brands, specials, pack sizes, between packaged and unpackaged, or fresh and frozen.
• Check fuel prices. While a lot of factors can influence the price you pay for fuel, having a quick look on one of these fuel price apps or websites will help you find the best deals in your area.
• Review your subscription services. These small monthly costs can soon add up, so cancel subscriptions you’re not using or not getting value from. For new subscriptions, be aware of any ongoing fees and check the cancellation process.
• Review your bills. Shop around for insurance and utilities to ensure you're getting the best deal or policy for your circumstances. New customers may be charged a lower amount, while others may end up paying a ‘loyalty or lazy tax’.
• Know your refund rights.  You are entitled to a refund, repair or replacement if a consumer guarantee is not met – e.g. if something you buy doesn’t work properly or last for a reasonable period of time. Talk to the business, describe the problem and explain how you would like them to fix it.
• Be scam aware. People can be more susceptible to scams during tough financial times. Ask yourself could the message or call be fake? And never give money or your personal information to anyone if unsure.

See more tips to help ease the cost of living: cbs.sa.gov.au/campaigns/savvy-consumer.