Good evening frugal living followers! This is the Monthly Update collating some featured posts & comments on the subreddit for the previous month, plus some extra stuff that will help you in your frugal journey!
If you have any ideas to suggest to be featured in the monthly post, please send message to moderators or comment below.
This has been said by the Australian Taxation Office (ATO) every time. Every year, they recommend taxpayers not to lodge their tax returns tax returns until their income statement is marked as ‘tax ready’ and data has been pre-filled by the ATO, or around late July.
Yes it’s tempting to get your tax refund early (if you know you have one), but we think it’s best to listen to the tax man. The hassle to amend your tax return once lodged is the last thing on your mind.
Welcome to the start of the new financial year. If anyone asks, we are currently in the 2026 – 2027 financial year, starting from 1 July 2026 until 30 June 2027.
There are lots of changes happening on 1 July! We can’t cover all of them, so here’s a summary for some of the changes!
With Payday Super taking effect from 1 July 2026, employees should check their super and all their details are up to date to ensure they are receiving their retirement savings from their employers.
What is Payday Super?
From 1 July 2026 onwards, employers will be required to pay their employees’ superannuation guarantee (SG) at the same time as their salary and wages. Super contributions will need to reach funds within seven business days of payday. This means that employees can now track their super rather than waiting every quarterly.
If you’re a small business or employer, more information regarding Payday Super can be located on the Australian Taxation Office (ATO) website.
The Fair Work Commission announced an increase to the National Minimum Wage and minimum award wages.
From 1 July 2026, the National Minimum Wage will be:
$1004.90 per week, or
$26.44 per hour.
For more information including the minimum award wages, and using other tools and guides relating to this change, refer to the Fair Work Ombudsman website.
From 1 July 2026, eligible families who are able to access Parental Leave Pay (funded by the Government) will increase from 120 days (24 weeks) to 130 days (26 weeks).
PPL is administered by Services Australia. For further information about how PPL works including eligibility criteria, refer to the Services Australia website:
Increase of the Medicare levy surcharge thresholds
The Medicare Levy Surcharge (MLS) is a levy paid by Australian tax payers who do not have private hospital cover and who earn above a certain income.
From 1 July 2026, the base income thresholds at which the MLS starts will increase from $101,000 to $105,000 for singles, and from $202,000 to $210,000 for families.
The federal government has confirmed that the fuel excise rebate has been extended, with a smaller discount. The 50 per cent discount, which has knocked 32 cents off each litre of petrol, will drop back to 16 cents between July 1 and August 2, before tapering off altogether.
A meal kit or food box is a subscription service – food service business model where a company sends customers pre-portioned and sometimes partially prepared food ingredients and recipes to prepare home-cooked meals. There are also options where you can already receive pre made meals, or fruit/vegetable boxes.
Examples of popular meal kits/food box include: HelloFresh, Marley Spoon, Quitelike, The Food Box, Good and Fugly, Lite n' Easy
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For your information...
This is the Megathread for all referrals relating to food box/meal kits only.
This Megathread will refresh on a weekly basis, usually on a Monday.
If you are looking for any food box/meal kits referrals, this is the place to ask.
All other food related referrals that is NOT food box/meal kits should be shared in the All other Referrals Megathread.
No "DM me for the codes" of the sort.
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See here an excellent post for a guide on churning food boxes/meal kits
My daughter and I came across this youtube clip that examines some of Australia's most popular chocolate brands. The clip looks at whether or not the brands still deserve their reputation. We were horrified at the brands (we purchase) that have reduced quality through shrinkflation, recipe changes (such as replacing ingredients), and putting up the prices. The youtube clip is balanced as it doesn't criticise brands, instead it recommends alternatives such as Whitaker's, Haigh's, and Moser Roth (Aldi). Worth a watch.
TL;DR: Was with AGL for years on their "Smart Saver" plan (gas + electricity, inner Sydney/Ausgrid).
I was paying almost to the dollar the Default Market Offer — the regulated maximum. I asked them to do better. Their big retention "offer" had one of the highest supply charges in the network, gas rates higher than what I'm already on, and $150 of one-off credits to make it look generous. When I called it out, they said "best and final."
I finally sat down and actually read my plan. First gut-punch:
My electricity works out to ~$1,898/yr at the AER's reference usage. The Ausgrid DMO this year is $1,899. I was sitting on the legal maximum, to the dollar. If you never switch, they just leave you there.
So I asked for better. Paraphrasing, they said: "great news, we can offer you our Energy Select plan, $150 sign-up credits per service!" Sounded good until I worked it out.
Electricity usage rate drops ~25%… but they quietly bumped the daily supply charge from 113c to 143c/day which is among the highest in the entire Ausgrid network. That's a fixed charge you can't dodge by using less.
Every single gas rate in the "offer" is HIGHER than my current plan. Usage up ~2.5%, supply up 5.4%. Their "deal" makes my gas more expensive.
The $150 credits are one-off and dribbled out over 12 months — front-loading a worse deal so it looks generous for year one, then you're stuck on higher rates forever.
So "the best plan available to you" was electricity at the regulated max, a top-of-network supply charge, and a gas price increase, held together with temporary credits.
I laid all this out to them. Their reply, in writing: best and final, can't lower the supply charge, can't beat my current gas rates, no extra credits.
Disconnecting all three this week: gas, electricity AND internet.
PSA if you're still on a "default"-ish plan:
Check what you actually pay vs the DMO. Retailers will happily park you at the maximum indefinitely.
Use Energy Made Easy (the government site) with your real usage. The private comparison sites only list retailers who pay them.
You don't need to call your old retailer to leave. Sign up with the new one and they handle the switch.
If you have Uber Eats, check out Coles. They have lots of discounted items at the moment.
I just purchased 2 packs of salmon at 40% off, with a use by date of 29/07. Although not exactly 40% off the store price of $19, but at $14.58, it’s still cheaper.
I also bought eggs, Yakult, beef stir fry, chicken nuggets.
Paid with 2x $50 Uber gift voucher that I bought from ShopBack at 8% cashback (the 8% cashback is only for $50, all other denominations are 2% cashback only).
The delivery person left the Cole’s receipt inside the bag, and it was $130. It was only $85 out of pocket for me, despite a $6.99 service fee. I didn’t pay a delivery fee as I have Uber One (free membership through commbank).
Hope this helps someone.
EDIT: I probably didn’t make it clear, so I only paid $85, but it was $130 worth of items because that’s how much it cost the whole shop according to the Coles Receipt. But I only spent $85 due to all the internal uber eats discounts.
Very annoying that I missed getting everything bought during that time. I assume right after the sales, like now, everything is basically back up to full price so worst possible time to buy?
How long until you think sellers will start giving some discounts again? I need to get stuff in the following categories:
-tech - I want to pick this stuff up in store so no online.
Photos are required in the app, which is great for assessing the condition of the items, and a broad approximation of the area is given also, helping you easily pinpoint where the location is.
You're given a local radius of issues too, so you won't need to travel too far to haul something back.
I've got a near brand new couch and mostly furnished my place using this method, and it's good knowing you've spent nothing on furniture and helped save another item from the landfill.
We are going on a family holiday to Bali, and a Virgin Australia Flight was leaving 2 hours after the Jetstar flight, at around $500 cheaper. (total for a family of 2a 2c) but would mean arriving in Brisbane at 11pm instead of 9pm. I was about to book the virgin flight and cop the more gruelling flight time, but i remembered the jetstar price beat deal!
submitted the price beat through the portal https://www.jetstar.com/au/en/price-beat-guarantee and within about 20 mins they got back and offered us the original jetstar flight time we preferred, but 10% cheaper than the Virgin flight! Happy customers :)
Not spon, I'm just a tight ass who really hates juggle between price and convenience when travelling with kids.
Ladies and gentlemen, it’s with a heavy heart that I announce the second-hand Westinghouse that’s faithfully served us for 10+ years and survived three house moves is finally on its way out. Judging by the noises it’s making, I reckon the compressor’s on its last legs.
So, what’s everyone buying these days if you want something that’ll last?
Also, has anyone bought through Appliances Online? They seem to get a lot of love, but I’d be keen to hear people’s experiences before I pull the trigger.
For those who have red rooster avail, they're currently running a special for $10 whole chooks, Monday to Wednesday. Two chooks per person per day limit. You can get it Thursday and Friday too, but have a $15 min spend on other items.
Not avail online or delivery.
They are larger, and in many opinions, better than colesworth chooks.
Depending on the price per kg of whole raw chickens, you are getting a not bad deal for a little effort. Strip the meat, keep the bones for stock. You've got lunch meat, dinner/s.
Good luck to all, and cash in on this deal - running til mid August!
I’m still getting used to it but selling my (old) car is saving me at least $300 a month! I live in Brisbane where public transport (sucks but) is so cheap, I really had no excuse. Also I no longer have to put up with all the angry Ford Ragers and the like on the road, it’s peaceful!
The two things I miss are being able to see my 84 year old dad (he lives waaaay across the city and I haven’t figured out a way to see him that doesn’t take 2.5hr commute each way), and how to buy Groceries for cheap online.
I am lucky: I have
Amazon Prime
DoorDash (they do deliver from IGA and Woolies near me)
Costco
It is taking me so long to figure out how best to shop online! My major expenses are food for me (I don’t eat much, and am very boring, I can eat the same thing 3-4 nights a week). I can cook but don’t really know how to cook for one (am recently single); food for my dog (spend more on his food than on mine) and basic household goods like laundry detergent, paper towels, loo paper, that kind of thing.
WWYD if you were me? I am a pensioner, it’s hard.
Edit/Update (15 hrs later) Hey thanks everyone for the inputs. My takeaway is this: I’m gonna try to use go get once a week if I can. It’s worth it just to see Dad. You all mentioned that is the number one thing and I agree. During Dad Day (smiles) I can also do grocery shopping (I usually pick a couple of things up for dad too) and realise it might be a nice day spent if I can cook him some good home-cooked meals in the Dutch oven… .enough for dinner and leftovers. Other than that, I can walk easily to the local Coles and Woolies, and yeah, DoorDash needs to end. I was very depressed and used them far too much lately.
Anyway, thanks so much Aussiefrugal! You’re the best!
So I don't know if this is how the referral codes work when it comes to utility/service companies like power and internet. But if you get enough people to sign on using your code to equal the amount of your bill and they do ongoing credit for sign up. Does this mean eventually you will reach a point that your monthly bill is free? Or like it's a once off
Can anyone recommend an alternative to Explorer socks?
I tried Australian Knitting Mills after seeing a comment on here but the seam is loosely stitched and you can see your toe through it, I cant see them lasting more than 3-4 months.
I bought Tradies a few years ago and they didn't last 6 months.
I do like Explorer socks but they just don't go the distance since Bonds merged with Holeproof.
A meal kit or food box is a subscription service – food service business model where a company sends customers pre-portioned and sometimes partially prepared food ingredients and recipes to prepare home-cooked meals. There are also options where you can already receive pre made meals, or fruit/vegetable boxes.
Examples of popular meal kits/food box include: HelloFresh, Marley Spoon, Quitelike, The Food Box, Good and Fugly, Lite n' Easy
🥬🥬🥬🥬🥬🥬🥬🥬🥬🥬🥬🥬🥬🥬🥬🥬🥬🥬🥬🥬🥬🥬🥬🥬🥬🥬🥬🥬🥬🥬
For your information...
This is the Megathread for all referrals relating to food box/meal kits only.
This Megathread will refresh on a weekly basis, usually on a Monday.
If you are looking for any food box/meal kits referrals, this is the place to ask.
All other food related referrals that is NOT food box/meal kits should be shared in the All other Referrals Megathread.
No "DM me for the codes" of the sort.
🥙🥙🥙🥙🥙🥙🥙🥙🥙🥙🥙🥙🥙🥙🥙🥙🥙🥙🥙🥙🥙🥙🥙🥙🥙🥙🥙🥙🥙🥙
See here an excellent post for a guide on churning food boxes/meal kits
On special at the good guys with $60 off their special price + through their gold service extras for 5 years I get $300 in total store credit+ 4.5% discount through gift cards.
I currently have a delonghi distinta ( using supermarket ground coffee) and looking to upgrade . Is this the best all in one and appropriately priced deal right now ?
Hi! So my little nespresso capsule machine is leaking, and I'm feeling a bit guilty about the non-reusable coffee pods too.
I'd like a machine that has grinding built in and a milk frother - not sure I'm up for a milk steamer nozzle just yet. Accepted that I'll need to tamp the ground beans, but an easy to clean option would be great.
