The cost of living is top of everyone's mind these days. And who can blame us, what with constant rate rises, and increases in rent; it seems everything is just going up in price.
We surveyed 1000 Australians to see just how the nation is feeling about the cost of living, and while it's pretty clear concerns about the rising cost of living is a concern for the majority of us, there might be a couple of easy switches and savings that are being overlooked.
In our survey we found that:
- 79% said they were concerned about the rising cost of living
- 77% said they were actively trying to save money
Almost 4 out of 5 Aussies are worried about the cost of living. However, despite this, our survey also found that:
- 39.4% said they would not consider an MVNO (Mobile Virtual Network Operator) or a smaller telco, such as ALDI, Kogan Mobile or Belong to save money
- 61% said they would not consider selling their current device for a cheaper model
- 23% of Aussies haven't changed their internet plan in over 5 years
- 40% said they don't even bother checking regularly for any deals when searching for a new internet or phone plan
- 28% said they don't wait for sales before buying items such as electronics and phones
MVNOs: who and what are they?
MVNOs (Mobile Virtual Network Operators) are any network operators that aren't the Big Three - Telstra, Optus and Vodafone. You might be aware of some already - Tangerine Telecom, amaysim, Boost Mobile, Lebara and Woolworths Mobile are all MVNOs.
Some people are wary of using MVNOs and almost 40% said they would never consider using one! People often think that if they swap to an MVNO their coverage will be worse. However, in Australia, we only have three networks - Telstra, Optus and Vodafone. MVNOs buy these network services at wholesale prices then they resell this service to the consumer.
Every MVNO uses the same network as the Big Three. The only exception is Telstra, which wholesales a slightly smaller network to its MVNOs with the exception of Boost, which has access to the full Telstra network.
Because MVNOs have lower overheads and don't usually stock handsets, they can offer the same basic products as the big brand telcos at much cheaper rates.
The trick to getting a great deal is to know which network gives you the best service at home and in your daily travels, then match this network with one of the low-cost providers.
So if you don't need the bells and whistles that the Big Three offer, like putting a handset on your plan, or discounted streaming services, then an MVNO can be a great alternative to saving some money.
Even finding a plan that's $10 cheaper will save you $120 over a year. Not bad hey?
Refurbished and cheaper phones
Once upon a time 'you get what you pay for' very much applied to your handset, but affordable phones have come a long way. There are plenty of great affordable devices on the market these days and you can even pick up a great handset for less than $500.
The trick is to work out what you want in your handset. Sometimes buying a cheaper model means a little bit of compromise, so having a hierarchy of needs will help you find the best phone for you. Do you love photography? A good quality camera will be at the top of your list. Do you have a habit of dropping your phone? Then you'll want something sturdy. Or if you need your phone to last the distance, then battery life will be your highest priority.
The same goes for refurbished phones - especially if you want a phone from the top end of town, but not the eye-watering price tag it comes with.
A refurbished phone is a second-hand device, but it's safer than just browsing through Facebook Marketplace and hoping for the best. Refurbished phone sellers like numobile, Boost Mobile, and Amazon put phones through their paces to make sure everything is working - from the camera to the touchscreen and microphone. You can even get refurbished iPhones!
This way you can be certain the phone you're buying isn't stolen, has no leftover personal data from the previous owner and is unlocked and ready to go.
Finding deals and sales
The saying 'patience is a virtue' is definitely relevant when it comes to finding items on sale, rather than buying as you find them. There are so many sales throughout the year - Black Friday, Cyber Monday, Telstra Day, eBay Tuesdays, EOFYS, Boxing Day sales, AfterPay Day… the list goes on. If you find an item - especially a costly one like a phone, laptop, tablet or TV, it can quite literally pay to wait for a sale and save some cash.
Our friends over at Reviews.org also have a weekly roundup of tech deals - from handsets to phone plans, gaming products, cameras, wearables and a plethora of other tech gadgets, so it's worth checking it out regularly to see if something on your to-buy list pops up.
Method: We surveyed 1000 Australians via Pollfish and asked them about the cost of living
Sources: Pollfish Survey
Kate Reynolds
Digital Content Editor
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