'I'm the "bargain hunter" of my friend group. These are my 5 foolproof money-saving hacks.'

Thanks to our brand partner, ONEPASS

Mastering the art of stretching your dollar is crucial in these tricky economic times.

Through trial and error, I've found ways to save myself thousands over the years. But don't get it twisted — being savvy with your savings doesn't mean being stingy. For me, it's all about identifying your values and finding ways to spend less on the things that don't bring you joy and drain your bank account so you can put your hard-earned dollars towards the things you care about.

From forming food co-ops to making strategic phone calls, here are five foolproof money-saving hacks that have earned me 'bargain hunter' status among my mates — and could save you serious cash too.

Get a membership that contains multitudes.

If you're not using OnePass, you might want to. So let me fill you in on how it can save you a pretty penny — without any added stress.

Here's how it works. You can sign up to OnePass by nabbing a $20 yearly membership (this price is only available for a limited time so don't sleep on it). Once you've locked in your membership, you'll get access to incredible offers and FREE (!!!) delivery from some of your favourite stores including Kmart, Target, Bunnings Warehouse, Officeworks and Priceline Pharmacy.

Not only can a OnePass membership help you save money, it can also make shopping trips quicker and easier. But it doesn't stop there. Shopping with OnePass can help you earn five times the Flybuys points on every in-store or click-and-collect purchase at Kmart, Target, Bunnings and Officeworks.

Join a veggie co-op.

If you're lucky enough to live in close proximity to some of your mates, consider forming a veggie co-op. This is something I've done for years and I cannot overstate how affordable it was and how much money it saved me.

Here's how it worked. Eight households joined forces to take turns doing a weekly bulk fruit and veg shop at the local farmers' markets. When it's your turn to shop, you spend $200 on produce, divide the goodies among eight boxes and then drop the fresh food off at the participating households. On the other seven weeks in the rotation, your mates each take turns doing the same so you'll have beautiful seasonal boxes of fruit and veg on your doorstep every week.

That's $200 on an ABUNDANCE of fresh goodies over eight weeks which works out to $25 a week. Unreal.

Call your service providers.

A former colleague of mine shared this strategy with me. She told me how she's saved a bunch of cash every year simply by making a few key phone calls, letting companies know she's reviewing her options and asking if they can offer her a better deal on her service.

Here's who she says to ring:

• Your internet provider

• Your health insurance company (and any other insurance you might have)

• Your phone provider

• Your energy provider

And yes, making these calls might feel like homework. But trust me, the effort is worth the reward.

In my experience, many providers are willing to offer you special rates and discounts to keep you as a customer. So pop a reminder in your calendar to give them an annual call and let them know you're looking at other potential providers.

Sign up to newsletters.

Many people would say the last thing they need is more emails. But when they come with discount codes for your next purchase, it's worth it — particularly if you have a big ticket item on your shopping list.

If you're in the market to buy something new online, there are loads of places that'll offer you 10–15 per cent off your first purchase simply by signing up to their newsletter. And if it's an expensive item like a new couch, a winter coat or a piece of tech, this can end up shaving quite a significant amount of cash off the price.

Round up your spending.

This could be the low-effort savings hack you've been searching for. Something I've been doing for years now is rounding up my daily purchases and over time these little amounts have stacked up. Plus, many banks have this as a feature which you can simply turn on and off in your banking app when it suits you.

Here's how it works: you can choose to round up your daily purchases to the nearest dollar or $5 (whatever works for your budget) and the difference between the purchase price and the nearest dollar will be added to your selected savings account.

That 25 cents here and 80 cents there might seem insignificant but they quietly accumulate into something substantial over time. And the beauty is you'll barely notice these tiny amounts leaving your account but your savings will tell a different story.

Check out OnePass to enjoy more value from your favourite brands.

T&Cs, exclusions and eligibility criteria apply. Free delivery with no minimum spend on eligible items and orders. Not all participating brands offer all member benefits.

OnePass $20 membership offer ends 11.59pm AEST 19 June 2025, unless extended. $40 per year thereafter unless cancelled. Offer not available to current OnePass members.

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Get more value from the brands you shop. OnePass is now $20 a year. Limited time offer. T&Cs apply.