1000 s OF CURATED GIFTS FROM
SMALL, CREATIVE SELLERS
Sunday 18th December, 10am–5pm.
Free entry.
The Entertainment Quarter, Moore Park, SydneyPhotography by Robin Hearfield/bauersyndication.com.au (documents, pencils), Chris Warnes/bauersyndication.com.au (cup).
than $34,000. You should also make sure
you’re in a fund that suits your individual
situation. If you have plonked your
superannuation into your employer’s fund
without any research, it may be time to take
a closer look. Check a research site such as
http://www.supersav v y.com.au or http://www.selecting
super.com.au; they can give you the lowdown
on performance and show you exactly how
your fund compares in the greater scheme
of things. And when you are analysing
performance, make sure that you consider
the long term.5
Pay less for the essentials. Too many
people stay with the same providers
over the years when they could be
getting more for their money. Websites such
as http://www.energ ymadeeasy.gov.au and http://www.
energ ywatch.com.au are useful for checking
whether you are getting the best deal on
electricity and gas. For example, Energ y
Made Easy states that a family of four from
Braddon in the ACT could save about $360
per year by switching from the most
expensive to the cheapest electricity offer.
There is also a range of alternative
electricity plans on the market, such as
Powershop, a prepaid electricity provider,
and Mojo Power, a provider that offers
electricity at wholesale rates. If you’re a big
energ y user, these services could help you
get ahead on your budget. You can also
do comparisons for insurance (see http://www.
iselect.com.au and http://www.comparethemarket.
com.au) and phone/internet providers (www.
whistleout.com.au is an excellent tool).
Sometimes, however, comparison sites
may not work to your advantage. If you’re
looking for a cheap holiday, research
suggests that you might actually be better
off calling hotels directly for the cheapest
deal. Hotels pay comparison sites large
premiums, so there’s a good chance you
could beat the cheapest offer by negotiating
directly over the phone. #