You’ve tackled your fixed costs — now it’s time to deal with the sneaky stuff.
If you haven’t already, check out my earlier posts:
➡️ 💡 5 Easy Budgeting Tips for Young Aussies
➡️ ✂️ 5 Fixed Costs You Can Reduce Without Giving Up Your Lifestyle
➡️ 📋 How I Organise My Budget Every Week
✨ Some of the links below are affiliate or referral links. If you sign up through them, I may earn a small bonus—at no extra cost to you. Thanks for supporting the blog! 💛
Unlike fixed costs (like rent or internet), variable costs change month to month — and that makes them easy to ignore. But trust me, even small tweaks here can add up fast.
I have a budgeting app I use and genuinely recommend — WeMoney. It’s a great all-in-one app that lets you link your accounts, track spending, check your credit score for free, and join a community for money tips and motivation.
💰 Use code LYWR5881 to get $5 when you sign up!
🍔 1. Dining Out & Takeaway
Let’s be real — UberEats and brunch dates can sneak up fast.
What to do:
- Set a monthly “fun food” cap (e.g. $150)
- Try batching meal prep or “fakeaway” nights at home
- Use ShopBack or Cashrewards for cashback when ordering
📱 2. Subscriptions
Spotify, Netflix, fitness apps… easy to forget, hard on your budget.
What to do:
- Review all active subs monthly
- Cancel anything unused in the last 30 days
- Use family or shared plans to save $$
🛍️ 3. Impulse Shopping
A scroll on TikTok = add to cart temptation 😩
What to do:
- Try the 30-hour rule: wait 30 hours before buying
- Add to wishlist instead of cart
- Unfollow high-spend influencer pages
🚌 4. Transport & Uber
I don’t drive, so I rely on public transport and the occasional Uber.
What to do:
- Walk more short trips (free cardio!)
- Get a Go Card in QLD — you’ll hit weekly caps (Lucky if you live in QLD now — 50 cents for all rides!)
- Travel off-peak when possible
💅 5. Beauty, Clothes & Self-Care
This one’s tricky because we all deserve a treat.
What to do:
- Set a monthly “fun” budget for beauty or fashion
- Track it using WeMoney, my go-to free finance app
👉 Use referral codeNAMONEYwhen signing up to get a little bonus
(It also helps support my blog 💚)
🧠 How to Start (Without the Stress)
- Choose one category to focus on this week
- Set a cap or weekly limit
- Track your spending (WeMoney or Notes app — both work!)
- Do a weekly check-in — mine takes just 10 mins every Sunday
💬 Final Thoughts
You don’t need to be perfect. Controlling variable costs is about mindfulness, not missing out.
Once you’ve got these under control, you’ll start to feel more confident — and your savings will thank you!
See you in the next post,
— N
🪙 N’s Money Corner | Aussie Money Tips
