Under the microscope: your micro-transactions

When it comes to paying off your mortgage, many of us are in the dark as to where we should be making significant savings. A good place to start? Cutting down on ‘micro-transactions’.

The lure of micro-transactions – purchases that are low in cost and trivial in nature – can be a real obstacle for those trying to pay off their mortgage faster.

Indeed, while the cost of these transactions may seem infinitesimal in the grand scheme of things, they can add up to the equivalent price of that trip you always wanted to take, or the sophisticated new piece of technology you’re desperate to try.

Of course, there are a myriad of ways to pay of a mortgage sooner, including refinancing or downsizing.

For many of us, however, addressing our penchant for micro-transactions is surprisingly effective. Here are a few examples.

Takeaway coffee and bottled water

Picking up a hot cup of takeaway coffee in the morning is an irresistible slice of luxury for many of today’s busy workers.

However, while a cup only costs a few dollars, transactions can easily add up for caffeine addicts.

One $4 cup of coffee costs you $28 per week. Over one month that’s almost $120. Over a year it’s almost $1500.

Consider switching to home-brewed coffee in a flask. As well as saving you a lot of money, you’ll be saving the environment by avoiding disposable cups. The same can be said for bottled water.

The gym

Having a gym membership can make you feel virtuous and healthy, but how often do you actually make use of it?

If the answer is “not as much as I should” then you need to reconsider your membership.

The daily cost of a gym membership is about the same as a cup of coffee. That’s another $1500 each year right there.

The great thing about exercise is that it can be done for free – throw on some jogging shoes and think about all the cash you’re saving!

Household bills

There are plenty of possible ways you could be overpaying on household bills.

Many people still pay for a landline, for example, but the rise of the mobile has made domestic phones almost redundant.

And do you really need high speed NBN? Most of the Telcos are offering BYO mobile phone plans with endless data for about $60-$70 a month – with unlimited calls and texts.

Once you go past a 40GB cap your internet speed is reduced to 1.5Mbps – which is still fast enough to stream Netflix in standard definition, browse the web, and listen to music.

The best bit? Your smartphone can double as a hotspot modem to your other devices.

Other common ways of overspending on household bills include leaving electrical items on standby, using inefficient light bulbs or running the air conditioner 24/7.

Dig a little deeper into where your money is going on household bills and you could save a significant sum – enough to reduce your mortgage significantly each year.

Get in touch

If you’d like to find out other ways you can save on your mortgage – get in touch – we’d love to help out.