Save for the next big thing

Stockpile your savings for the future

Want to reduce your living costs, or put a little extra away to combat rising inflation? Check out our tips for freeing up cash and maximising your savings. Your dreams could be just around the corner – make sure your money is too!

iSave account

High interest. Withdraw anytime.

Reward Saver account

No account fees. Bonus interest.

Term deposit

Limit access. Guarantee interest.

Want to know more?

If you’re ready to kick-start your savings journey, we’d love to chat about how we can help make your savings dreams come true.

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1. Get clear on where you are

Before we get down into the nitty gritty of building a more savings-focused life, you need to understand your expenses. Set aside time to go through your bank statements and categorise your expenses across a normal year.

Use our budget planner to record your spending across various categories against your income, then divide by 12 to get your average monthly living expenses. What remains is what you’re currently able to save if your spending habits remain the same.

Some questions for you to consider:

Are there obvious areas where you can reduce your spending?
Based on your current spending and saving habits, how much could you save in six months, a year or two years?

Do more with your money

Budget planner

Take control of your finances with our budget planning tool.

2. Figure out where you want to be

Write down your savings goals and when you want to reach them. How much would you need to save each fortnight or month to reach your goals?

If you’re on track to reach your goals, keep up the good work!

If your savings goals are greater than your current saving ability, it’s time to make some changes to your income or your spending. Alternatively, you might need to focus on a one or two goals at a time, or give yourself more time to save.

Save for an emergency

Your very first savings goal should be to build an ‘emergency fund’ – a dedicated chunk of savings for the unexpected.

Aim to save enough to cover three months of expenses, then six months if you can. With that money squirreled away you’ll be well placed to face whatever life has to throw at you, without relying on credit cards or loans.

3. Boost your savings with interest

Now that you know where you are and where you’re heading, it’s time to think about where you’re putting your hard-earned cash.

Getting serious about saving means putting aside the old piggy bank. Instead, find yourself a high interest savings account so you can keep your cash safe, and help it grow over time.

Try to find an account where the interest rate is roughly in line with inflation to make sure your savings can keep up with the real world.

Interest rates

Look for the highest interest rate you can to make sure your money is working as hard as you are – and try to match inflation if you can.

Bonus interest

Some accounts will offer higher interest rates if you meet criteria like no withdrawals or regular deposits – snag one if you can.

Minimum deposits

Lots of savings accounts have a minimum amount that needs to be deposited each month, so make sure you’ll be able to meet it.

Fees & charges

Avoid accounts that charge fees that would eat into your savings over time – there are now plenty of fee-free options out there.

Accessibility

Some accounts limit your ability to withdraw cash – which can be good or bad, depending on your situation and savings strategy.

Convenience

Features like automatic transfers, linked accounts and mobile banking will make it easier to grow and track your savings over time.

4. Choose an account to grow your savings

As you can see, no matter what stage of life you’re at, getting serious about saving means putting aside the old piggy bank.

Once you’ve got a sense of the features you’re looking for in a savings account, get out there and find your perfect match!

5. Consider a term deposit

If you’ve got a decent chunk of change sitting in your savings, it might be worth thinking about a term deposit.

A term deposit is somewhere between a savings account and an investment: you agree to store your money with a bank for a certain amount of time, in exchange for a fixed interest rate.

This option can give you more certainty about the interest you’ll earn – a big help when it comes to budgeting. And while they do limit your ability to access funds, this can be a good choice for some savers, making it much harder to dip into savings when temptations arise – we’re looking at you, online shopping.

Everything to know about term deposits

Term deposits with Hume Bank

What interest could you be earning?

6. Consider if you can cut costs

The rising costs of living has put a lot of pressure on Australians. And while there are certain things we just can’t avoid paying for, there are ways we can shave off costs to create more savings.

Review your utility accounts

Are you getting the best deal on your electricity, water, internet and gas? Can you get discounts for paying up front or on time?

Supercharge groceries with a weekly shop

Did you know that the cheaper brands are usually stocked on the bottom shelves? Look down to save, and buy in bulk if you can.

Prep your meals for the week ahead

Having meals on hand will reduce the temptation of take away, helps reduce food waste – better for you and the planet.

Skip the gym to workout at home

There are lots of free or low-cost workouts and classes online. Try going outside with friends to keep costs low and motivation high.

Check in on your phone plan & usage

Could you be getting a better plan? There are many options out there, and it is possible to negotiate better deals.

Review your transport costs

Is there a way to walk, cycle, or take public transport? Try the Fuel Australia app to find the cheapest fuel in your area.

7. Supercharge your savings

Once you’re satisfied that you have cut as many expenses as you can, it’s time to look at ways to boost your savings and keep working towards your targets as quickly as possible.

Pay yourself first
Set up an automatic transfer to your savings account on the day you’re paid to prioritise saving – even if it’s a small amount.
Split your accounts
Keep your savings out of reach in a separate account without a card to make it more difficult to spend when temptation arrives.
Boost your interest
Find out if you can get bonus interest on your savings account if you meet certain criteria – like regular monthly deposits.
Cut out fees
Review your accounts to find fees you could avoid. Our Reward Saver and iSave accounts offer zero account keeping fees!

Make your own savings plan

How to set up regular transfers

8 ways to kick-start your savings

Financial advice for every stage of life

No matter where you are in life, your finances play an important role.

That’s why we’ve partnered with Bridges – one of Australia’s largest financial planning organisations – to make sure you have the help you need to achieve your financial goals.

Working together we’ll help you understand your finances and develop a strategy that works for you. After all, who doesn’t want some expert help every now and then?

Get the ball rolling. Call us on 1300 004 863 for a free initial appointment.

8. Make debt work for you

Debt can be a dirty word when it comes to savings, but it’s still important to consider.

When starting out, try to get rid of as much debt as you can – the more repayments you have to make, and interest you accrue, the more you could be eating into potential savings.

That said, if you’re careful, debt can also help you meet your goals. Using a credit card can allow you to make larger purchases without dipping into your savings. And if you’ve got a more urgent goal in mind, a personal loan could help you get there. Just remember that any debt you take on now will eat into your savings later on.

3 steps to get on top of your debt

Explore our credit cards

Managing your credit card

Consider a personal loan

9. Celebrate the wins

Saving up for the next big thing can feel like an impossible goal. And if it does, you may find it hard to stay motivated. That’s why it’s important to build happiness into your budget, and take the time to celebrate along the way.

Plus, being able to save a decent chunk of change is no small feat – your hard work deserves to be recognised!

Here are a few ideas to get you started:

Set progress goals

You don’t have to wait until the end to celebrate.

Setting smaller goals along the way can help keep you motivated and make saving feel like less of a burden.

Track your progress

Don’t just set and forget – check in on your savings every once in a while.

There’s nothing better than seeing that number tick up towards your goal.

Share your wins

Celebrating your latest saving milestone with friends and family can make the experience that much more rewarding.

It’ll also help keep you accountable along the way!

Different strokes for different folks

It doesn’t matter who you are, what your savings goals are, or what stage of life you’re in. We’ll help you save bigger and earn better so you can reach your dreams – whatever they may be.

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Things you should know

Rates, fees and charges and other information correct as at 19 July 2024 and may change without notice.

Terms, conditions, fees, charges and eligibility criteria apply.

Please read the Product Disclosure Statement and Fees & Charges and consider whether this product is right for you. Also available in branch or at 1300 004 863.

To view the Target Market Determination for this product go to Target Market Determinations.

Download a copy of our Personal account rates. Find out how to reduce your fees and charges.

Unapproved debit balances incur interest at 15.90% p.a. calculated daily on full closing balance and debited on the last calendar day of each month.

^* Interest is calculated daily and paid monthly.

^** Interest is calculated daily and paid monthly. Bonus interest is calculated daily and paid monthly provided that $10 or more was deposited and no withdrawals were made in the month. Deposits must be made by 5pm on the last day of the month to earn bonus interest.

^*** Interest is calculated daily and paid on maturity.

Chequebook access only available for individuals over 18 years of age on accounts that have an existing cheque facility attached.