News Corp Australia has today launched a six-week cost of living editorial series, Smart Savers, to help its audiences make informed decisions to navigate the rising cost of living.
According to News Corp Australia research consumers are spending, on average, 60 per cent of their incomes on bare essentials including food, fuel, housing and insurance – the prices of which are all under pressure.
Key findings include:
- Australians are collectively paying $10 billion more for food and fuel than they were a year ago, and almost $4 billion more on mortgage repayments.
- Insurance premiums have surged across the board since 2021, with Australians spending an extra $1.4 billion on health, $1 billion more on home and contents and $400 million more on their vehicles.
- For couples with dependents, non-discretionary spending (essentials) has increased from $1506 a week in 2021 to $1622 a week in 2022, leaving $636 to spend on discretionary items compared with $699 previously.
News Corp Australia national executive editor Peter Blunden said rising living costs have emerged as the biggest issue confronting millions of Australians.
“A perfect storm of increased food, energy, fuel, and mortgage and rental costs is putting pressure on household budgets across the country,” he said.
“Our aim is to use the new Smart Savers campaign to help our audiences combat the impact of higher bills. Experts will provide hundreds of great tips on how to save money. We’ll feature personal budget calculators, seven-day meal plans and tell you where to find the hidden bargains.
“We’ll show you how to save on groceries, phone and internet bills, health costs, credit cards, holidays, fashion, entertainment and much more, and special offers to save you money will feature throughout the campaign.
“Our role is to help readers ease the pain of inflation with real solutions. And we’re keen to hear the best ideas from our audiences. It’s a campaign you can’t afford to miss.”
The Smart Savers series kicks off with an eight-page wrap of all of the company’s state-based and regional mastheads featuring information and expert analysis to deliver value to readers.
The series will provide consumers with financial hacks, enabling them to make their money go further, while calling on federal and state governments to do their part to ease the pressure.
All stories will run across masthead websites and feature an innovative digital tool, the Personal Inflation Calculator to show readers the levers they can pull to reduce their individual rate. The calculator will be included in all stories published on the network.
Smart Savers content this week will include the top 10 tips to tackle the soaring cost of living, and the five phone calls that can save you thousands – and what you need to say. Takeaway v Fakeaway with taste.com.au food director Michelle Southan. Cheap ways to eat out and entertain the family, how to get your mortgage under control in 90 days, and why dressing your family doesn’t have to break the bank.
