23 Money Saving Tips Every Kiwi Needs to Know

Saving money in New Zealand can be a hard slog.

Our cost of living is high, and if you’re renting, it just keeps increasing.

But fear not, I’m here to share my best money-saving tips so you can stash a few bob away for a rainy day and reduce financial stress.

23 Money-Saving Tips NZers Need To Know (2026)

1. Weekly Meal Plan

Meal planning is THE best way to reduce your grocery bill. We try really hard to plan each night’s meal and do the grocery shopping around that.

Breakfast is always the same, and packed lunches are similar too, so the evening meal is the only one we really need to plan for. You can find my best meal-planning tips here.

2. Take Surveys with Octopus Group

Octopus Group is my favourite Kiwi survey site because the surveys are frequent and the payments are reliable.

I use the gift cards I get from taking paid surveys for presents, which saves me a lot of cash. Join OctopusGroup here.

More of my fave New Zealand survey sites here.

3. Install the Libby App for Free Ebooks From the Library

If you have a phone, tablet or e-reader, download the free Libby app and “borrow” ebooks from your local library for free.

This even works if you’re on holiday overseas, as long as you’re still a member of a NZ library.

Seriously, disconnect that one-click purchase setting on Kindle and head to your local library to save some big bucks.

4. Join Shopback Before You Buy Anything Online

Some people are surprised to learn that we have cashback sites here in New Zealand.

I mostly use Shopback for supermarket shops but also for booking with online travel agents and other online stores and marketplaces.

It’s definitely worth joining Shopback before you check out anywhere online. Always click through from the Shopback site first, or the tracking won’t count.

5. Price Check Everything on PriceSpy

Before you purchase any major appliance or item online, check Pricespy to make sure you’re getting the best deal.

6. Compare Your Power at Powerswitch

You might be able to save hundreds of dollars each year simply by switching power companies. You can check at Consumer Powerswitch.

7. Free Mobile Data Hour (2degrees Data Clock)

If you’re a 2degrees customer, download the Data Clock app. Register, and you get an hour of free data every day on eligible Pay Monthly and Prepay plans (it doesn’t carry over, so use it or lose it).

I found this super helpful when we were on holiday with the kids, and the motel had limited wifi, as so many NZ motels do.

I was able to use my free hour and hotspot the iPad through my mobile so the kids could watch a show on Netflix.

8. Download the WINZ Cookbook

For some really good and cheap family recipes, check out “The Great Little Cookbook”.

The Great Little Cookbook was created by staff on the front lines of social services in New Zealand; it’s a very back-to-basics cookbook with excellent tips for reducing grocery spending.

It’s available as a free PDF download here.

9. Make a Plan to Get Out of Debt

There are tons of services in New Zealand where you can get help with debt.
This list of organisations is an excellent place to start.

10. Quit the Gym and Get Online

How often do you actually use your gym membership?

I loved going to the gym, but by the time my husband got home from work, I got there, did my workout, and had a shower, it was almost the kids’ bedtime. It took a lot of time.

I’m so happy I found Move it Mama, an online workout program run via Facebook Live and their own app, started by a Kiwi mum, Lisa, who built it around exactly this problem.

Membership is around $10/month. Plus I can do it anytime I want, and the kids join in.

It takes just 20 minutes, and I’m done. I’ve never felt better, and I’m saving over $50/month compared to a gym membership.

11. Drive Less

Check out those petrol prices, ouch. Needless to say, walking or cycling as much as possible is a great way to save money and clear your head.

I’m committed to walking or biking to school when it’s not raining. The kids are used to it now, and it’s an enjoyable way to chat about the day without the stress of being in a car.

12. Join a Veggie Co-op

Joining a fruit and vegetable co-op can save you a lot of money on your weekly shopping bill.

I’ve found we only need to purchase every fortnight, as there’s so much fruit and veg in the bags.

Find your local veggie co-op here.

13. Declutter Your Home

Decluttering your home can actually save you money and time. Think about how much time you’d save each morning if you had a capsule wardrobe.

Or how much you could make by selling the stuff you don’t use anymore.

Not to mention not needing to buy something again because you can’t find it.

Check out these decluttering tips to get started.

14. Cheap Double-Glazing Effect

If you have old wooden single-glazed windows, install window insulation film for a cheap double-glazing effect.

It costs around $40 to do a whole house for winter, compared to tens of thousands for new double glazing.

Look for it at your local hardware store.

15. Have a Birthday Freebie Bonanza

Did you know there are loads of places in New Zealand that’ll give you free stuff on your birthday?

Check out this list of birthday freebies.

Plan it right, and you could have free coffee, meals and some serious shopping discounts.

16. Search for Coupon Codes Before Purchasing Anything

Always search for coupon codes before you make a purchase.

I’ve found this to be the best way to save on things like travel insurance, online delivery fees, and more.

17. Start a New Hobby

Starting a hobby can save you a heap of cash.

It’ll give you something to occupy your spare time and an outlet for stress, which might otherwise be spent going to the mall or a bar.

Check out these great low-cost or profitable hobby ideas!

18. Automate a Small Amount to an “Untouchable” Savings Account

If you can afford to buy a coffee or a takeaway once a week, you can afford to save.

Set up an automatic payment for $5 a week to a savings account on the day your pay comes in.

You won’t notice it’s gone, and it’ll add up quickly.

Increase the weekly transfer amount as you can; even incremental raises of $ 2 make a huge difference to your total savings balance over a year.

19. Always Get Your Maximum KiwiSaver Government Contribution

2026 update: The maximum Government contribution dropped from $521.43 to $260.72 a year following Budget 2025. You still need to contribute the full $1,042.86 yourself between 1 July and 30 June to get the maximum. Employer and government contributions don’t count towards that threshold.

Say what you will about KiwiSaver, but there’s nowhere else you’ll get a guaranteed 25% return on your own contributions, up to the cap.

Make sure you contribute at least $1,042.86 to your KiwiSaver account each year (that’s about $20/week) to get the full government contribution of $260.72.

More details here.

20. Do a Spending Freeze

A spending freeze is a great way to reset your budget.

You can choose to freeze only certain expenses, so you can hone your focus on one area.

I like to freeze all non-essential expenses for a 14-day period and see how I feel afterwards.

These kinds of challenges keep my money-saving skills fresh.

21. Get Free Samples

If you’re interested in trying a new product, you might be entitled to a free sample.

Check out this list of places to get free samples in New Zealand.

22. Build a Gift Card Stash

Building a stash of gift cards for presents or essentials is a smart strategy. You can earn free gift cards from participating in surveys, answering polls, downloading software and more.

Here are 10 Easy Ways to Earn Free Gift Cards in New Zealand.

23. Claim Your Unclaimed Money

When a bank or another institution like an insurance company holds money and has been unable to contact or locate the owner for 5 years, it’s treated as unclaimed money and transferred to Inland Revenue for safekeeping.

You can check if you’re owed any unclaimed money on the IRD website. It takes about ten minutes and it’s free.

Check out our handy guide: How to Claim Unclaimed Money with IRD.

Saving money in one of the highest cost-of-living countries in the world is no easy task, but us Kiwis are a resourceful bunch.

I hope these simple savings ideas have got your mind ticking over.