Not that long ago, many of us hesitated before using an ATM.
Was it safe?
Would someone be watching?
What if the machine swallowed the card?
Fast forward a couple of decades and in some cafés and car parks you can’t use cash even if you want to. Tap-and-go has replaced notes and coins. Banking lives in our pocket. And while that shift hasn’t suited everyone, there’s a quiet upside for older Australians prepared to be selective.
Used wisely, a handful of Australian apps can trim everyday expenses without changing your lifestyle dramatically. You don’t need to chase cryptocurrency or the latest Silicon Valley trend. Just practical tools that help you keep more of your own money.
Here are a few worth considering.
Fuel Map
Petrol remains one of the most frustrating weekly expenses. Prices can vary by 20 to 40 cents a litre between suburbs – sometimes even between service stations a few hundred metres apart.
Fuel Map is a free Australian app that shows live fuel prices near you, drawing on government data and user updates. You can search by fuel type, sort by cheapest, and plan ahead if you’re travelling.
Potential savings: Save 15 cents per litre on a 60-litre tank and that’s $9 per fill. Over 40 fills a year, that’s around $360 – enough to ease a power bill or two.
7-Eleven Australia (Fuel Lock feature)
The 7-Eleven app includes a “Fuel Lock” feature. When prices dip, you can lock in that lower price for several days and redeem it later – even if the board price has risen.
Open the app, lock the price at a nearby store, then scan your phone when filling up.
Potential savings: Avoid a 20-cent price rise on a 50-litre tank and you’ve saved $10 in a few taps.
WiseList
Grocery prices have been a sore point for many households.
WiseList allows you to build a shopping list and compare prices across major supermarkets. It highlights specials and shows which store works out cheaper for your basket overall.
You can adjust quantities and see the total change in real time – useful for those watching every dollar.
Potential savings: If you trim $15 to $20 off a $250 weekly shop by chasing specials or splitting purchases, that’s up to $1,000 a year. Even half that amount is meaningful.
ShopBack
For those comfortable shopping online, ShopBack offers cashback at many major Australian retailers, including department stores and travel providers.
You click through the retailer via the app, complete your purchase as normal, and a percentage comes back to you later as cashback.
It’s not instant, and it only works if you were going to make the purchase anyway. But used carefully, it can add up.
Potential savings: On $5,000 of annual online spending, even a modest 3 per cent average cashback return equates to $150 back.
Finder
Finder focuses on the bigger household bills – electricity, insurance, credit cards and savings accounts.
The app and website allow you to compare products side-by-side and switch if a better deal exists. Many Australians remain on higher “loyalty” rates simply because switching feels complicated.
Potential savings: Changing electricity or home insurance providers can sometimes save several hundred dollars a year. Reviewing a mortgage or savings rate could make an even larger difference – although that requires careful consideration.
A word on safety
For many over 60, this is the sticking point.
A few simple rules help reduce risk:
Only download apps from the official Apple App Store or Google Play.
Use strong, unique passwords.
Turn on two-factor authentication where available.
Never click links in unexpected text messages.
Australia’s major retailers and financial institutions now operate largely online. Avoiding apps entirely doesn’t necessarily reduce risk – it may simply mean paying more.
The bottom line
There was a time when we worried about ATMs replacing tellers. Now we tap phones to pay for coffee.
Technology isn’t going backwards. But that doesn’t mean embracing every trend. A small number of carefully chosen Australian apps can help manage everyday costs – petrol, groceries, online purchases and utilities – without changing your values or your lifestyle.
You don’t need to be a digital native.
You just need to be practical.
And in a cost-of-living squeeze, practical still pays.