One of the advantages of living in a share house is sharing the cost of rent, but there are a few other handy tips you and your roommates can use to share even more day-to-day expenses. By splitting the cost of certain items, you can enjoy things like subscriptions, food and drink and fun events with your housemates.
Here are some tips if you want to split costs in a share house.
Family subscriptions
Streaming services and online subscriptions consider those living in the same house as a family, meaning you can share the monthly costs with your roommates to access a wider range of services. Several TV, movie and music streaming services, and online gaming platforms, offer family accounts, which give you the ability to split one account between multiple people. Another benefit is being entertained without having to buy items you will need to get rid of when it is time to move out!
Share basic items
Whilst sharing everything in the household would reduce costs and waste, you and your roommates will have personal preferences and lifestyles that may make it tricky to share groceries and toiletries. Have a chat about the brands and products you like to use and see if your opinions align. If your household is keen on becoming a little healthier, have a look at these helpful tips.
However, there are plenty of household items that are easily shared:
- Cleaning products for common areas such as the bathroom, kitchen, laundry, and the living room. This will also include buckets, mops, sponges, disinfectant wipes, and anything else you all agree will come in handy when cleaning.
- Kitchen staples such as spices, olive oil, flour, butter/margarine, milk (or milk alternatives) and coffee/tea.
Buy it in bulk
A well-known money-saving tip is to purchase products in larger quantities (known as “buying in bulk”) to receive a discount. This concept works well for items you and your roommates will use daily, such as:
- Toilet paper, kitchen towels and tissues
- Drinks, such as alcohol or soft drink
- Kitchen staples, like the ones we mentioned above! There are several bulk food stores in Australia that allow you to purchase things like flour, pasta, rice and nuts in whatever quantity you need (bonus: they promote zero-waste shopping by encouraging you to bring your own containers!).
Make the most of the company!
There are many reasons to live in a share house, including ready-made friends! Although everyone will have their own routines and responsibilities, and you may opt for studying or hanging out in your room most evenings, it can be fun to spend nights together at home instead of heading out for an expensive meal or night out. Consider:
- Dinner parties. Have your housemates make their favourite dish from their home country and come together to share a meal and part of your culture. This is a great way to learn more about the people you share a home with, gain insight into other countries and cultures, and fill your belly up at the same time!
- Card games/poker nights. The COVID-19 isolation has inspired many of us to virtually break out the board and card games, but why not physically? Set up a roommate poker night, card game, or Monopoly (if you dare) and enjoy an evening of old-school fun.
- Pre-party at your place. If you do decide on a night on the town (when the pubs are open again), host pre-drinks at your place rather than a happy hour at a bar or pub. You will save a considerable amount of money, be able to pick the playlist, and bond with your roommates at the same time.
Need to pay your share of dinner, an activity or any other group expenses? Osko supercharges your bank transfers so you can send and receive money in less than a minute between banks, even on weekends. Check to see if your bank offers Osko – osko.com.au/osko-your-bank
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