Raising a family in Australia is not cheap, and the cost of school holidays, kids’ clothes, activities and everyday running around adds up fast. The good news is there is a growing list of apps and websites built specifically to help families spend less without missing out.
We have grouped these into everyday savings, family and kids-specific tools, and a few genuinely innovative ideas that most “money saving app” round-ups never mention. Bookmark this one, it is worth revisiting before the next school holidays.
Everyday Savings Apps for Families
These are not family-specific, but they are the ones local parents already lean on to cut regular costs.
Frugl
Frugl lets you scan a barcode in store and compare the price against Coles and Woolworths. Handy when you are stocking up on lunchbox staples and want to know you are not overpaying.
ShopBack
ShopBack pays you cashback when you shop online through the app at retailers like Target, Myer, Adairs and The Iconic. Useful for school uniforms, birthday presents and the never-ending list of kids’ gear.
Lasoo
Lasoo pulls together catalogues from Coles, Woolworths, Big W and Aldi so you can check the specials before you leave the house, rather than discovering the mid-week toilet paper deal after you have already paid full price.
Fuel Check
Don’t fill up your car unless you know the best fuel prices in your neighbourhood. FuelCheck is a website and app designed to provide consumers with real-time information about fuel prices at every service station across NSW. In Southeast Queensland, you can download RACQ Fair Fuel Finder App to browse fuel prices in your local area. In Victoria, check the RACV Fuel Price website for prices.
Gumtree
Gumtree is free to list in most categories, making it the go-to for selling outgrown prams, cots, bikes and toys, and for picking up someone else’s gently used gear at a fraction of retail.
Family and Kids-Specific Money Savers
This is where it gets more useful for parents specifically, and where most generic “save money” lists fall short.
Toy Libraries
Toy libraries let you borrow toys, puzzles and outdoor equipment for a small membership fee instead of buying new. Most council areas across Australia run one, and it is one of the best-kept secrets for parents of toddlers and preschoolers who churn through toy interests every few months.
The Entertainment App
The Entertainment Membership (formerly the Entertainment Book) gives access to 2-for-1 and discount vouchers for family attractions, dining and activities in cities and regions right across the country.
Child Care Subsidy Estimator
Before locking in family day care or long day care, running your details through the government’s Child Care Subsidy estimator can reveal savings parents often miss simply because they assumed they would not qualify.
Kids’ Clothing Swap Groups
Facebook groups dedicated to local kids’ clothing swaps and hand-me-downs have become one of the most practical ways to keep up with a growing child without buying everything new. Search for your suburb plus “kids clothes swap” to find an active local group.
Library Apps (BorrowBox and Libby)
Your local library membership unlocks free ebooks, audiobooks and magazines through apps like BorrowBox or Libby. It is free entertainment for car trips and school holidays, and most parents forget they already have access.
Bunnings Kids Workshops
Bunnings runs free kids activity workshops in store, usually on weekends. It costs nothing, keeps the kids busy for half an hour, and often ends in a free sausage sizzle if you time it right.
Sharing Economy Apps That Work for Families
Camplify
Rather than buying a caravan or campervan you will use a handful of times a year, Camplify lets you rent one from a local owner. Ideal for family camping trips without the ongoing cost of rego, insurance and storage.
Car Next Door
If you are a one-car family who occasionally needs a second vehicle for school runs, sport or visiting relatives, Car Next Door lets you borrow a car by the hour or day from someone nearby.
Airbnb
For family holidays, Airbnb often works out cheaper than hotels once you factor in an extra bedroom or kitchen access, which also saves on eating out for every meal.
Spacer
If your garage is full of prams, cots and outgrown gear you are not ready to part with, Spacer connects you with people renting out storage space nearby, often cheaper than a commercial storage unit.
Genuinely Innovative Ideas Worth Trying
These are the ones most money-saving round-ups miss entirely.
Babysitting swap circles. Instead of paying for every date night or appointment, some parent groups run informal babysitting swaps where you bank hours minding other people’s kids in exchange for hours when you need care. Ask in local mums’ and dads’ Facebook groups if one exists near you, or start one yourself.
Buy Nothing groups. Separate from general marketplace groups, Buy Nothing groups operate on a strict no-money, no-trade basis. Parents give away outgrown clothes, toys and gear for free, and you do the same when you are done with something. It is Freecycle with a stronger neighbourhood focus.
School holiday program subsidy stacking. Many vacation care and school holiday programs are eligible for the Child Care Subsidy, even for casual bookings. Providers do not always advertise this clearly, so it is worth asking directly whether a program qualifies before assuming full price is your only option.
Council library school holiday programs. Beyond borrowing books, most local libraries run free or gold-coin school holiday activities including Lego clubs, coding sessions and craft workshops. These rarely get promoted as hard as paid alternatives, so they are worth checking directly on your council’s website each term.
Freecycle Freecycle connects people giving away items for free with those who need them, all for direct pickup. It is a genuinely underused resource for baby gear, furniture and kids’ items that still have plenty of life left.
SuperCook Enter what is already in your fridge and pantry and SuperCook suggests recipes using it, which cuts down on both grocery spend and the “what’s for dinner” scramble that so often ends in a takeaway order.
Woolworths App The Woolworths app tracks your Rewards offers and shows the weekly catalogue in one place, useful for planning meals around what is actually on special that week.
More ways to save
Looking for more ways to stretch the family budget? This is just one of a growing collection of money-saving guides for Australian families we’ve put together, covering everything from groceries and household bills to free and low-cost things to do with the kids. Explore more ways to save.