Trick or Treat? 5 Money “Tricks” That Feel Like Treats Later

Halloween’s the season for costumes, candy, and a few cheeky scares — but when it comes to your finances, the only thing spookier than ghosts is missing easy money wins. The good news? A few clever tricks today can turn into big treats for your future self.

Here are five simple money moves that’ll make your finances less frightful and far more rewarding.

👻 Round Up Your Spending

It’s a simple one, but powerful. Set up your bank app to round up every purchase to the nearest dollar (or even $5), with the extra going straight into savings.

Trick: You’ll barely notice the difference day to day.
Treat: A few months later, you’ve built a tidy little buffer without even trying.

🧙 Automate Your Super Contributions

Most Aussies leave their super to tick along in the background, but even a small extra contribution — say $20 a week — can make a huge difference over time.

Trick: Salary sacrifice a small amount before tax.
Treat: You could end up thousands better off at retirement and pay less tax along the way.

🦇 Use an Offset Account Like a Pro

Got a mortgage? Linking an offset account can work magic on the interest you pay. Keep your savings there instead of a standard account, and every dollar helps reduce interest.

Trick: Treat your offset balance like it’s untouchable (no raiding it for splurges).
Treat: You’ll shave years off your loan and save thousands in interest.

🕷️ Review Your Subscriptions

From streaming services to fitness apps, subscription “creep” is real. Go through your bank statements and cancel what you don’t use.

Trick: It feels tedious, but it takes less than 10 minutes.
Treat: You might uncover $50–$100 a month in hidden savings — that’s $600–$1,200 a year back in your pocket.

🎃 Give Your Budget a Spooky Name (and Stick to It)

Budgets get a bad rap, but they’re just plans for your goals. Rebrand yours — call it The Pumpkin Plan or Operation Candy Cashflow if it helps.

Trick: Track what comes in, what goes out, and what could grow.
Treat: You’ll feel calmer, more in control, and ready to focus on what really matters.

🕸️ Final Thought

Money doesn’t have to be scary — especially when you’ve got the right tools and a few well-placed tricks up your sleeve. If you’d like help turning your financial “tricks” into long-term “treats”, that’s exactly what I help people do at Elevate Financial Planning.

Happy Halloween — may your finances be full of treats, not tricks! 🎃

For personalised financial services and advice, speak with your Financial Advisor today at Elevate Financial Planning

- Arlan Davine