15 smart financial moves you can make in under and hour

Need to save some money? Get on track with your savings? Reach a savings goal? Or just simplify your financial life? These financial tips will help.

Sell old gadgets

Brush the dust off old smartphones, tablets or other devices and head online to get an instant quote.

Request a prepaid shipping kit or print a free shipping label. Before popping your device in the mail, back up your info to the cloud or save to a different device and delete all your personal data.

Lower your auto insurance premiums

Most insurance buyers guides show sample prices for auto insurers.

Pick the six insurers with the lowest rates for the example closest to your situation, and call the insurers to get price quotes for identical coverage.

If you find a better rate, your current insurer may offer to beat the quote.

Also read: 3 saving hacks to get your home deposit together faster

Secure your smartphone

If your phone isn’t password-protected, set a lock-screen pattern, PIN or password.

Consider adding an extra layer of security to apps with sensitive information.

Android users will need an app such as AppLock to password-protect individual apps, but iPhone users can do it by selecting “Settings,” “General” and then “Restrictions” to set a password and apply it to certain apps. Protect against a misplaced, lost or stolen phone by enabling location-access services.

Apple users need to sign in on the Find iPhone app using their Apple ID. Android users can access the feature by signing into their account. 

Windows users should go to Microsoft.com. You’ll be able to track your phone’s location and remotely erase your data from any web browser.

Cut your investment fees

Link your investment accounts to FeeX, a free online tool, to see a breakdown of all the charges you’re paying, including underlying mutual fund and ETF expenses, trading commissions, and custodial and advisory fees. The tool suggests similar, lower-fee investments, and it shows potential savings if you switch funds.

Pay less for life insurance

Provide information about your health, age, contact information, length of term (from 10 to 30 years) and amount of coverage at a life insurance comparison website, and if prices are lower than your current policy then switch providers.

Also read: 5 ways to become a millionaire in your 20s

Share financial information with your family

Create a master list that lets your spouse know how to get into your accounts and where to find important documents if you become incapacitated or die first (you may want to share the list with adult children, too).

Store the list online, using a document-storage account such as Dropbox.com and give your spouse the user name and password to the account. Also keep a paper copy of your information.

Get a better deal on your internet or TV bill

Is your TV or internet service bill creeping upward?

Call the customer-service number for your service provider and ask whether you qualify for any promotional deals.

If you don’t succeed with a phone call, check whether the company has a presence on Twitter.

You may get what you want by requesting a discount via tweets directed to the company’s account.

Autopilot your savings

To squirrel away money before you have a chance to miss it, create automatic, recurring transfers from checking to savings and investment accounts.

Log into your checking account and look for an option to transfer funds.

Enter routing and account numbers for your savings account and choose the frequency and amount for each transfer.

Search for lost money

New data reveals that $11.7 billion is sitting in lost superannuation accounts.

Get back in touch with your super using the ATO’s online services and make sure you don’t miss out.

Also read: 3 signs you're in too much debt

Copy everything in your wallet

If your purse or wallet is lost or stolen, having copies or scans of the front and back of your driver’s license, credit cards, and membership and loyalty cards will make the process of suspending accounts and replacing cards go more smoothly.

Keep paper copies in a safe place, and store scanned PDFs on your computer and back it up.

Consolidate loyalty cards

Slim down your wallet or key ring without missing out on rewards or discounts with a mobile wallet, such as Android Pay, Samsung Pay or Apple Pay’s Wallet, or download the free Key Ring app (Apple and Android).

Use the camera on your phone to scan loyalty cards into the mobile wallet or app. The next time you’re in the store, show the digital version of your card’s barcode.

Redeem credit card rewards

Log in to your account and look for an option to redeem cash back, points or miles.

You may choose to get a check in the mail, a credit toward your bill, or a deposit into your bank account, or to exchange points or miles for travel bookings, gift cards or merchandise.

Set up a budget

Budgeting tools can help give you a big-picture view of your finances.

Link to your financial accounts by entering your online user names and passwords; you can also put in information about your home and car to get estimates of their value and track your overall net worth.

Set limits for how much you want to spend monthly in various categories and receive alerts when you go over budget.

Also read: Eight tips for choosing a rewards credit card

Protect important documents

If your critical documents are residing in a drawer or a folder, shop for a home document safe to help protect them from a fire, flood or theft.

Look for a document safe that has been tested by Underwriters Laboratories (UL) or Intertek (ELT) and is built to withstand at least 30 minutes of fire up to 1,550 degrees Fahrenheit.

Get a more rewarding credit card

In order to maximise reward points earned on groceries and petrol in particular, consumers should consider a rewards program that offers both American Express and Visa or MasterCard Cards.