What’s something you wouldn’t have done / acquired if not for OzBargain, that changed your life?
Eg: holiday or experience that is now a core memory, taking up a hobby or activity that is now part of who you are - things like this you would never have considered doing/buying if not for stumbling on a deal that acted as the gateway or catalyst.
Or maybe you’ve enjoyed the forums here so much you decided to become a traffic accident lawyer specialising in MS Paint diagrams.
Meeting JV is on my bucket list.
i think you mean "Meeting JV is on my bucket list."
Plot twist: jv is an AI.
AI would never choose to barrack for Collingwood.
@Jimothy Wongingtons: Well I'll be a monkeys uncle.
I went Google image searching for a picture of Jules Verne smiling and f#@k me. This is all the evidence we need that indeed @jv is AI and a Collingwood supporter. FFS
Well I'll be a monkeys uncle.
What happened to the apostrophe?
I can't even read any further after seeing that…
Nah, jv is actually a shell account for OzBargain Premium and Pro members to use… the interface kinda looks like this
I would have never tried your pancakes if I had never been given @Jimothy Wongingtons spot at the goat sacrifice and carpooled to it with you. Speaking of which, I finished installing the turbo on the jimny and I’m ready to break an axle smoke some tyres down jvs driveway.
Doing burnouts makes scents. Cheers
Sounds like a bold plan.
Forget JV who remember Ozslav?
Slavoz?
I wanna know what happened to @rektrading
Prob got wrecked trading alt-coins lmao
I spend more money than I save. I have hundreds of rolls of toilet paper and a cupboard full of detergents. Did I need that 75-inch TV? Probably not, but it's in my lounge room anyway.
You gotta see it in a different way.
Instead of 75 inch TV, it could have been a 55 inch TV with worse specs for the same price.
Love this way of framing it
Had no idea what cashback was.
Didn't know how to combo deals to make money go further.
No longer pay RRP.
I still can't be bothered with cash back. Shall I hand in my OzB membership??
Depends. Its worth it for a $10+ boosted cashback in a sale. If it’s 1% cashback on some $30 purchase, they’re not even paying for the time wasted logging in.
In the same theme, I will never understand people who prefer to drive across town and back to save $10 on delivery. Even if you’re broke as shit, it doesn’t cover petrol let alone your life.
Buttt you get it same day!
My lifetime CashRewards is $4,887.96 - you should start doing it. I joined at launch.
@HCBargain: Was more impressive the first read of the sentence when I thought you said "I joined at lunch".
The two times I worked up enough energy to bother with the app and doing the cashback things, it didnt even track it, so i said f it.
For me it's too much of a hassle, because I understand you need tracking cookies and I usually block them anyway with various tools (AdGuard/Pihole/Browser settings etc)
I did it once to get $350 back from a washing machine, that was great, but I don't really spend enough to make it worth the hassle for $2 cashback or whatever on the limited purchases I do make
This is the way
I used to be clean and healthy, now I'm an OzBargain addict
I used to have savings…..now only savings i have is my cashback pending on 3 cashback sites.
i no longer pay RRP
i always price check every deal i do in person
i always look for promo/coupon codes
if i want it but can wait i see if a ebay/amazon sale happens
Ditto. I won't buy anything on the spot, i need to take 5min to check OzB and find a better deal
Probably a good thing and a bad thing…
The real bargains were the friends (and mortal enemies) made along the way.
I will also never look at seiko coutura the same way if not for ozbargain.
A moment of silence for those foes who have fallen along the way.
Eg:
Pam
Rektrading
Slavoz
Their top tier 💩 posting made the forums more lit than a FB community page when a car backfires in the neighbourhood.
Pam is still alive but operates under codename screensaver.
Jv weekly goat sacrifice/bbq/dashcam aka rolts PIP meetings haven’t been the same without kajke
Oh, I can think of lots more we have lost along the way… I do miss @tuzii though. I have a collection of DM’s with “deleted user” and people that got banned.
I remember JaJaBinks. Suddenly disappeared.
Where's the eshay Johnny kid who loves this crap.
Also what happened to Rosebank.. don't see much of him, gotta tell that guy that I'm no longer a weeb and have switched from my Grand Seiko love to a German ….
Ohhh myyyyy Geeerrrddd.
Now have a PIP with KPI related to Monday's Weekly Random Discussion.
And can I say, it’s pretty close to being the best thing on this website. I know it’s my reason for getting up on Monday mornings. Doing the lord’s work.
I now exit multi-lane roundabouts from the right hand lane, irrespective of the lane markings, and without looking. Because if anyone is in my way its their fault because they are in the wrong lane. OzBargain overwhelmingly says so, so it must be true.
Seek advise instead of advice
Police! Pls arrest this guy!
Wouldn't have started credit card churning and travelled business a few times for "free"
It has really (profanity) my perspective of a bargain compared to the common man. It's getting real hard to hide my disgust when my colleagues share their fakerrp bargains with me.
I now know that all the powerful high yield assets are MB cars.. Maybe an Audi at a pinch.
Wait till you figure out BMWs have a higher yield.
I get upset when I see people close to me buying things and paying too much for them. The worst example was when my mother wanted a new DVD player so without consulting me just went to HN and not only paid way too much but also got conned into a $70 HDMI cable. It burned my soul.
Ah, the old harvey norman monster cable upsell
I got done by this one before I discovered ozbargain. Now can I go to heaven?
Did she get an extended 2 year warranty that just meant paying for her ACL rights too?
bro fam member got swindled into buying that for a product i wanted,
The class action lawsuit i would join but apparently the class action lawsuit only covers the timeframe like a few months after it was brought lol.
so missed out on that :(
When my uncle was dying of cancer a couple years ago, i found out he was paying Telstra $100/mo for a 2gb phone plan, which was priced to include an iphone SE he had paid off years earlier. They had negated to put him on a lower priced plan with far more data despite being on centrelink benefits and living alone. Absolute bullshit. I was raging inside. It still bothers me today to think how many other people they are screwing daily the same way.
That should not even be legal. It’s criminal.
boomers dgaf they just splash the cash. Sales people learn to target them.
I used to save money
I have thrown away my life and never looked back thanks to ozbargain
I learned about ETF's through ozbargain. It hasn't changed my life yet but I'll give you a update in 10 years time.
If you haven’t trawled through the wealth of info on PIA, I highly recommend it! Equips you to make an investment plan that fits your own situ, rather than telling you what to invest in. The kind of stuff kids should be learning in high school honestly. https://passiveinvestingaustralia.com/
because of ozbargain i put it all in shitcoins…and well…i guess i will also update in 10 years :')
yeah I had some money in BTC and I ended up selling it because it was down, should have kept it as I would have made a profit on it. Not sure why I thought buying and selling it so often would make me any money but I guess I learned my lesson and now steadily DCA into ETF's.
Property all the way.
I own millions, but also owe millions too.
How Has OzBargain Changed Your Life in a Major Way?
It hasn’t.
That's because you snorted too many forks
Well, I found great airfares, which kind of convinced me to travel a bit more, which has changed my worldview. I travel a lot more often, partly due to Ozbargain, I suppose.
Imagine going to Egypt for $1,200 return for a family of four in a 5 star airline. That's just insane value (remember the Azerbaijan flight deal, yep, that's the one). This egypt trip along changed a lot in me…! I think overall, the way I look at buying things has changed, I usually would check Ozbargain history first to ensure that I'm paying the right amount before pulling the trigger so I feel like I get value for money…
I hear you. Travel has been a big one for me. Hard to justify but when you get a cracker deal on flights to the other side of the world it can take that pressure off and give you permission to “do that thing you’ve always been meaning to do”. And yeah, having a sense that you are paying a reasonable sum for something by checking recent deals.
OzBargain has ensured that I have comprehensive insurance for my car.
my misso got into an accident the other day and i thought thank FK i read all those horror stories on ozbargain… so yeah u right fam.
Yes - during the GFC. The bargains were insane. My two favourites were a fancy $1k pram shipped from Amazon US for $300 (including shipping) and a very luxury holiday to Tahiti for peanuts (under $5k, would be $10k+ now easily).
I think most people's lives are a blur of mindless consumption. I discovered OzBargain at a financially difficult time in my life. It helped me no end organising the money I had, and gave me a feeling of control over my life. It was good to know there's others doing it tough too and sharing their tips and experiences. I'm now very focused on getting as much value out of every $ I can, and that way I can afford the fun stuff like travel. It's not just about bargains, it's about monitoring and controlling your consumption, since we seem to live to do that. Not forgetting that the biggest bargain is when you decide not to purchase at all.
I realized I am not the only struggling person. A big hug.
Yes, I used to have faith in humanity… OzBargain basically destroyed that…
You win. I’m out
1) Was able to get cheap travel deals and see more of the world then I would've been able to on my lowly uni student budget (cheaper flights - $600 for return flight to Greece??? WOAH)
2) Coles Mastercard/Visa giftcard 10% off deals paid for my rent for a whole year
3) I made $2000 on some Qoin coin or what not (was a scam but they eventually let me cash out the initial free)
4) Fantastic deals on tech/laptops
5) Cheap deals on subscriptions that I otherwise would not have been able to afford
6) A whole bunch of Major Dental work way cheaper because of realising how to combo extras insurance with inner melbourne discount clinics (HBF Top 70 family combined with Value Dental Centre/Australian Dental Clinics makes a crown only a couple of hundred) - seriously if you need to see a dentist look around OzB there are so many good deals, I should write a forum post of "so you haven't seen a dentist for over x years or so you have a toothache" - my god this website can save you money
6.5) Being able to get not shit electric tooth brushes and water flossers probably prolonged the lifespan of my teeth so they didn't fall apart so fast
7) a whole bunch of free stuff/gift cards
8) Discounted eGiftcards in general
9) Cheaper fuel discounts
10) Discounts on accomadation - e.g 2 free nights with an accor membership +ongoing discounts for the duration of the membership (The Chen in Box Hill is goated and sometimes drops to $80-$100 a night)
11) Discounts on dining out - e.g Eat Club - brilliant app
12) Making hundreds a year extra with high interest savings accounts
13) Sign up offers in general, amazing ($100 to open a bank account? sold)
14) Cashback in general
15) Being able to help those in need though my volunteering better e.g with cheaper accomadation, cheap RACV cover for their dying car that needs a jump/tow to a mechanic, cheaper white goods/tech
16) Lots of cheap stuff (e.g powerbanks, socks - got some hella comfy CAT socks on right now that were only $9 for a 5 pack with a beanie)
Have I saved money? no I've probably spent a little bit more
But honestly, this website has allowed me to have a better quality of life, a full set of teeth* (almost, getting an implant and crown in the coming months) and live life to it's fullest in spite of the slog I've been in the last 7 years. I appreciate all your efforts :)
2) Coles Mastercard/Visa giftcard 10% off deals paid for my rent for a whole year
I missed that deal. How does that work?
Buy a bunch of coles mastercard/visa giftcards, used to be you could use a visa/mastercard giftcard to buy another visa/mastercard giftcard instore- https://www.ozbargain.com.au/node/780612
so for $231.30 ($225 for card + $6.30 activation fee) you get a $250 visa/mastercard that can buy another $250 visa/mastercard at the same discount for a profit of $18.7 (do a few thousand of those and you're good to go).
Modern iterations you can paypal the money back to yourself but less profitable because more fees.
Online version - https://www.ozbargain.com.au/node/833523
same paypal the money back to yourself but less profitable because more fees.
used to be you could use a visa/mastercard giftcard to buy another visa/mastercard giftcard instore
Can you still do it (when there's another 10% off deal) or have they closed this infinite money hack?
That's incredible!
Oh please share about the no.6 - Dental work with insurance. Looks like I could really use one before the end of the year.
The Dental Superpost Draft just for you:
Public Route if eligible - might not be worth waiting but also useful in a dental emergency (Victoria) - https://www.ozbargain.com.au/node/903416#comment
The Private route cracks knuckles
AHM - No waiting period on general dental on specific plans, essentially anything that doesn’t offer a percentage back (so in theory could use the no-gap dental offer and cancel after)
Value Extras - https://ahm.com.au/health-insurance/extras-cover/value-extra…
PG - https://static.ahm.com.au/files/products/value-extras.pdf
Lifestyle Extras - https://ahm.com.au/health-insurance/extras-cover/lifestyle-e…
PG - https://static.ahm.com.au/files/products/lifestyle-extras.pd…
Family Extras - https://ahm.com.au/health-insurance/extras-cover/family-extr…
PG - https://static.ahm.com.au/files/products/family-extras.pdf
Super Extras - https://ahm.com.au/health-insurance/extras-cover/super-extra…
PG - https://static.ahm.com.au/files/products/super-extras.pdf
Honourable mention - https://ahm.com.au/health-insurance/extras-cover/choosable-5…
Still 2 month general/12 month major waiting period but 50% off anything up to $500 and no gap dental appointments for like $2.95
- If you need a crown you can get one here for $999 - https://valuedentalcentres.com.au/our-services/crowns/ (they also have a good deal on implants/bridges/wisdom tooth extraction)
- Or here for $899 - https://dentistsclinic.com.au/locations/melbourne-cbd/melbou… (weirdly also have $399 teeth whitening, $60 checkup and $99 check and clean)
You could hold the 50% cover for the 12 months and get the crown if needed for $499/$450
Also - AHM cover wisdom teeth as routine dental! (so only the 2 month or no wait) - I'd go with the 2 month wait on the choosable 50% personally.
Medibank:
Join & Hold Extras Cover for 42 Days, Get 6 Weeks Free, 5,000 Live Better Points, 2- & 6-Month Wait Waiver @ Medibank https://www.ozbargain.com.au/node/903400
- You can claim immediately
- Get som free weeks
- Bunch of weird point schemes (got like a free air tag and $50 in amcal gift cards, only spend like $1 on a few of them and got cash back)
- You could join AHM, get the check to see if anything needs doing then if you need a bunch of fillings, join Top 90 cover here and get 90% back on the fillings
- This no waiting period offer happens regularly, you could use the cover then immediately cancel similar to the above AHM deal - worth explaining your plan to your dentist telling them you’re planning to cancel pretty soon after so if anything needs doing do it now
- You need to cancel over the phone during business hours (can’t do it online)
- (I’d personally get this, pay the 42 days, get the 42 days free then transition to AHM Choosable 50 so I’ve still got appointments for review)
If you need ALOT of work done especially major dental:
- Worth building up to the 12 months, waiting periods from other funds are often recognised so if you did a 2 months with AHM then 10 months with Medibank for example that’d make sense
You can also churn providers for discounts, and double dip extras limits while keeping your major dental coverage (due to previously served waiting periods), as long as it’s a similar level of cover - TLDR you get 2 sets of limits a year and you can get the 4-6 weeks off promotions though you could just keep bumping around health funds the whole year honestly
Example:
You could start with AHM/Peoplecare/Defence Health/Onemedifund/Navy Health
Value Extras - https://ahm.com.au/health-insurance/extras-cover/value-extra…
PG - https://static.ahm.com.au/files/products/value-extras.pdf
Claim a bunch before EOFY - Checkups, glasses (even if you don’t have a script, you could just go onto specsavers and put the lowest script possible on some sunnies or something.
Extras limits reset June 30th - EOFY
- https://help.ahm.com.au/hc/en-us/articles/115005463988-When-…
Use the limits again before the end of the year
Switch to a Medibank (or basically any other policy) before the end of the year,
New year Extras reset
- then you’ve got a whole new set of limits
Switch to AHM or Peoplecare before June 30th - EOFY
Extras limits reset June 30th - EOFY
- Another set of limits
Switch to a Medibank (or basically any other policy) before the end of the year,
New year Extras reset
- Another set of limits
Worth chopping and changing extras insurers at the same level even more often if there isn’t a lot go major dental going on but personally being very cautious and just doing the above with HBF and Peoplecare because I don’t want to risk one insurer not judging the level of cover as comparable and getting a lower reimbursement.
https://www.ozbargain.com.au/tag/health-insurance
Calendar Year Reset (January 1st): Many health funds reset their extras limits on January 1st of each year.
Financial Year Reset (July 1st): Some funds, like Peoplecare, use the financial year, resetting limits on July 1st.
Policy Anniversary Reset: A few funds may reset benefits on the anniversary date of when you joined your policy.
- https://www.finder.com.au/health-insurance/extras-cover/heal…
- https://help.ahm.com.au/hc/en-us/articles/115005463988-When-…
- https://www.comparethemarket.com.au/health-insurance/extras-…
You may want to delay the above but please don’t, appointment often is able to:
1. Identify work that needs doing through inspection and scans, often the earlier you find out, the more you can OzB your way through it
2. The Flouride solution they use can help seal cavities/stop them forming
3. Clean all the crap off your teeth to stop them looking crap/having said crap erode your teeth further
4. Get advice on actual dental hygiene e.g
- Less force, more cyclical brushing
- Brush into the gums to get the root of the tooth to prevent discolouration of the root
- Floss more/flossing options/ water flossers (TLDR get a not shit electric flosser)
- Mouth wash (especially fluoride mouth wash) in the water flosser in general.
- Electric tooth brushes
- Neutraflor 5000 (prevent cavities and don’t swallow of you’ll end up in ED)
- Tooth Mouse
- When to see a dentist - signs and symptoms to look out for
Honourable mention to HBF down here, a fantastic fund albeit a little expensive, have been a pleasure to deal with and they basically took my crappy GMHBA Mid Set Extras and recognised it as almost equivalent to their top of the line 70% back cover
I have gotten:
- Bone grafting (Total cost $575 with $402 back so $172 out of pocket)
- 2 crowns ($710 back for each so $289 and $189 depending on which of the crowns above)
- 1 implant ($1,188 back total cost $1,599 so $411 out of pocket)
- And soon another crown for said implant (will be $1650 with $1188 back so $495 out of picket)
That I probably shouldn’t have gotten a rebate on.
If I had the money to spare I would’ve stayed with them but I want to get this crown ASAP so am switching to people care to get a mid year extras reset and get the last crown.
Also: (less relevant)
A bunch of fillings
A bunch of check and cleans (Since it’s unlimited I take myself in ever 3 months)
A ton of physio/chiropractors/even pharmacy - travel vaccines, a vial of iron (turns out they accidentally charged my private prices at the pharmacy but that was okay because I got health insurance back + a refund so it was the PBS price so came out ahead at the end of the day)
https://www.gmhba.com.au/health-insurance/extras-cover/mid-e…
https://www.hbf.com.au/health-insurance/extras-cover/top-70
https://www.peoplecare.com.au/
I wasn't really aware of the mobile resellers like Belong and Boost until Ozbargain opened my eyes. Cut my monthly spend in half.
I only travel business class or first class now that I discovered how frequent flyer point redemption works via ozbargain. It doesn’t make sense to pay for economy when you can fly business for almost the same amount of $$
More info on how to do this?
i assume through the chatter of how to maximize cc churning, and maybe buying points via classifieds.
Never buy or sell points unless it’s from a business frequent flyer account. High risk of getting banned
Info on how to earn points or how to book?
Many ways to earn points. Credit card churning is probably the best for everyone unless you own a business with high cash flow. We generate on average 3 million points a year from our business.
To redeem seats. Best way to do it is by being flexible. I visit countries and cities that have award seats available. For example any major aus city to Jakarta is almost a guarantee seat seats. And from Jakarta you can look for other award seats to wherever you want to go.
It’s called point hacking and most people that do this end up with credit card debts (because the majority of credit card providers know that all it takes is for someone to not pay once and they make their money, most stuff up more)
It’s also not as generous as the US…
But to each their own.
I no longer watch TV because I spend my free time here.
But I still keep buying new TVs when there are good deals on.
By realising the true bargain is not buying into bargains.
Depends how good is your sense of not buying crap you don’t need in the first place.
Bikies
I would never have met jv or realised the importance of sacrificial goat ceremonies to his beliefs.