The best ways to save money in Melbourne

Avoid freaking out at the ticket machine and book your parking ahead. Most parking providers (Wilson, Secure Parking) have a pretty seamless online booking system, letting you book and pay for a heavily discounted spot at a whole range of parking locations across Melbourne. 

Happy hour doesn’t always have to mean cheap jugs at the local pub, though there’s a time and place for that. There are a tonne of fancy spots around Melbourne that offer their own versions of happy hour, including the George on Collins with $12 cocktails from Tuesday to Friday between 3pm and 6pm; $2 oysters and $15 Champers on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays from 5.30pm to 6.30pm at Hemingway’s Wine Room; two-for-one cocktails every day before 6pm at Copycat Elsternwick; and half-price cocktails from 5pm to 6pm at Patsys Wine Bar.

Heaps of sushi stores will slash the prices of their sushi after the lunch rush, meaning you can bag a bargain as an afternoon snack or to save for lunch the next day. Just make sure you pop it into a fridge as soon as you can – warm sushi isn’t the best.

Myki fares for travelling on public transport are based on the zones you travel to and within. If you’re travelling within the CBD, most of it is found in the free tram zone, meaning you don’t need to touch on or off and your fare is completely free.

If you travel within Zone 2 (the outer suburbs of Melbourne), you’ll be charged a lower fare. If you travel within Zone 1 (the inner suburbs of Melbourne) or between Zone 1 and 2, you’ll be charged a higher fare. It’s good to keep this in mind when you’re travelling out of the CBD or between zones, and try and make note of where to get off to stop you from paying a higher fare.

Save your cinema outing for a Monday or Tuesday, and you’re destined for cheap tickets. Both Cinema Nova and Kino do discounted movie tickets on Mondays, and Lido does its on Tuesdays. If you’re a major cinephile, consider signing up as a cinema member for special access to cheap tickets and advance screenings all year round. 

And if you’re a fan of a good old impromptu trip to the theatre, TodayTix is for you. The platform offers cheap lottery tickets to some of the biggest shows in town, and even lets you set an alert for any last-minute tickets that might pop up on the day for a show you want to catch. 

Ok, getting out of bed at 6am in winter is kind of criminal, but hear us out on this one. Train trips in Melbourne are completely free if you touch on and off before 7.15am, which is well worth the early morning wake-up call. Consider booking a yoga or Pilates class before work, helping you avoid the dreaded evening trip to the gym.

While the NGV does some amazing paid exhibitions, many people aren’t aware of its rotating program of free collections, covering everything from ancient jewellery to modern and contemporary design. It’s a pretty fun place to just wander around if you’re looking to kill time without spending a cent. And for more free art, check out our round-up of other exhibitions that won't cost you a thing.

For when you’re not feeling like a steak or parma and a homecooked meal is too much effort, there are some trusty Melbourne eateries dishing up some hot food specials. Campari House has a $17 main meal and $5 wine lunch special from Monday to Friday; Henry Sugar is doing a two-course menu for $50 per person and Good Times has its $9 puttanesca available every night of the week.

'Buy more, save more', or however the saying goes, right? Buying in bulk is the way to get the most bang for your buck and covers more than just nuts and cereal. Bulk food stores like Cheaper Buy Miles, The Royal Nut Company and even Costco (though you do have to pay a membership fee) have everything from bulk spices to laundry powder, helping you stock up for cheap.

Buying pre-loved doesn’t have to mean skimping on style. Melbourne is known for its quality op shops and vintage and secondhand stores, many of them filled with designer labels and high-end brands. Some favourites include Goodbyes, Swop and Savers.