If you're only just emerging dazedly from the festive fog, you might've noticed that we've entered a whole new year.

Whether your New Year's resolutions are to completely transform yourself, or to just hang in there until your next holiday, a fresh year can be a good opportunity to take charge of your life.

We're not talking green smoothies, gruelling crack-of-dawn runs and hyperbolic mantras – just some simple steps to help you get ahead in 2025 before life gets in the way.

Taking care of these dull but do-able things will free up some extra coin to help ease the cost of living

Yes, even thinking about adulting when you're still recovering from a Christmas coma is painful, but knocking over a few key life admin tasks can give you a sense of satisfaction that feels better than that afternoon nap after Christmas lunch.

If smug satisfaction isn't enough, there's another incentive: cold, hard cash. Taking care of these dull but do-able things will free up some extra coin to help ease the cost of living. 

Our tips will help you get these tedious tasks sorted quickly so you can go back to planning your next holiday (which as we all know is the only antidote to the back-to-work blues).

On this page:

• 1. Em-power yourself
• 2. Give your finances a tune-up
• 3. Switch up your shopping habits
• 4. Show your appliances some love
• 5. Sort out your will

1. Em-power yourself

Hands up if you stick your head in the sand every time the electricity bill arrives? I know I do. 

And direct debit makes it even easier to ignore – it's all taken care of without you having to lift a finger (or look at the scarily large number next to the dollar sign!). 

But that blissful ignorance could end up costing you more: electricity prices are climbing along with everything else, and if you're not sure how much you're paying, there's a good chance it's too much. 

Changing your energy retailer might sound like a huge headache, but it's actually simpler than you think – and you don't even have to pick up the phone to do it. 

Here's our step-by-step guide to switching electricity companies.

(Check your other bills while you're at it: you could find a better deal on your gas, internet and mobile phone plan too.)

2. Give your finances a tune-up

In this economy, every dollar counts, so make sure you're getting the most out of your money. 

Home, health and car insurance

Insurers used to reward their customers' loyalty, but these days it's more about attracting new customers than looking after existing ones.

It's unfair, but you can beat them at their own game by taking advantage of the perks they're offering to lure in new business.

Beat insurers at their own game by taking advantage of the perks they're offering to lure in new business

Check what price your current insurer is offering new customers, then call and ask them to match it, or find out if they have any discounts or offers for existing customers. 

If they don't, take your business elsewhere – there's sure to be another insurer who'll offer you the same for less. 

Our experts know all the tricks in the book to help you save:

• How to save money on home insurance
• Five steps to better, cheaper health insurance
• How to pay less for your car insurance

Superannuation

Super can seem complicated, boring and (especially if you're young) like something that's a problem for future you.

But the time you invest into checking up on your super now will pay off many times over in years to come, so it's well worth the effort. 

Our experts say there are six simple steps that'll help you get the best out of your retirement savings. Even if you just do one or two, you'll reap the rewards later in life. 

Want more advice? Check our expert advice on managing your superannuation. 

Credit cards and personal loans

There's a lot to like about buying something right now and paying it off later – who wouldn't want to get their hands on the goods ASAP rather than waiting while you save?

Unfortunately, if you don't stay on top of your repayments they can get out of hand, and before you know it those smaller purchases can add up to one big debt. 

Need help? We'll talk you through what to do if you're struggling with buy now, pay later debt, plus tips for how to choose the best credit card while keeping interest and fees as low as possible. 

If you're lucky enough to have some cash squirrelled away for a rainy day, ensure your money is working for you: here's our round-up of the best high-interest savings accounts.

Audit your accounts

The new year is the perfect time to ask yourself whether you're getting value out of what you're paying for.

Take a look at what's coming out of your account on a regular basis. 

Do you have a gym membership but never work out? Are you paying for apps you never use? Is there a streaming service you don't watch much? What fees is your bank charging you? Do you ever use your health insurance extras?

These little expenses can really add up, and they don't usually take long to sort out, so spending an hour doing a quick scan of your direct debits and cancelling a few subscriptions will put that wasted money back in your pocket.

Little expenses from unused memberships and subscriptions can really add up. A quick audit of your accounts will likely help you identify some savings.

3. Switch up your shopping habits

One of the simplest ways to make room in your budget is by changing the way you do your grocery shop:

• First, check which supermarket has the cheapest groceries so you know where to get the best bang for your buck.
• Then, check our reviews while you write your shopping list to make sure you're getting the best products for your money. We test everything from dishwasher detergent and tea bags to stain removers and Dutch ovens (for those Aldi Special Buys). 
• Consider switching from your usual brands. Some supermarket home-brand products will give you far better performance for a far lower price. Here are the home brand products that top our tests. 
• Don't get sucked in by so-called 'specials' – always check the unit price to make sure you're paying the cheapest price. Using unit pricing can help to make your grocery budget go further.
• Watch out for 'shrinkflation', where a product gets smaller but the price stays the same – or even goes up. Watch out for these 10 grocery items that are victims of 'shrinkflation'. 

4. Show your appliances some love

Household appliances like fridges, washing machines, air con and ovens are big purchases. And the costs keep on coming even after you've left the store: you'll be paying energy bills, repair costs and, eventually, buying a new one.

A little bit of cleaning here and there will help keep your machines humming along happily (and efficiently) for as long as possible.

A little bit of cleaning will help keep your machines humming along happily (and efficiently) for as long as possible

Want a quick and easy win? Give your appliance filters a clean – it'll extend their life, make them easier to use and, even better, save you money.

If you think an appliance might be coming to the end of its life, we'll help you find out how long your household appliances should last and whether to repair or replace them.

5. Sort out your will

Just like sorting your superannuation, writing a will might seem like something you (hopefully!) won't need to worry about for a long time yet.

But none of us know when our day will come, and if you die without a will it can make things tricky for your loved ones. 

Online will kits are one way to take care of the situation, but are they any good? We compare online will kits and explore their pros and cons. 

Our end-of-life checklist will walk you through what you need to do to get your affairs in order, and give you advice if you're dealing with the loss of a loved one. 

Stock images: Getty, unless otherwise stated.

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