FINDING a little financial relief in the current economic climate can be a gift. Gaining financial skills to help you manage your money long-term, along with the opportunity to have $500 of savings matched, is a true gift that can benefit you well into the future.
The Saver Plus program delivered by Berry Street Shepparton, in conjunction with ANZ bank, the Brotherhood of St. Laurence and the Smith Family, is based around education, either your children’s education or your own.
Eligible people open an ANZ Progress Saver account and make regular deposits over 10 months towards their savings goal, while learning strategies for budgeting and planning for the future by completing the free Money Minded financial education workshops. At the end of the program and when you’ve reached your savings goal, your savings will be matched dollar for dollar (up to $500) to help pay for education-related expenses for you or your child.
Former local Sarah Warrener used the program to help her manage her finances amid the rising costs of moving out of home for university.
“I have always had issues saving money, and used to enjoy shopping and buying lunch. This became a major issue for me when I needed to move for university, as student accommodation is expensive, so when I heard about the program I signed up to change my bad habits,” said Sarah.
“In my MoneyMinded sessions, I was introduced to Simon, who taught me a lot about saving money when shopping, making investments and what resources I can use to see which superannuation fund is the best for me. This has helped me save more money, and I think about my future, where I can budget my expenses to ensure I’m saving for emergencies that may occur. “
To be eligible to participate, you need to be:
18 years or over
Have a child at school, starting school next year, or be studying yourself
Have a current Health Care or Pensioner Concession Card
Receive an eligible Commonwealth social security benefit, allowance or payment
Have regular other income (you or your partner)
Many types of income and Centrelink payments are eligible
Saver Plus was developed by ANZ and the Brotherhood of St. Laurence and is delivered in partnership with The Smith Family and Berry Street Yooralla. It is funded by ANZ and the Department of Social Services. Apply now for the 2027 school year by visiting www.saverplus.org.au or contact Saver Plus on 1300 610 355 for more information.
