Three Mortgage Hacks That Could Save You Thousands …without giving up your daily oat latte.

When it comes to home loans, no one wants to be stuck paying more than they have to. And while we can’t magically make your mortgage disappear (sorry!), we can help you shave years off it and potentially save tens of thousands of dollars without overhauling your entire life.

Here are three smart, low-effort mortgage hacks that do serious heavy lifting: making extra repayments, switching your repayment frequency, and using an offset account like a money-saving queen.

💸 1. Making Extra Repayments (Even Small Ones!)

You know that unexpected bonus, tax return, or even the extra $50 you didn’t spend on brunch last month? Throw it at your mortgage.

Why it works:
Interest on your mortgage is calculated daily. That means every single dollar you pay above your minimum goes directly towards the loan’s principal and that reduces how much interest you’ll pay and for how long.

Let’s do some quick maths:
On a $500,000 mortgage at 6% over 30 years, paying just an extra $100 a month could save you over $40,000 in interest and knock nearly three years off your loan. Yes, really.

Quick tip:
Set up an automatic transfer for your ‘extra repayments’ so you don’t have to think about it. Out of sight, out of mind but working hard for your future self.

📅 2. Switching from Monthly to Fortnightly or Weekly Repayments

This one sounds too simple to make a difference but it really does.

Why it works:
Lenders usually calculate your mortgage repayments based on 12 months. But if you switch to fortnightly and pay half of your monthly repayment every two weeks, you’ll end up making 13 full repayments a year instead of 12.

That sneaky extra repayment goes directly towards your loan’s principal without you even noticing.

Translation: You’ll pay less interest and pay off your loan faster without spending more overall. Iconic behaviour

🏦 3. Using an Offset Account (A.K.A. Your Secret Weapon)

Think of an offset account as your mortgage’s bestie. It’s a regular bank account that’s linked to your home loan and the money you keep in it reduces the amount of your loan that gets charged interest.

Example time:
Got a $500,000 mortgage and $20,000 sitting in your offset account? You’ll only be charged interest on $480,000. It’s that simple.

What makes it a game-changer?
Your money stays accessible (no locking it away) but still works to reduce your interest. So every dollar in that account is helping you smash your mortgage while you live your life.

🧠 Big brain move:
Have your salary paid into your offset account and use it as your everyday spending account. The longer your money sits there, the harder it works for you.

The Bottom Line?

You don’t need to win the lottery to get ahead on your home loan. A few smart tweaks like making extra repayments, changing how often you pay, and getting your offset account sorted can make a massive difference.

You’ve got this. Your future, mortgage-free self? She’s already thanking you.