Discover 5 simple ways you can start saving money

Adam Liaw teamed up with the CommBank Matildas to show how simple tweaks can give leftovers a second life, cutting food waste and grocery bills.
Jess Irvine and Barry Du Bois shared practical ways to cut energy costs, from switching providers for instant savings to everyday home efficiency hacks.
Narelda Jacobs and James Roberts spotlighted sustainability and security with a Tasmanian eco-business thriving off-grid and a warning to small business owners.

From turning last night’s dinner into a feast to learning how to outsmart energy bills, episode two of The Brighter Side was packed with practical tips and inspiring stories.

1. Leftovers deserve a second life

Food waste costs the average Aussie family thousands each year¹ but Adam Liaw showed just how easy it is to transform scraps into something special. With the CommBank Matildas at his side, he turned bolognese into hearty burrito bowls, proving a little creativity goes a long way. As he explained, combining leftovers with simple pantry staples “increases the volume and creates a whole new meal.”

Adam Liaw with CommBank Matildas Teagan Micah, Amy Sayer and Jada Whyman.

2. Switching providers can mean instant savings

If rising energy bills are making you sweat, CommBank personal finance expert Jess Irvine’s advice was clear: don’t panic, compare. She revealed CommBank data showing customers who switched providers saved an average of around 15 per cent—that’s about $200 a year for a typical household². “Don’t sweat it, shop it,” she encouraged, adding that comparison sites make the process easy and rewarding.

3. Home hacks can cut costs without sacrifice

When Barry Du Bois visited the Turner family’s Hunter Valley home, he found everyday fixes that could slash their bills, from shading an air conditioner’s outside unit to checking freezer insulation. His biggest lesson: efficiency doesn’t always mean expensive upgrades. “A simple awning or even some plants can stop an air-con unit working overtime,” he explained. Small tweaks can mean serious savings.

Barry Du Bois with the Turner family in the Hunter Valley.

4. Sustainability can spark whole new industries

Narelda Jacobs headed to Tasmania to meet Tara Howell, whose Blue Derby Pods Ride has transformed an old tin-mining town into a global mountain-biking destination. With luxury off-grid pods, locally sourced food and trails that attract 80,000 riders a year, it’s a shining example of how passion and sustainability can power a thriving business. “Luxury and sustainability don’t often go together,” Tara admitted, “but that’s what people actually want.”

Narelda Jacobs with Tara Howell, the director of Blue Derby Pods Ride.

5. Double-check before you pay that invoice

Scammers are getting smarter and James Roberts, CommBank’s scams and fraud expert, issued a warning that every small business owner should hear. One of the costliest scams is “business email compromise,” where criminals pose as trusted suppliers—or even your boss. His golden rule: “Always verify new payment details by calling a trusted number, not the one on the invoice.” It could be the call that saves thousands.

Watch and stream The Brighter Side, Fridays at 8:30pm on 10.

Published: 12 September 2025