This year, the theme for International Women’s Day (March 8) is “Press for Progress” which calls on all of us to individually and collectively progress gender parity. We all know that gender parity won’t happen overnight, but the good news is according to the organisers of IWD that women are making positive gains day by day. So, if you’ve been a little complacent with your finances until now, make 2018 the year that you do some gap closing of your own and make better financial decisions.

Here are four ways you can get started:

Channel your inner haggler

“You don’t get what you don’t ask for.” This saying is unfortunately true whether it’s in regards to getting a pay rise at work or talking to your bank about getting a better home loan rate. While it can be nerve wracking, being a good negotiator is an important skill to have at your disposal. At Mozo, we conducted a home loan mystery shop last year and found that customers who asked for a discount got one. And those discounts weren’t just for a few hundred dollars saving, for someone refinancing their home loan the savings added up to over $2800 a year!

Of course, the key for successful negotiation is being prepared with the facts to back you up. If you’re negotiating for a pay rise, go armed with information on your recent results, key achievements, savings you’ve made your company etc. And if it’s about your mortgage, be prepared by comparing home loan rates from other lenders first and get them to price match or offer you a better deal.

Ditch the complacency

Just as we can’t be complacent in our progress towards gender parity, we can’t be complacent with our utility, banks and insurance providers. As media coverage of the Banking Royal Commission and summer energy crisis has shown, customer loyalty can cost you big bucks. Set aside a day and make it your priority to shop around for a better deal on everything from your electricity plan to your health fund. Interestingly, when it comes to car insurance, women have the upper hand as men on average pay more than $108 more than women so be sure that you find an insurer that will reward you with discounts for habits like having a clean driving record or sensible driving habits.

Avoid paying the ‘pink tax’

Yes, there is such a thing. The pink tax is when brands charge women more for an equivalent product. Whether it’s razor blades or Valentine’s Day cards (yes, really), women shouldn’t be charged a premium price for an equivalent item marketed to men.

So, next time you’re at the supermarket, before you fall for the cute pink packaging compare prices between products and make a conscious decision to opt for best priced one instead.

Invest in your future

Whether it’s making a choice to invest in cruelty-free beauty and skincare products or setting up a rainy-day savings account for emergencies, don’t put off what you can do today until tomorrow. No-one should be more interested in your future than you, so when it comes to being more financially savvy if you don’t know the difference between a government bond or a managed fund now is the time to learn. There are free courses run by organisations like the Australian Stock Exchange for first time investors, information on sites like the Government’s website Moneysmart or on our site Mozo to help you get started.

Kirsty Lamont - Mozo money expert

Kirsty Lamont is a money expert and Director at financial comparison website mozo.com.au. She is passionate about helping Australian women develop their money management skills so they can make better, more informed financial choices.