Want to save some cash on your grocery bills and food expenses? Check out these simple and easy tips that the whole family can use for your next supermarket shop!
Even if you go in with an idea of what you want, impulse buys, tempting displays, new products are all there to entice you to spend more. However, resist the temptation to spend up big at the grocery store.
With cost of living pressures, we all know how important it is to keep our grocery spending in check. To help you get more bang for your buck, here are some of our favourite tricks and hacks to to save money on groceries and reduce your weekly supermarket costs.
Make a meal plan
Create a two-week meal plan so you can plan what to purchase for different meals to save money, time and food wastage.
Shop online
Shop online if you can to make sure you’re not shopping impulse buys. If you don’t want to pay the delivery fee, choose the click and collect option.
Make a shopping list
Make a shopping list before you go to the supermarket to avoid buying what you don’t need.
Sign up to Flybuys or Everyday Rewards
Sign up for a grocery rewards program like Woolworths Everyday Rewards or Coles Flybuys and then redeem the points for cash off your grocery bill.
Purchase Everyday Rewards Extra
If you regularly shop at Woolworths, consider purchasing the Woolworths Everyday Extra for $7 per month or $70 per year. You’ll receive 10% off every month on one shop at Woolworths and one shop at BIG W in-store or online. Plus, you receive 2x Everyday Rewards points on every shop at Woolworths and BIG W, in-store and online.
Not sure if this would work for your family? Try a free trial. New subscribers can try Everyday Extra benefits for free for 30 days. You’ll be asked to choose between a monthly or annual plan when you sign up, but your first 30 days are free and you won’t be charged until your 30-day free trial ends.
Eat before you shop
Don’t go shopping when you’re hungry or else you’ll end up buying more.
Review the circulars
Check the supermarket circulars and department store catalogues for specials. But in bulk when things are are on sale and stock up on non-perishable items.
Purchase gift cards for savings
If you have an Entertainment Book and shop at Woolworths, purchase a Woolworths Wish eGift card for 5% off. Automatically saves you 5% at Woolworths, Big W, Dan Murphys and Caltex Woolworths garages. Entertainment Book also offers 10% off David Jones eGift cards as well.
Compare unit prices
Check unit prices when you’re purchasing items. Sometimes buying a 2kg version is more expensive than two 1kg packets.
Buy generic
Buy home brands instead of brand name items to save money or visit Aldi for low prices. Save lots of money on your grocery bill by choosing the generic version over a name-brand product. Most of the time, you can’t tell the difference in taste. Here’s our list of 13 products to buy generic to save money.
Experiment with trying different generic brands to find the best tasting products and save money on your grocery bill. We suggest doing blind taste tests for you and your family so that you don’t let preconceived notions cloud your judgement.
Shop during markdown times
Learn when the supermarket does its markdowns on packaged meat, fish and produce and visit then. At our local supermarket, it’s between 10am and 11am. Often you can score big discounts on products near to their expiry date.
Research sales cycles
Shop strategically. Do you notice that your favourite products go on sale every couple of months? Grocery stores sometimes have sales cycles where certain things go on sale at a regular time. Stock up on when they’re on sale so that you don’t have to pay full price and make a note of when they go on sale to see if you can discover trends.
Buy imperfect fruit
If you can purchase the imperfect fruit and veggies for big savings. Woolworths has their Odd Bunch while Harris Farm offers imperfect produce as well.
Consider Costco
If you have a Costco membership, head there and buy in bulk. It’s especially great for non-perishables which you can throw in a cupboard and use as you need to (canned goods, laundry detergent, toilet paper) But make sure that you’re actually buying what you need. So easy to spend more than you planned in Costco!
Buy in season
Shop in season fruits and veggies. As well as being fresher and higher quality when they’re in season, these can end up saving you lots of money. Buying out of season produce can cost more as some of is transported from overseas.
Check your grocery bill
Always check your grocery bill before you leave. Print out a docket when you do your grocery shopping and review it to make sure that you’re being charged the right price. If you haven’t, go back and get a refund. Scanning Code of Practice for Woolworths, Coles and Aldi entitles customers to receive the first item free of charge and and all later items at the lower price if the scanned price of an item is greater than the shelf price displayed. Their policies also don’t apply to liquor or tobacco products, or when the price exceeds a certain threshold: $30 for Woolworths or $50 for Coles.
Buy with a friend
Buy fresh fruit and veggies in bulk and split with a friend or two.
Shop at Farmers Markets
Visit farmers markets and buy produce near to closing time. They might be more likely to discount price.
Buy in bulk
Buy non-perishables in bulk when they’re on sale. E.g. canned food, toilet paper, laundry detergent, etc
Grow your own
Grow your own herbs and vegetables. Even if you’re not a major green thumb, they’re easy to grow and save you purchasing herbs or veggies. Here in Australia, we are blessed with a great climate for growing herbs and vegetables. You don’t need a massive garden either. Some gardeners have had success in 1-metre plots or even balcony gardens. Here are some of the best veggies to grow to save money on your grocery bill.
Want more tips on saving money? Check out our article How to Easily Save Money – 101 Tips to Save on Family Expenses.