Tips to make and save money, especially for Aussies. As featured on ABC, Nine and Channel 7. Sign up for weekly tips plus freebies and discounts.
How to Save on Groceries, Health and Beauty
How to Reduce the Cost of GroceriesThe cost of groceries keeps rising and it is not being passed onto the farmers by the big supermarkets. A number of everyday essentials have risen so much they are unaffordable for many. So how can you save money on the cost of groceries? In our home, I have 5 kids who are South Pacific Islanders and play sports so they eat a lot. We have a strong focus on nutrition due to the elite levels the older ones are at with their sports and because I had severe health issues with my last 3 pregnancies. Here are some of the things I do to reduce the cost of groceries: Compare Prices: I know it's obvious but it works. Knowing the general cost of things, where and when to get them on sale and shopping accordingly saves money. Now we are in Western Australia, I hardly shop at the big supermarkets at all. SpudShed, Farmer Jack's and local markets are significantly better. On the east coast, I found similar, in that once I knew which local stores had better prices, Coles and Woolworths were not worth it. Join VIP/Reward Programs: I compared Everyday Rewards/Everyday Extra and Coles Plus/Flybuys to give you an idea of each program. Those are not the only places you can get groceries though! Be smart about how you use those programs to maximise discounts. They are collecting your data and marketing to you to get you to spend more and influence your shopping. We are members of a few but shop at independent places more. Meal Kit Discounts with Low Carb Options: We rotate meal kit discounts but focus on high protein low carb meals so we can add our own carbs and stretch meals as needed. Marley Spoon has the best options for us right now and is offering up to $180 off but you can find the discounts for all the meal kits and our experiences here. Cook Up Day: Sundays are the best day for our family to do a cook up, meaning cook a few things at once to make dinners easier. We also like to make double batches of things where possible such as lasagne, shepherd's pie, bolognese, dhal, pho etc. Any meal is loaded with vegetables and mince dishes such as the ones listed are easy to use sad veggies in too. Shop Away from Supermarkets: Check out your local farmer's markets, butchers, green grocer, multicultural shops, reject/cheap shops, warehouses and similar. All of these often have items for much less than the supermarkets. Turn Leftovers Into Something New: Most people don't want to eat the same thing for multiple days in a row. Learning how to turn leftovers into something new is a valuable skill. I have a list of various leftovers, food scraps and what to do with them here. Learn Frugal Skills: Learn how to plan meals based around similar ingredients so nothing goes to waste. With this learn how you can adapt your meal plan if you find things reduce to clear too. Try your hand at making basics such as tortillas, pizza bases and other items you buy often. Store food correctly to make it last longer e.g freeze meat if you aren't going to use it quickly, wrap celery in foil to extend its life, etc. Articles to Help What We Ate When I Was BrokeIdeally, we would eat healthily all the time. Some weeks it might feel like you'll barely make it through or maybe you are at a stage of life where there is no capacity to cut back, work more or similar, so you have to make do. I've been there and at those times, I rotated a few simple meals because I could get the food cheap. Fried rice: Day old rice is best, I used ham sometimes, egg and any vegetables I had on hand. Sourcing what I could for free from food banks, bartering, free groups, growing my own when I could etc. Then learning how to make it all stretch meant I could do a lot more with what we had than I originally though. Yes, sometimes it was repetitive or boring but it got us through. We were fed and that was what mattered. How to Save Money on Other GroceriesCleaning products, toiletries and the other items we include in groceries can add up. Depending on your budget, you might also need to incorporate parties, Christmas or other celebrations and their expenses into the grocery budget as there's not much wiggle room. Cleaning Products: Many cleaning products you buy you don't need and add to the toxicity in your home. Vinegar, water, creating your own orange cleaner with peels and vinegar are all effective for various cleaning jobs. Clove oil is great for killing oil. Buy items in bulk when they are on sale such as toilet paper, washing power/liquid etc. Research eco friendly options, use cloth instead of paper towels and wipes, clean regularly so things don't build up and you'll save heaps. Toiletries/Beauty Products: We make some of ours and plan to experiment more. Buy items when they are on sale, shop around, learn what works for you and what you actually need instead of buying into every trend. We buy soap in bulk when it is on sale as we have preferred options. Hair products vary as I have fine, blonde hair, my kids have mixed hair between thick and fine, more afro to less and Justin's is afro (he's from Vanuatu) so we use different products based on our needs. Coconut oil is used for various purposes including hair and scalp masks, oiling the hair, oil pulling (teeth and gums), moisturiser, mixing with coffee grounds for a body scrub etc. Read 7 tips for beauty on a budget and how to make and save money on health and beauty. How to Reduce the Cost of HealthWhen you fall ill or have medical issues your budget can get blown fast. Job loss might happen, reduce hours or capacity to work, the cost of medical bills, it all compounds which makes getting healthy again much harder. Here are some tips to help you stay healthy and to reduce the cost if you get sick: 10 ways to improve your health and wellness How to Use $100 to Improve Your LifeING are giving $100 to new customers so I wrote about different ways you can improve areas of your life for under $100. Check it out here. I cover investing in yourself, beauty, health, groceries and more. Most of it is how spending $100 or less in specific things can save you long-term in those specific areas. What I Am ReadingAt the moment, I am working through a growth journal and reading Radical Self-Love by Gala Darling. Neither of these were on my 2026 reading list but I picked them up at the op shop recently. Discounts For You!Check out all the May freebies, discounts and bank bonuses here. ING has $100 and Up Bank increased theirs to $21 instantly for this month. The Thrifty Issue CommunityFor more and to connect with others, check out The Thrifty Issue Facebook group, Facebook page, Instagram, Pinterest and Twitter. |
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Tips to make and save money, especially for Aussies. As featured on ABC, Nine and Channel 7. Sign up for weekly tips plus freebies and discounts.
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