After accommodation, food is one of the biggest household expenses, but it’s also one area where it’s possible to make savings with a few simple switch-ups to your routine.
Here are 8 tips to help reduce your food budget by making small, manageable changes that can add up to big savings in the longer term.
1. Plan your meals
They say ‘a goal without a plan is only a dream’, and if your goal is to cut back on your food budget this year, you need to be prepared. I always start by working out what we have going on for the week: work days, any travel, social events, birthdays etc. and plan our meals for the week around any events. This avoids any food wastage and means we’re not struggling to decide what to cook for dinner every night (because past us has already done the hard work!). The taste + Coles Savvy Dinner Plan is a great place to start as all the meals are planned out for you. The recipes are specially designed to use ingredients across meals, helping maximise your shop and minimise food wastage.
2. Write a shopping list
It sounds simple but writing down exactly what you need after planning your meals is key! It keeps you on track when you’re shopping and helps you avoid over spending. I like to break my shopping list into categories e.g. fruit and vegetables, meat, cold stuff, frozen section, so I can avoid any backtracking and potential temptation while perusing the aisles.
3. Don’t go grocery shopping on an empty stomach
Just don’t. You’ll only think with your stomach and can end up buying random snacks you don’t really need.
4. Find recipes that are similar to your favourite takeaway that are still quick to cook
Try swapping out a trip to your local drive thru or restaurant for an alternative recipe that still delivers on flavour. Not only is it a lot cheaper but it’s also a fun way to try something new in the kitchen! This chicken keema curry is ready in 40 minutes and is super easy to master.
5. Consider having more vegetarian meals
Meat is one of the biggest expenses on our shopping list, so we’ll often go for a vegetarian option to help save money. This easy vegie dahl bowl costs under $3 a serve and stretches a long way.
6. Give yourself “treat days”
My husband and I often have Coffee Friday, where we treat ourselves to a takeaway coffee on our morning walk. This means we’re not restricting ourselves completely and are able to be consistent with our food budget. Buying coffee once a week instead of daily could save you almost $2,000 each across the year. It’s the little changes that can create long-term savings.
7. Shop the specials
We use sales to stock up on pantry essentials like Vegemite or coffee beans. Be aware of what’s on special when you’re doing your weekly shop, so you can stock up on what you need before it runs out.
8. Use supermarket own brand
I find these are great options for simple essentials like pasta or rice, as they help reduce costs without compromising on the result of the recipes I cook.
