If you’re struggling to pay for food or essentials, these community resources provide free meals, emergency parcels and other practical assistance. Bulk-buy items that you use a lot when they are on sale. Switch between stores and make the most of their weekly specials to cut costs.They’re just as nutritious because they’re picked at their peak and canned or frozen straight away. Swap some fresh vegetables and fruit with canned and frozen varieties.If you don’t have the freezer space, consider going halves with a friend. Then break it into meal-size portions and freeze for later use. Buy it in bulk from a local or online wholesale butcher to save money (search online for ‘wholesale meat NSW’). Meat is usually the most expensive item on the shopping list.You can save up to one-third on your produce compared with online supermarket prices over the seasonal cycle. Try searching online to ‘join a food hub to cut grocery bills’ or ‘buy fresh, imperfect produce’. But if you’re looking for a bigger bang for your buck, it can pay to go straight to the grower. Supermarkets are convenient and provide a big range. Make ground beef recipes like hamburgers and meatballs go further by adding breadcrumbs, rice, rolled oats, homemade oat flour or finely chopped vegetables to the mix.This might include cheaper and healthier versions of your takeaway favourites. Prepare double batches of meals like curries, soups and casseroles to either freeze or eat later in the week.The non-profit community-based organisation Nutrition Australia has plenty of cash-saving sandwich, snack and wrap ideas to prep ‘grab and go lunches’ ahead of time.Ĭonsumer advocacy group Choice helps you weigh up the value of frozen meals and other pre-packaged items to make sure you’re getting the most for your money. The Australian Government’s Eat for Health website provides nutritious recipes using mostly vegetables, and sample meal plans that include the 5 food groups. No fancy ingredients? No worries! The University of Newcastle has you covered with easy recipes and budget meal plans that meet all your nutritional needs (including a $60-a-week menu). You’ll see a real difference in your supermarket spend. Don’t have time? Use a meal planner instead. Get better value for your money by working out what you need in advance. Visit your local council’s website for food-waste ideas and advice.Search online for ‘scrappy cooking’ tips to get the most out of your food scraps.Recipe search engine Super Cook shows you how to fully use the ingredients you already have at home and stop wasted leftovers. You’ll find ideas for just about every item in the pantry. Got leftover food in the fridge? Turn it into something special (and be more sustainable) with the Food Wise recipe finder and meal planner. Save money and make the most of what you buy with the NSW government’s free online program to reduce food waste and easy hacks for upcycling your leftovers.Īustralian food rescue organisation Oz Harvest has a ton of tips to transform your leftovers – from ‘anything arancini’ to ‘cheesy cabbage bread bakes’ and ‘use-it-up milk ricotta’. You’ll save cash and stop expensive food from ending up in the bin. Look at your leftovers in a new light and learn to use up all your odds and ends first. So, give ‘best before’ items a sniff test first rather than throwing them straight in the bin. ‘Best before’ means the quality of the item may decline after this date. ‘Use by’ means it’s not safe to eat an item after this date. Know the difference between ‘use by’ and ‘best before’. It’s better for your health and will leave you with extra cash in your wallet. Have a meat-free meal at least once a week. This is a standard measure such as price per kilogram or price per litre. For a better buy, check the item’s unit price. The cheapest item on the shelf doesn’t always offer the best value for money. Items that have sauces added, or are shredded and sliced into salads, mean you are paying extra. Major supermarkets often sell misshapen produce under brand names like ‘imperfect picks’ and ‘the odd bunch.’ Many online vendors sell ‘ugly’ fruit and vegetables at reduced prices, too.īuy low-processed food. Then make a shopping list that corresponds with your meal plan.īuy imperfect produce – it's cheaper. Save money and time by planning meals for a few days or a week. A rough rule of thumb is to allow about $100 a week per person in your household, but the overall amount shouldn’t be more than one-third of your household’s after-tax income. Then search recipe sites for meal ideas using ingredients you already have. Check what’s in the pantry, fridge and freezer. Soft fruit can become smoothies or stewed for desserts. Work out how much food you’re throwing away and stop it from ending up in the bin.
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