Saving Money on Food: The Australian Way of Frugal Living

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Australians have this knack of smart shopping. And by smart shopping, they mean getting quality products with as many savings as possible. When it comes to food Australia is a bit expensive but Aussies are intelligent enough to tackle that and save substantially on their food shopping also. In this write-up, I will explore how Australians save money on food. See how organized they are in fully utilizing their skills of discount shopping for food items.


Going for Generic Products


Aussies have realized that all brand-name products do not offer high-quality. They have therefore learned this art to pay extra only when they know for sure that brand-names for sure offer better quality. For instance, many Aussies prefer filtered water over brand names and save many a buck. Similarly, they prefer buying store-brand milk and margarine instead of going for brand names because that’s an obvious saving option.


Buy Bulk


If Aussies need something that is consumed over a long period of time they sure stockpile such items. Buying in bulk is a definitive way to get attractive discounts. They explore the stores for long-lasting items like rice or canned food and then order in bulk. Knowing that most butter, cheese, and bread last for longer periods and meat sliced in small pieces can be frozen for even 6 months, Australians save money on food by grabbing bulk offers. This way they save heaps of dollars in the long run.


Couponing


The coupon is yet another and the most effective way explaining how Australians save money on food. It is radiantly emerging as a great discount option. Let’s have a look at some of the vital e-commerce and couponing statistics about Australia.

• 72% of Australians use discount codes at least once in a month and Sydney is one of the top 4 cities in the world for coupon usage.
• 86% of Australians favor shopping by discounts and coupons.
• 82% of Aussies prefer digital coupons whereas 18% use printed coupons.


As 8 out of 10 Australians now shop online, shop groceries and plan dinners through supermarket deals, free delivery codes and Buy one get one free offer. Fitness and health care, for instance, is a key area where Aussies are using coupon codes for physical well-being. For instance, they are saving a great chunk of their hard-earned money because they now can have a healthy and fit lifestyle without paying exorbitant prices for health supplements.


Budget and Planning


According to the Australian Bureau of statistics Aussies, spend on average $95.5 on Restaurant meals and take away on a weekly basis. On food and non-alcoholic drinks, the Australian households spend $12300 in a year.
The average weekly spending of an Australian household on food, according to Budget Direct, goes like this:

• Bread = $6.97
• Rice = $1.09
• Meat = $26.73
• Eggs = $2.01
• Dairy products = $14.16
• Fruit = $13.50
• Vegetables = $16.28
• Condiments = $25.40
• Meals out & fast food = $110.33


Total spent = $275.41


The good thing about Aussies is however that they plan and make budgets for their grocery and food shopping. That explains very well our primary quest of How Australians save money on food.


Reduce Food Wastage


Australians are increasingly focusing on reducing their food wastage to save money for their families. According to the Rabobank Food waste report released in March 2019, Aussies reduced food wastage by $700 million in 2018, which is a 7% reduction as compared to 2017. The report, also reveals that three-quarters of Australians care about food wastage reduction. Let’s see how Australians save money on food by reducing food waste. They are now paying more attention to the following key areas.

• Meal planning: Aussies are now more effectively planning their weekly meal. They plan around discounts and deals available online and save wastage as well as cost.
• Effective consumption: This is the most important area in food wastage and Aussies are now caring more about selecting products with reasonable expiry period and ensuring consuming food items before it goes off. Now there is more attention on checking “use by” and “best before” dates and hence less throwing out of foodstuff.


Less Dining Out-Yet Another Way of How Australians Save Money on Food


Aussies feeling the pinch of inflationary pressure, now tend to cook more at home than to dine out. Nielsen state of the nation report revealed that 52% of the Australians eat their main meal at home every day and a further 21% of them take their main meal at home 6 days a week. In fact, Aussies, by staying home in favor of eating out are saving more than in 2 previous decades.


Changing Habits


The change in shopping, eating and socializing habits also play an important part in How Australians save money on food. Some very obvious developments are as follows:


1. No More Throwing Away of Leftovers


Thanks to online guidance regarding leftovers makeover, Australians are increasingly being aligned towards cooking delicious food from leftovers. They also take help from many specialized Apps( like Yume and love your leftovers etc. ) for using leftovers. See the following two examples to understand how Australians save money on food by just intelligently re-using leftovers:

• Breakfast bread cups and breadcrumbs are now common in Australian households which they make from leftover bread.
• Similarly, they prepare smoothies from leftover greens and fruits.


2. Better Storage

• Parents can also pair their kid’s leftovers with wine and a fun evening.


Better food preservation through better storage in refrigerator or freezer plays an important role in keeping food fresher for longer. Aussies in their quest for ways of how to save money on food, now focus more attention on methods that save food from going to waste. They now wrap food items in plastic or foil and keep them in containers also.


3. More Gardening for Herbs


The gardener inside Australian is now busier than ever. Even if they live in apartments, the Aussies now try to grow herbs in pots. Those who have more space in their houses and villas also plant other vegetables like potatoes, tomatoes, ginger, and garlic, etc. to save money. Although gardening is a skill that one has to learn over time, it’s worth the effort anyone that desires fresh and organic vegetable for good health.


Wrap up


A lot of couponing, discount deals, weekly meal planning, indoor gardening, better storage and much more; Australians are now truly conscious about the cost of feeding their family and are keen than ever to save bucks. In a nutshell, the answer to the question “How Australians save money on food?” can simply be put in the following sentence:


The change in lifestyle and habits and conscientious planning are the key players in keeping food bills low in Australia.

Alex Bill
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