How to save money on groceries: eat healthily without overspending

Whether you’re shopping for one or feeding a family, this guide covers how much to budget for groceries, save on food shopping, tools to compare supermarket prices and how MyBudget can help simplify your finances and keep you on track.

To save, how much should I budget for groceries each week? A realistic breakdown

Before we dive into savings hacks for groceries, let’s talk numbers. What should you actually be spending each week on groceries? The answer depends on your household size, eating habits, and whether Uber Eats or Menulog are pinned at the top of your phone’s home screen.

According to Finder, the average grocery spend per household is around $185 per week for one person, $280 for a couple, and $400+ for a family of four. But with food prices rising faster than my patience at a beeping self-checkout, it’s time to get clever about your weekly food budget.

How Aussie shoppers can save money on groceries and still eat nutritious meals

Let’s get straight into the good stuff, how to trim your food spending without eating pasta for a month.

1. Meal planning: your budget-friendly roadmap for saving at the checkout

If you go to the shops without a plan, you’re basically writing a blank cheque to the supermarket. Planning meals for the week means you buy only what you need and waste less.

Pro tip: For cheaper meals, plan your shopping list around what’s on sale at Coles, Woolworths & Aldi. And if you want to make meal planning even easier, keep reading for a free download of our Healthy Meals Meal Planning Guide, packed with delicious, budget-friendly recipes designed by a nutritionist.

2. Find the best supermarket deals without falling for marketing tricks

A half-price label is great… unless it’s for something you wouldn’t normally buy (looking at you, $9 organic kale chips). Stick to your grocery list and use weekly specials to stock up on pantry staples.

3. Name brands vs. Home brands: is there really a difference?

Sometimes, the only difference between a name-brand and a generic product is the packaging. Test out supermarket brands for things like flour, rice, and cleaning products. You might not even notice the difference, except in your bank account. According to this Choice report, Aldi consistently ranks as the cheapest supermarket for groceries, coming in at 25% cheaper.

PSA: Not sure who needs to hear this, but if you’re tapping at Aldi, you’re paying extra! Avoid the 0.5% surcharge by inserting your card and selecting ‘savings‘ instead! You’re welcome.

Real savings: how MyBudget clients are cutting grocery costs

Adam and Erin are real life MyBudget clients who have discovered smart ways to save on their grocery bills while food shopping. With a personalised budget plan, they’ve slashed their supermarket spending and made their money go further.

Before MyBudget, we bought whatever we needed without thinking about the cost. Now, I plan our weekly food shop and keep it under $225 for our family of four. This wouldn’t be possible without MyBudget.

Erin – MyBudget client

4. Budget-friendly fresh fruit and vegetables: how shopping at green grocers can save you money

Local green grocers often offer fresher and more affordable fruit and veg than supermarkets, especially if you buy in season. To put this to the test, I recently did a grocery run at both my local Woolworths and my neighbourhood green grocer, purchasing the same fresh fruit and veg for the week, and ended up saving over 20% by choosing the green grocer. As a bonus, I got to feel good about supporting a local business and keeping my dollars in the community!

5. Paying for the convenience of prepacked fresh fruit and vegetables

Pre-cut vegetables, grated cheese, and single-serve packs are just supermarkets charging you extra for doing less.

Pro tip: Compare the price per kg of the pre-cut and the unit price of the whole ingredient. That’s how much you’re paying for someone to cut up your food.

I did a quick price comparison at Coles and found that a:

• 500g bag of pre-cut pumpkin is $5.00 or $10.00 per kg

The same pumpkin purchased as a half a pumpkin weighing over:

• 500g (appx 700g) is only $2.80 or $4.00 per kg

This means, by simply cutting up your own 500g pumpkin, you will save $2.20 or $6.00 per kg and actually receive 200g bonus pumpkin.

$2.20 might not sound like much, but let’s multiply that by once a week for a year: and suddenly you have saved $114.40 just by cutting up your own pumpkin. Imagine how much you’d save if you cut your own carrots, or grate your own cheese as well! Small changes equal big wins!

6. Maximising savings with supermarket loyalty programs: do they really work?

Woolworths Rewards and Flybuys can rack up discounts if you actually redeem them, but are you really saving? If you’re spending more just to earn points, those ‘rewards’ might be costing you. On the flip side, savvy shoppers are maximising savings by buying gift cards during discount sales, stacking them with their 10% monthly shop discount, and squeezing out extra savings. But at the end of the day, are these rewards programs just a clever marketing gimmick?

7. How to reduce food waste and save money on groceries

Did you know Aussies waste about $2,500 worth of food per year? Keep track of what’s in your fridge, freeze leftovers, and get creative with what you have before hitting the shops. You can also combat food waste by:

• planning meals around what you already have
• properly storing fresh produce to extend its shelf life
• using scraps creatively, think veggie broth from leftover peels or turning stale bread into croutons.

Check out more tips from OzHarvest to make the most of your groceries and reduce waste.

Is there an app for comparing grocery prices to help you save?

Grocery price comparison might sound time-consuming, but did you know there are apps for this? WiseList has created an app that helps shoppers compare prices across major supermarkets like Aldi, Woolworths and Coles to find the best deals so you can reduce your grocery costs. It allows users to track prices, create shopping lists, and even set alerts for price drops. While it won’t replace smart shopping habits, it can be a handy tool for those looking to stretch their grocery budget further and save a little time.

If apps are not your thing, check out the BuyWisely website. Search, compare & save all for free!

Save on groceries with our free healthy meal planning on a budget guide!

Eating well on a budget just got easier! Our free healthy meal planning on a budget guide, designed by nutritionist Samantha Stuk, offers:

✅ A two-week meal plan packed with delicious, budget-friendly recipes
✅ Shopping lists to keep your grocery trips efficient and cost-effective
✅ Dietary modifications including vegan, vegetarian, gluten-free, and low FODMAP options
✅ Meal prep tips to help you save time and money while eating healthily.

Take the stress out of meal planning and keep your grocery budget in check.

Download your free healthy meal planning on a budget guide today!

How MyBudget can help you save money on your weekly grocery shop

If all of this sounds like effort (because, to be honest, life is busy), MyBudget can take the stress out of it. Here’s why letting MyBudget help you manage your finances will save you time and money:

✅ Automates your grocery budget, so you never overspend or forget to factor in food costs
✅ Pays bills for you because life admin is overrated
✅ Shows you exactly what you can afford no more mid-month ‘oops’ moments
✅ Helps you save for future goals because groceries shouldn’t eat up all your money
✅ Keeps your finances stress-free so you can focus on more important things, like saving for that island getaway.

Ready to slash your grocery bills?

Let’s save on groceries next time you are food shopping! MyBudget can help you cut grocery costs and stay on budget. Enquire online now and one of our qualified personal budgeting specialists will be in touch, or call 1300 300 922 for immediate financial relief.

With MyBudget managing your finances, you’ll always know exactly where your money is going. Say goodbye to juggling food costs, late bill payments, and unexpected expenses, let us handle the budgeting while you enjoy more financial freedom. Let us do the hard work while you enjoy peace of mind and more savings.