A Tasmanian mother-of-three has revealed the secret to cutting her family’s grocery costs by more than $4,000 a year.
Rachel Power, who lives in the remote Mount Field National Park, saves an average of $50 a week on food as well as hours in travel time, simply by shopping online.
The thrifty saver runs Waterfalls Cafe as well as her own merchandise shop, and says that digital sites such as Catch.com.au provide the perfect way to compare prices and shop smart.
The website helps compile bargains and daily deals across a thousands of brands including those in fashion, food, home decor and lifestyle products.
Tasmanian mother-of-three Rachel Power has revealed the secret to cutting her family’s grocery costs by more than $4,000 a year
Mrs Power told Daily Mail Australia she first began purchasing items online when her children were young, as a way of avoiding dragging them to the shops.
But it had since became a saviour for the family-of-five after they moved from Canberra to a remote spot an hour’s drive from Hobart.
‘Now it just works perfectly because of the constraints of our location, the nearest supermarket is in New Norfolk which is more than half an hour away,’ Mrs Power said
Shopping on a range of sites, Mrs Power said she saved not just on groceries, but on birthday and Christmas gifts, as well as clothing for her children.
Mrs Power (pictured with her daughters Jemma and Jasmine, son Teddy and husband Greg), saves an average of $50 a week on food as well as hours in travel time, simply by shopping online
Shopping on a range of sites, Mrs Power said she saved not just on groceries, but on birthday and Christmas gifts, as well as clothing for her children
Among her favourite items to purchase are shoes, and she often saves hundreds of dollars by choosing to purchase online rather than in-store.
‘I would save about $150 a pair sometimes, while one work pair I bought from a shoe shop in town for $220 I managed to get online again later for $60,’ Mrs Powers said.
The economical mum also managed to get herself a personal splurge in the form of a designer shoes for $100, which she said usually goes for around $600 from retailers.
‘Online means I can shop worldwide, because while Hobart has similar shops to the rest of Australia you don’t get shoes like this here,’ she said.
‘What it does mean is when I want my retail therapy it is just that, me time to shop for things I want to, rather than things I have to.’
Among her favourite items to purchase are shoes, which she said she often saves hundreds on by choosing to purchase online rather than in-store, including some designer brands that were $500 cheaper
Her top tips to help other families cut back on their grocery bills included checking reputable sites to get a good price and not being afraid to haggle in store using prices from other Australian sites
Mrs Power said she also saves money on fuel, with shopping online saving her $20 in fuel each time she would have to commute to the supermarket and back.
‘But it is about $40 plus parking if I’m not going to Hobart,’ she said.
‘The time I save shopping online is immeasurable! It also means I save my husband’s sanity as he is supposed to be the home dad but hates shopping with a passion.’
Another perk of online shopping was the fun friendship it started with her local post lady, who she said loves to ‘stay and chat’ so she can see what’s inside the packages.
As for her top tips to help other families cut back on their grocery bills as Christmas approaches, Mrs Power said checking reputable sites to get a good price was a must.
And for those wanting to go shop in store she said haggling could prove fruitful, with some Australian shops willing to match prices from other sites across the country.
But importantly, she said respecting retailers was important to ensure the choice remained possible, with some items supporting local communities.
‘Bricks and mortar are still essential to the economy. So save money on the big ticket items but spend some money shopping and supporting local and small businesses.’