Shopper shares how and when to get marked down groceries at Coles with hack that saved her hundreds

A money-saving mum has revealed her thrifty shopping hack that saved her more than $250 across two trips to the supermarket. 

The Victorian shopper said she phoned a nearby Coles to ask when they would be marking down perishable groceries and timed her shops accordingly. 

She was told they discounted food three times a day and managed to score $199.11 worth of meat for $46.97 on her first shop and $129.89 of groceries for just $23.77 on her second. 

She was told they discount food three times a day and managed to score $199.11 worth of meat for $46.97 on her first shop and $129.89 of groceries for just $23.77 on her second

Across the two hauls, she would have spent $329 for the groceries had they been full price but only forked out $70.74 saving a whopping $258.26.   

‘I live in country Victoria but I was in Melbourne on Thursday for a funeral. Went with my sister and went back to her house where my brother-in-law told me about this,’ she wrote in a post to the Simple Savers Facebook group.

‘He said ring your local Coles and ask them when they do their mark downs… I rang mine and they said three times a day.’

She was told the morning markdowns are mostly in the bakery while bigger markdowns across the diary, meat and dairy sections occur in later in the evening around 6:30pm

She said she was told the morning markdowns are mostly in the bakery while bigger markdowns across the diary, meat, fresh produce and dairy sections occur in later in the evening around 6:30pm. 

‘Also it’s only on items with a use-by on same day and they will already have the markdown sticker on them,’ she added. 

‘Although I did get four items that had the next day’s date on them. So ring your local Coles store and ask them.’

The bargain hunter said she hasn’t eaten steak in years because she could never afford it but nabbed 11 ‘good sized’ scotch fillets for only $15.52. 

On her first shop, she bought two chickens for $4 each, a leg of lamb for $2.42, 500grams of pork mince for $1.60, six lamb kebabs for $1.70 as well as discounted sausages, nuggets, schnitzels and prawns. 

‘I had two huge organic chickens at 2.6kilo that were $23 marked down to $4,’ she said.

‘I gave them away to two families that I was telling about my win as we are all struggling soooo much and we need to help each other when we can,’ she said. 

The bargain hunter said she hasn’t eaten steak in years because she could never afford it but nabbed 11 ‘good sized’ scotch fillets for only $15.52

Days later, the mum used the proven tactic again and stocked up on a bunch more great bargains she said she will store in the freezer

Days later, the mum used the proven tactic again and stocked up on a bunch more great bargains she said she will store in the freezer. 

She picked up a range of meats that were all less than $3 each including a pack of sizzle steaks for $2.60, beef burger patties for $1.70 as well as chicken mince, nuggets and breasts. 

The Coles customer also raided the bakery and fridge section for reduced sweet snacks and ready-made meals scoring a whole cheesecake for $1.55, roulade for $2.50, $1.10 cupcakes and a chicken biryani for $1.56. 

Hundreds of group members were wowed by the ‘ripper hauls’ and thankful for the money saving tips amid the rising cost of living. 

‘So pleased you scored big!! It sure is fantastic when that happens. Oh enjoy eating that steak,’ one woman replied. 

‘It’s great to get food you normally wouldn’t afford. I get excited when I get lamb,’ another wrote. 

‘I remember when I worked for a supermarket and people would follow the market down person around… I’m now that person following,’ laughed a third.