The simple shopping swaps that could save you thousands 

As most will be aware, the weekly trip to the supermarket can be expensive, one that’s even more so when you’re busy or don’t have time to properly plan.

It’s a scenario Daniella and Greg Marshall are all too aware of, especially since the arrival of their son Hunter.

The time-poor parents were caught in the trap of convenience food, weekly takeout meals and impulse buys – habits that saw their yearly food bill top $20,580.

The figure is close to $7,000 above the national average of $13,900 per household. 

 

New parents Greg and Daniella Marshall (pictured left and right) revealed their annual shopping bill topped $20,580

The couple, who appeared on Tuesday night’s episode of Eat Well For Less, revealed their spending had spiraled out of control since the arrival of their new son. 

‘Since having Hunter our shopping habits have changed quite a lot,’ Daniella said on the show. ‘It probably quadrupled in price.’

To help the pair cut costs, celebrity chef Ben O’Donoghue and journalist Leila McKinnon took a close look at how pair shopped, spent and splurged.

And the end result with a few simple swaps? Savings of as much as $10,700. 

Look above and below your eye line

Over the course of the program, the couple were filmed shopping for their weekly groceries. As was expected the pair impulse bought most items.

However, the shock came once it was revealed just how much they’d spent: a staggering $454.55.

While it can be tempting to reach for the first thing you see at the supermarket, foods that are directly in your eye line are often the most expensive.

The real bargains are much more likely to be placed on lower or higher shelves – the places most people don’t tend to look.

While it can be tempting to reach for the first thing you see at the supermarket, remember these are often the most expensive (stock image)

While it can be tempting to reach for the first thing you see at the supermarket, remember these are often the most expensive (stock image)

Keep track of the food you already have

A quick assessment of the couples cupboards revealed they had in excess of $2,000 worth of uneaten food and drink.

Food that’s left uneaten may well end up past its expiry date which means can contribute to a waste bill that costs the average Australian household $1,036 each year, according to Foodwise.

So before heading to the supermarket, take some time to see just what’s already in your fridge and pantry, it may save you thousands at the checkout.

Food that's left uneaten may well end up past its expiry date which means can contribute to a waste bill that costs the average Australian household $1,036 each year

Food that’s left uneaten may well end up past its expiry date which means can contribute to a waste bill that costs the average Australian household $1,036 each year

Watch for sneaky supermarket tactics

Supermarkets are laid out in a specific way to encourage people to shop, which is why milk and bread is located at the back of the store.

The tactic is deliberate, according to finance expert Ross Greenwood in the hope that as you walk through you will be more likely to make impulse purchases.

It’s a strategy that’s highly effective with figures showing as many of 81 per cent of Australians spend just that little bit extra as they weave their way through the aisles.

It’s also worth noting supermarkets will group foods you may need together in the same aisle.

It’s a strategy that can see you spend extra without really meaning to so always arm yourself with a list first to avoid those unnecessary buys.

Supermarkets are laid out in a specific way to encourage people to shop, which is why you may have noticed milk and bread is located at the back of the store

Supermarkets are laid out in a specific way to encourage people to shop, which is why you may have noticed milk and bread is located at the back of the store

Make restaurant quality food at home

The couple openly admitted to spending a good portion of their hard-earned cash on takeaway meals and coffees.

Greg revealed he has a daily McDonalds and soft drink habit while Daniella’s weakness is cafe spending – an expense that costs the pair $130 a week combined.

The pair were given the challenge of making a restaurant quality meal at home using ingredients they had to hand.  

By making two servings of Shakshuka (a tomato-based egg dish at home) for a cost of $3.70 per serve rather than spending $21 on the trendy meal, the couple could slash up $2,184 a year from the total cost of their food bill.

 Shakshuka - a tomato-based egg dish can cost as much as $21 per serve at trendy eateries

 Shakshuka – a tomato-based egg dish can cost as much as $21 per serve at trendy eateries

Swap out branded products for generics

Buying bottled drinks is expensive, something the couple are all too aware of.

In addition to buying bottled water, the pair also spends a fair amount on soft drinks too, with Greg revealing he drinks at least five cans of Coca-Cola each day.

By swapping to a generic brand – one that costs only 17 cents a can – means over the course of a year savings of $424.

Also switching from bottled water to tap or filtered water could significantly add to pair’s savings.

Buying a $3 bottle of water every day means a weekly spend of $21. And while that figure might not sound like much, calculated over 12 months this comes to $1,008.

Eat Well For Less screens on Channel Nine on Tuesday at 7.30pm 



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