Food prices have skyrocketed over the last year or two. Far more than what is being reported in the news bulletins. Every time I shop it seems there is a price increase in just about everything.
If you are struggling with an ever increasing grocery bill, try looking at what you are buying. Can you buy the same item but in a different form ? Is there something else that will do the job ?
Try using some of these tricks to help lower your bill. I personally use all these tricks and my grocery budget is still $120 per month for 2 people.
* Buy a block of cheese instead of grated cheese ( unless it's cheaper ). Pre grated cheese is thicker than cheese grated at home so you are likely to use more at a time.
* Make salsa from fresh or tinned tomatoes with herbs, spices and onion instead of buying jarred salsa.
* Buy a bread stick to make your own garlic bread instead of buying the premade garlic bread. Go one step further and just use sliced bread you already have to make herb / garlic bread. It's much tastier making your own and the texture is not doughy like the store bought.
* Buy beef mince to make your own hamburger patties instead of buying the pre made. Add your own seasonings to taste. Make them in bulk and freeze with cut up cereal packets in between to stop them sticking together.
* Buy pure laundry soap ( generic is excellent ) , grate it and add bi carb and washing soda to make your own laundry powder. You can even turn it into laundry liquid. A years worth of powder / liquid can be made for under $10.
* Buy white vinegar instead of fabric softener. It's much healthier for your washing machine and clothes and super cheap too.
* Buy potatoes instead of frozen chips. Chips are easy to make and better for you than store bought. If you have an air fryer, use it to make the chips.
* Buy Chux type cloths ( generic is great ) instead of disinfectant wipes. Use the cloths with a spray of disinfectant to wipe germs away. Wash in your washing machine and use over and over again. I do this for cleaning my toilets and the cloths last at least a couple of years.
* Buy flour and sugar instead of buying cake, biscuit or slice mixes. Just about every home has eggs, milk, butter and cocoa powder ( or drinking chocolate ) to add to the flour and sugar to make a wide variety of baking treats.
* Buy dried herbs and spices instead of buying casserole seasoning packets or fresh herbs.
* Buy custard powder instead of buying ready made custard.
* Buy shower gel instead of buying liquid hand wash. Shower gel is super cheap especially if it's generic ( $3 for 1 litre ) and will do the job really well.
* Buy fresh fruit to freeze instead of buying the pre cut frozen fruit. It's generally far cheaper to freeze it yourself.
* Buy a tub of natural unsweetened yoghurt instead of buying dips, sour cream and little tubs of yoghurt. You can even use the yoghurt as a starter to make your own.
* Buy pita bread instead of buying pizza bases, dried crackers and pizza pockets. Cut the pita bread up and dry in the oven to make pita chips.
* Buy kitchen detergent instead of buying cleaning products. I use kitchen detergent to clean everything in my home. Even the Aldi $1.19 1 litre bottle ( is that the latest price ) works really well.
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| Pita chips |
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| Ingredients to make brown sugar. |
Great list, thank you. I was happy that I was familiar with them and had tried or used them all. Also, the bluebirds are nesting on the farm blog had a great idea, which I am sure you have mentioned before as well…always have already cooked meals in the freezer so when you are lazy, it is a free “takeaway” meal. No need for a grocery trip ;). Hilogene in Az
ReplyDeleteYes we have lots of freezer meals. It's just the 2 of us now but I cook for 4 - 6 people and freeze the rest.
DeleteIt's good to have you posting again and sharing your wisdom.
ReplyDeleteWendy,at my Aldi the dish detergent is $1.49 now.I am in Queensland.
ReplyDeleteI'm not surprised. It's a different price every month I'm in there. Thankfully I bought a heap when it was still 99c or $1.09 a bottle.
DeleteFoodwise, sometimes it's just thinking about what you actually want. 'A biscuit' might actually mean 'something sweet', so an apple or carrot may do as well.
ReplyDeleteIf you want chocolate, maybe just 1 square is enough, no need to eat the whole bar.
Don't be brand loyal! I buy whatever is the cheapest that I still like. I even have a little list in my handbag that tells me which brands of certain items I don't like, because I tend to forget those details.
Thank you for sensible advice. Just last week I told my mother that from now on I am purchasing ingredients not prepared stuff.
ReplyDeleteHow do you make dips from yoghurt ?
ReplyDeleteDrain the yoghurt overnight in a clean / washed chux cloth or cheese cloth over a bowl. Add seasoning like french onion soup mix, garlic and grated cucumber are some examples.
DeleteWould it be feasible to bake your own pita breads? They should be really simple.
ReplyDelete