With food prices going up, it can feel like a bit of struggle to come up with alternatives to your normal meals. But eating on a budget doesn’t mean you can’t still eat healthy delicious meals every day.
For many families the last few years have been difficult. Amid lockdowns and now weather events and ongoing issues internationally, many of us are feeling the pressure of rising food costs and looking for ways to save a little without compromising on what we eat. Here are some tips to help you out.
Shop local and buy in bulk
You may not have considered buying in bulk before but purchasing long-life pantry ingredients in larger quantities can save you money in the long run. There are two ways to do this; firstly, you can wait until your preferred pantry items are on special at the supermarket and buy three or four of each item, or you can shop at a wholesale or bulk grocery store where you can pick up items at a lower cost whenever you like.
Within the Wyndham City area, bulk grocery shops can be found at:
- SuperBazaar – is an online Indian bulk grocery store
- NQR in Werribee is great for picking up treats for the kids at low prices.
- Essentials Bulk Quality Food in Point Cook is great for buying non perishable items in bulk at lower prices, and you can bring your own packaging to help save on plastic, too.
- Poultry n More Factory Outlet in Hoppers Crossing is great for bulk buying meat for the freezer, and has lots of other items too including bakery and pantry goods.
Look for low cost winter recipes
One of the great things about winter is that soups and stews are cheap and cheerful meals that fill bellies. Add some fresh bread and you’ve got a great meal. Soups can be packed full of nutrients so while it may not feel like you’re getting your veggies in, you still will be.
The best thing is that you don’t tend to need a lot of veggies or meat to make a great soup. A ham hock cooked down with some green and yellow split peas and an onion makes a simple pea and ham soup, roast a pumpkin, then blend it with some cream and spices for a thick pumpkin soup, or an easy mix of tomatoes, lentils and a few spices makes a lovely Indian style dhal.
Curries are also a great budget friendly option and can be packed full of nutrients. Pick up a great curry powder or mix when you do your bulk shop, and start experimenting.
You can find some great budget friendly recipes here.
Buy seasonal fruit and veg
One of the biggest ways to save on your fruit and veg is to buy what is in season. Right now it’s a little difficult due to the wet weather on the East Coast, but there is still a fair amount to choose from. Apples, bananas, mandarins and oranges as well as other citrus fruits are all available, as are broad beans, cabbage, broccoli, cauliflower and potatoes. A cauliflower gratin is luxurious and creamy while also cheap and filling for winter nights.
Winter ingredients can make some great meals or snacks, and with apples in season, what better time to make a warming apple pie for dessert?
You can find a great list of in-season produce for Victoria here.
Reduce your food waste
Australians waste around 312kg of food per person every year. That’s a lot of food, and a lot of money down the drain. If you find your family wastes a lot of food, there are a couple of ways to deal with it.
Firstly, shop with a meal plan. Buy what you need, eat what’s on your plan and you’ll minimise wastage. Secondly, make meals that can be frozen – soups, curries, spaghetti bolognese. The leftovers from many of our favourite winter meals can be frozen for lunch or dinner another day.
Finally, instead of throwing away your fruit and veggie scraps, create a compost bin. You might be surprised at what you can grow from your scraps and even if nothing grows, your organic waste will break down and form a nutrient-rich compost that you can dig into your own garden.
You can read more about reducing your waste here.
Look for new ideas and recipes
Cutting down your grocery costs may mean you need to change what you normally eat. Head off to our wonderful Wyndham City library and borrow some recipe books and see if you can find some tasty new recipes to try.
Also, make sure you check out the events on the Wyndham City council website. Global Kitchen West is a great women’s event to meet new people and learn some new recipes.
Talk to us
Have you been considering selling your home in Point Cook, Sanctuary Lakes or Seabrook? Established Property are regularly recommended as the best real estate agency to sell a home in the Wyndham City area. Contact us to organise an appraisal for your home.