How to save on groceries

  

Groceries are crazy expensive in Australia. Crazy. Here are small ways I reduce the bill.

1. I buy prepackaged vegetables like carrots, potatoes and onions by weighing them and grabbing the heaviest one. 1kg packs are often heavier than a kilo meaning more bang for your buck.
2. Price watch.  I keep a price list of the price that items I like are, wait for them to be discounted and then buy in bulk.
3. I reduce the amount of meat in recipes by a little.
4. I add more veggies to a casserole for extra health and to bulk up the plate.
5. RACV offers 4% discount on Woolworths giftcards. $500 giftcard will save you $23.
6. If I have $50 a week for food, I divide as follows - $10 for vegetables ($5 for green vegetable - usually broccoli, broccolini, brussel sprouts, spinach or beans, $5 for orange vegetable - usually carrot, pumpkin, sweetcorn), $10 for fruit (whatever is in season), $10 for protein (usually meat, fish etc), $10 for carb (usually pasta, rice, oats, beans, bread, potato, weetbix and $10 for other (like condiments, sugar, milk, butter, tea).
7. Using www.shopadocket.com.au - Burleigh Heads Surf Club - look for discount that gives $18 off a second meal.  I also sometimes find it on Gold Coast Discounts website.
8. Grab the mushrooms from the back box not the front box.  Usually fresher.
9. Surf Clubs - $5.50 for 2 year Membership gives 10% discount on drinks. This membership gives you access to all surf clubs in Queensland or check out gold coats discounts.
10. Check trolley for discarded receipts with good offers.
11. Gold Coast Markets often offer up free taste samples
12. Rainbow Bay Surf Club has $10 lunch specials.
13. Some roadside stalls offer cheap fruit.
14. If buying cauliflower per kilo, take off the outside leaves.  If by unit, weigh for heaviest.
15. Australia Day Free Breakfast happen at most Councils.
16. Check for open days at Universities and free gallery openings.  They often offer free food.
17. Check Reject Shop.  They often have herbs for $1 and dishwashing liquid 1 litre for $2.
18. Don't waste the crushed weetbix at the bottom of the box.  Add to bliss balls or apricot balls.  Don't waste it.
19. Set limits.  No fruit and vegetables over $5 a kilo.  No meat over $14 a kilo.
20. After Christmas, mince pies go on great special at Woolworths, after Easter, chocolate.
21. Forage your area - Passionfruit vines can be found overhanging pathways in Qld, blackberries in some areas of Victoria. Never steal and always make sure they aren't poisoned.
22. On birthday with membership: Muffin Break give free muffin, Free tea - Gloria Jeans and Swallow Café, Boost Juice give free juice, Jamaica Blue give free slice of cake.  Their carrot cake is nice, Cheesecake Shop give free $5 voucher, Cold Rock Icecreamery give free icecream.

Ideas current at time of publishing. How do you save money on groceries?