Tip 2: Plan your meals for the fortnight before you go shopping. Even better
plan for the month. I only do a big shop once a month and then just pick up
fruit, vege, bread and milk when I run out. Don’t discount the corner shops – my
corner shop has milk and bread cheaper than any of the local supermarkets – and
they carry it to the car for me.

Tip 3: Shop at Aldi. You get more bang for your buck. $100 spent at
Woolworths will buy you $180 worth of food at Aldi. If you’ve never been, check
out their website first and accustom yourself to a new shopping experience. Make
sure you take your own shopping bags and a $2 coin for the shopping trolleys.
Also they charge you a fee if you use your credit card – so don’t!!!

Tip 4: Do you really NEED that? After all – we are trying to save money. I
like to shop how my Great Grandmother might of shopped – basics – use up
everything – no waste. Think tea, flour, sugar, butter etc. No processed items –
you can cook it yourself. Know what’s in your food, it is healthier for your
family and much tastier. ‘But I don’t have time’ you cry! Make time – make
baking enjoyable, get the kids involved. Many muffins, biscuits and cakes can be
frozen so everything will stay fresh. I have an awesome biscuit recipe that
makes 120 biscuits in one go for really basic ingredients – lasts me all month!
I found an awesome cookbook from the 1950’s – it’s brilliant and has simple
recipes for simple cooking.

Tip 5: Buy in bulk! But first make sure it is a bargain. I buy a side of beef
once every 6 – 8 months from a local supplier. It works out just under $10/kg.
Check out the cheap shops for things like toilet paper – I recently picked up 48
rolls for $5! My local chemist quite often has toothpaste for $1.

Tip 6: Buy basics. Tins of tomatoes, pasta noodles, rice, mince, flour,
sugar, butter. There’s a thousand things you can make from such ingredients.
Mince is so versatile. I make up a big batch of savoury mince (great on toast),
add a tin of tomato soup – it’s a bolognaise sauce. Add a pinch of curry powder
and you have something different again. I love gravy beef too – it makes taste
pies and casseroles. Every ingredient must be able to be used in many ways.

Tip 7: Cook in bulk quantities. Have enough left over for hubby to take for
lunch the next day. Make enough so you can have a night off and just grab
something out of the freezer.