Unlock the secret trick a savvy shopper used to slash her grocery bills!

There are two types of shoppers: those who pay the full price and those who sniff out bargains like champs.

One mum managed to bag groceries, slashing her bills for a significant amount!

Before dismissing this as a one-off stroke of luck, there's an actual method to the markdown madness—and it can help you save big on your next grocery run.


Aussie mum Kelly, also known as Frugal Fun Mum online, bagged an astonishing $120 worth of groceries for a mere $12 at her local Coles.

Kelly's impressive haul isn't a result of hours spent couponing or a secret handshake with the store manager.

As she puts it, it was 'pure luck' combined with being in the right place at the right time.

She stumbled upon a treasure trove of items adorned with two magic words: 'Quick SALE'.

These stickers signal that a product is nearing its sell-by date and has been significantly reduced in price to sell quickly.


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Kelly shared her unbelievable grocery haul, which she claims she can extend for a week. Image Credit: Instagram/Frugal Fun Mum


How can other shoppers replicate Kelly's money-saving success?

She advises fellow shoppers to engage in conversations.

'You really need to ask in-store and at least ask for a ballpark. They will often say it depends on staff availability to get out on the floor,' she shared.

While it varies from store to store, getting a general idea can help you time your shopping trips to coincide with these markdown periods.


In a twist that adds a competitive edge to the bargain hunt, Kelly points out that Woolworths has an advantage over Coles in the markdown game.

Woolworths uses time-stamped markdown stickers, which allow shoppers to see when an item's price is reduced and give them a clearer idea of how long it has been on sale.

On the other hand, Coles does not include this timestamp, making it a bit more mysterious.

Kelly's haul is the stuff of legend among thrifty shoppers.

She snagged three packets of Australian beef burger patties for 80 cents each, a kilogram of beef mince for $1.30, and pork cutlets for 84 cents, among other items.

The total savings? A whopping $107.45.

She also received a voucher for a free hot roast chicken, thanks to a Coles policy that compensates customers when hot chickens are out of stock.


Kelly's frugality doesn't end at the checkout.

She's a master of food preservation, dividing up the meat for the freezer and even freezing milk for later use.

Her approach is practical and waste-conscious, ensuring that her family of four gets the most out of every markdown.

However, Kelly warns against getting swept up in the excitement of the red sticker.

She emphasises the importance of knowing grocery prices and setting limits when it comes to budgeting.

'Just because something is on markdown doesn't mean it's a better price,' she shared.

This disciplined approach keeps her weekly grocery budget between $100 to $150, with meals planned around markdowns and specials.

It's time to take a page out of Kelly's book—know your local supermarket's markdown schedule, familiarise yourself with regular prices, and don't be afraid to ask staff for insider info.

You could turn a hefty grocery bill into pocket change with strategy and timing.
Key Takeaways
  • An Aussie mother achieved significant savings on groceries by purchasing 'quick sale' items at a local Coles.
  • Shoppers can find bargains by inquiring when their local store conducts markdowns and timing their shopping accordingly.
  • Coles does not timestamp its markdown stickers, making it harder to determine when items went on sale.
  • It's important for bargain hunters to know regular prices and set price limits for shopping. Additionally, not all markdowns offer good value.
Have you ever scored an incredible deal at the supermarket? Do you have any tips for fellow bargain hunters? Share your stories and advice in the comments below!
 
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We have been in Coles at all times of the day even late at night, never ever have we found any of these markdowns. I am actually fed up with reading them on here. Some people are greedy like this. They take it all why not let others share the markdowns.
 
For one it's pot luck. She even said they give a ball park time.

I have friends working in coles and one is a store manager I asked when do they do markdowns ? She replied anytime of the day. The only time you can pretty much guarantee markdowns is the day before a public holiday wgen the store will be closed the next day.

My niece is also a manager at woolworths at Chesterhill and she said the same thing. I asked her does she ever buy the markdowns she replied NO because usually the use by date is very close.

I agreed with her, to be honest I wouldn't buy especially meat or milk with a close use by date

The meat in the picture already looks a little brown.

I don't want food poisoning or give it to my family.

I throw away chicken the day before the useby date if I haven't used it or it gets frozen for fishing bait
 
For one it's pot luck. She even said they give a ball park time.

I have friends working in coles and one is a store manager I asked when do they do markdowns ? She replied anytime of the day. The only time you can pretty much guarantee markdowns is the day before a public holiday wgen the store will be closed the next day.

My niece is also a manager at woolworths at Chesterhill and she said the same thing. I asked her does she ever buy the markdowns she replied NO because usually the use by date is very close.

I agreed with her, to be honest I wouldn't buy especially meat or milk with a close use by date

The meat in the picture already looks a little brown.

I don't want food poisoning or give it to my family.

I throw away chicken the day before the useby date if I haven't used it or it gets frozen for fishing bait
Our Coles marked down 2 chickens for 40c and they were use by that day. Really? Obviously some Managers
are more on the ball.
 
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Never seen such specials in my local Coles or Woollies. They do have mark downs but nothing like 84c for pork cutlets. I did buy some lamb loin chops for $7 once but they were off so it puts me off buying meat as for the rest I would be very dubious about the freshness of anything marked down that much
 
Never have I received a voucher from Coles when chickens are out of stock when I inquired about them they had never heard of it and said don't believe everything you read online we don't do it here at Coles in Bundaberg Queensland
 
This is absolutely rubbish...stores RARELY put their products down this low unless public holidays are coming...you'd have to be EXTREMELY lucky to EVER get these savings!! Seriously this is NOT a saving ..it has the same odds of me winning lotto.. 62,891,499 to 1!!
 
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I too shop in this manner both at Coles and Woolworths. Sadly, it depends on the store. Mine is a little store, but my brother-in-law is near a big Coles and gets bargains like these regularly My local IGA's do the same. You can feed yourself and your pets for a fraction of the full cost, I too, split and freeze. The annoying issue, is that if it gets 1 day past the best before date, it goes in the bin as they are not allowed to sell in case they may get sued, if the buyer gets sick. You would think that people would have the sense to smell and check before buying.
 
It's worth asking an employee where the excess markdown stock is.

My local has some deals scattered around (which can be dreadful, like @bluetang mentioned above - I'm not buying meat that expires that day for 40 cents off).

But there are two spots used for the larger markdowns. In my store it's a specific cooler in the meat department and another near the pasta salad and soups. I always make sure to check just in case, but it's often things like children's yoghurt.
 
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I know what keeps and what doesn't anything with sugar in it will keep for years, there is some stuff I have had in the cupboard 4 years out of date.
Anything canned at least two years out of date.
When you open anything past use by date you do a smell test and a taste test.
Back in Africa, we were so remote nothing had use-by dates.... It is in this litigious society that we have the use-by dates instead of applying common sense.
 
Ages ago, I bought a pack of chicken pieces that was marked down with the use by date. It was rank-smelling after I opened it. Never again, even my cat wouldn't eat it. Complete waste of money.
Canned foods are okay to keep in the pantry, but they need to be thrown out if it bulges or rusty.
The pitfall is we can't open packages to smell them, otherwise nobody would buy them.
 
I'm one of those 'specials shoppers', and certainly the number of specials greatly increases in the last 2 hours before closing. In Lismore, NSW, I have bought many items marked down to less than $1 from as much as $15 for meats, fish, and specialised cakes, etc. In fact, whenever I enter the Coles and Woollies, I always head straight for the 'specials' areas on the way in, and do a second 'walk-by' on the way out just in case, lol. I've never had any issues with anything being 'off', but obviously I don't buy any kind of meat tray if the shrink wrap is puffed up like a ballon. However, experience has taught me that if you buy those packs of pre-prepared vegies for stir-frys, etc., marked down to a few cents on special, only buy what you need for that day only and make sure to eat them on the day you buy them. They don't keep at all and taste like crap if frozen. The pre-chopped hard roasting vegies are usually good for up to 2 days. I should just point out that I'm an aged pensioner living alone, so hunting down bargains is part of my entertainment and usually determines what type of meals I get to eat for the next fortnight, lol. :)
 
This lady was obviously happy with her purchases, as is everyone who spends time to get a bargain. I think it’s sad that people (have to) shop this way. I think it’s sad that fresh fruit, vegetables and meat have become an almost luxury item……. and I think it’s very sad that people, including kids, are eating use by and close to use by produce and meat that has the potential to make someone very sick. And I think it’s shameful of supermarkets to charge anything for these items that are not really fit for consumption either by shoppers or people having to search bins for food to stay alive……
 
Ages ago, I bought a pack of chicken pieces that was marked down with the use by date. It was rank-smelling after I opened it. Never again, even my cat wouldn't eat it. Complete waste of money.
Canned foods are okay to keep in the pantry, but they need to be thrown out if it bulges or rusty.
The pitfall is we can't open packages to smell them, otherwise nobody would buy them.
Chicken is one thing I steer clear of. I try to buy it as comes off the truck
 
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Like to know what State and Suburb does this. I asked Woollies if they wld reduce a bag of potatoes bcz 2-3 small spuds were a bit green. The man snatched the bag from out of my hand and said we can’t sell them like that, they’ll be thrown out! Rude and what a waste. Nothing wrong w the rest of the potatoes, and if a bit green, peel & cut it off.
 
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