$100 grocery challenge that's got Aussie families talking—and it works

When nearly every aspect of daily life since COVID-19 has seen substantial price increases, leaving little room for essentials such as medical care or social engagement, finding ways to stretch the household budget has become more crucial than ever.

For many Australian seniors on fixed incomes, the weekly grocery shop now feels like navigating a financial minefield.

That's exactly what prompted Gold Coast mum Chantelle Ellem to take action when she realised her family's grocery bills had spiralled from a manageable $100 to a stomach-churning $300-400 per week.

'I'd do a loose meal plan, but then pop into the shops a few times a week too, and I was spending $300-400,' Chantelle said. 'It was too much, and I was getting anxiety on how much I was spending and wasting. I want to do more fun stuff and go on holidays with my family, so I knew I needed to change something.'

When $100 actually meant something

Recent figures from the Australian Bureau of Statistics show food inflation peaked at 9.2 per cent in December 2022, and while it's now running at 3.3 per cent, that's still above the decade average of 2.7 per cent.

For Australian seniors, these statistics aren't just numbers—they represent real decisions between heating and eating, medication and meals.

Chantelle, a mum of two girls aged 11 and 17, remembered when $100 genuinely covered a week's worth of nutritious family meals. Her challenge was simple yet ambitious: could she recreate that reality by shopping more strategically?

Her first stop was ALDI, despite being a loyal Woolworths customer thanks to her mum working there. 'My mum works at Woolies so I've always been a loyal Woolies shopper, but the last two years I've seen I can get better for my money shopping around,' she explains.

There was just one hitch—she arrived without the essential $2 coin for an ALDI trolley, forcing her to carry everything in a basket. Sometimes the best intentions start with the smallest oversights!

The science behind supermarket savings

CHOICE's latest government-funded supermarket comparison found ALDI had the best price for a basket of 14 regularly priced items. When specials were included, ALDI's basket cost $54.44, compared to $57.67 at Coles, $58.86 at Woolworths and $67.54 at IGA.

ALDI Australia group director Simon Padovani-Ginies says the supermarket 'won't be beaten on the cost of your weekly shop,' achieved through 'fine-tuning even the smallest of details'. Their streamlined approach includes just 1,800 products compared to the 20,000-25,000 items at Woolworths and Coles.

Chantelle's winning formula

Filming the challenge for her TikTok account @fatmumslim, Chantelle planned five meat-based meals and two protein-rich vegetarian options. 'I wanted to tick all the boxes—the meals had to be filling and satisfying as well as budget-friendly,' she says.

The results were remarkable. Without even calculating as she shopped, her total came to exactly $98.99 at the checkout.

Her seven meals included popular dishes like fakeaway fried rice with bacon and frozen vegetables, beef and agnolotti bake, and roast tomato and ricotta pasta. The only feedback from followers was that three pasta dishes might be too many—advice she took on board for subsequent weeks.

'As a family, we were pretty happy with the meals. We eat a standard serve—my husband is sporty and doesn't eat small amounts, but if you had a family of boys, you might need to make a bit more,' Chantelle notes.

The supermarket tour continues

Determined to prove this wasn't a one-off victory, Chantelle expanded her experiment to other supermarkets. Week two took her back to familiar territory at Woolworths, where she was surprised to find many ingredients were comparable in price to ALDI.

'This time I spent $102, which came down to $99.60 with staff discount. I only did one pasta meal, and instead, I've done recipes like a Mexican rice bake and chicken curry,' she explains.

The journey continued to Coles and Independent Grocers, consistently proving that strategic shopping could keep costs around the $100 mark.

Why this matters for Australian seniors

Research shows nearly three in four pensioners worry that inflation and rising interest rates will erode their quality of life, with the cost of living continuing to rise at an alarming rate for those relying on the aged pension.

The impacts extend beyond financial strain—over two in five report financial worries affecting their emotional health, with over half admitting financial stress has affected their social lives. More than one in three avoid social gatherings due to cost.

For seniors managing on fixed incomes, Chantelle's approach offers hope. Her chicken curry, for instance, costs just $12.90 to serve a family of four—that's about $3.25 per serving for a nutritious, satisfying meal.

Smart swaps for senior shoppers

Beyond Chantelle's specific approach, there are additional strategies particularly relevant for older Australians:

• Batch cooking friendly meals: Prepare larger quantities and freeze portions
• Calcium and protein focus: Ensure meals include adequate nutrition for bone health
• Easy preparation methods: One-pot meals and slow cooker recipes save energy and effort
• Medication timing considerations: Some budget foods can interact with common medications

The community response

The overwhelming response to Chantelle's videos demonstrates how many Australian families are struggling with grocery costs. Comments poured in from people eager to try the challenge themselves.

'Can't wait for this. I need to start meal planning instead of just going to the shops every day,' wrote one follower, while another added, 'This will be good for me to follow. Looking forward to this challenge. Thank you.'

This sense of community support is particularly valuable for seniors, many of whom may feel isolated by financial pressures. Financial stress significantly affects many older Australians struggling to meet day-to-day living costs, making shared solutions and mutual encouragement all the more important.

The lasting impact

'Even if you just do two or three of these meals every week for the rest of the year, you'll save money,' Chantelle points out. 'My chicken curry is $12.90 to serve a family of four. I'm going to definitely save money for the fun things, and I like creating something that people like and find useful.'

The beauty of Chantelle's approach lies not just in the immediate savings, but in the mindset shift it creates. By proving that $100 can still deliver quality family meals, she's given thousands of Australians—many of them seniors on tight budgets—a practical roadmap back to affordable eating.