This mum's $700 weekly expenses raise eyebrows online
- Replies 15
Aussie families are feeling the pinch right now with the skyrocketing cost of living, and it’s those who are living on a low income are feeling it the most. For them, even everyday purchases can cost a fortune.
But one mum left fellow shoppers gobsmacked after revealing she spends a whopping $700 per week on groceries for her family of four!
The mum shared on a popular budgeting Facebook group that she has two pre-teen boys and a fly-in fly-out worker husband. When it's just her and the kids, the weekly grocery bill comes to a jaw-dropping $500. And that balloons to $700 when the dad is home.
'I take my hat off to you all that can shop four people for $10 per meal,' the mum wrote on her social media post.
According to Canstar, the average Australian household spends around $160 weekly on groceries. So this mum's bill is more than triple the typical amount!
She then detailed exactly where all the money goes each week. 'The other night, we made a meal where the ingredients alone cost us $140,' the mum revealed.
'Then, one night, we wanted a fruit salad for dessert, and the ingredients just for that cost us $80. It made six bowls in total.'
Needless to say, other Aussies in the group were blown away by the costly grocery bill.
'I am honestly mind blown that someone can freely spend that much,' one woman responded, attracting dozens of likes.
'Don't get me wrong, I've definitely done specialty dinners and whatnot when the work is good, but not every night. If a fruit salad gonna cost me $80, I ain't having it,' another mum quipped.
While others weren't as helpful with their comments, plenty defended the mum, arguing that she simply asked for help.
'They've come here to learn,' said one woman.
'This person is here to ask for help, and sometimes that can be a MASSIVE thing,' another commented, adding: 'You never know what someone is or has been through. When there are issues in the homes with neurodivergence and allergies, it can really add up.'
Some offered money-saving tips to the mother to help reduce her food expenses.
For example, one person suggested that shopping seasonally is essential. They pointed out that an $80 fruit salad might indicate buying fruits that are out of season, like $15/kg grapes.
They recommended a general guideline of spending no more than $5/kg on fruits (or $3/kg for common ones like apples) and $5/kg on vegetables (or $8/kg for specialty items like Brussels sprouts).
This person also mentioned that they intentionally run out of food in their fridge once a month, leaving only milk and butter behind. This strategy encourages them to get 'creative' with meals, using up all the remaining ingredients, even if it means having dinners with many different small dishes.
'It helps to reduce waste, so you can start restocking with a clean slate,' they added.
As mentioned earlier, on average, Australian households spend about $160 per week on groceries, as per Canstar Blue's August 2023 survey of supermarket shoppers.
This amounts to nearly $693 per month or $8,320 annually. Larger households with five or more people tend to spend around $204 weekly, with most of their expenses going towards essential food items.
According to their survey, here's what most Australians typically buy in their weekly groceries:
The amount an average Australian family spends on groceries each week can vary significantly based on factors like location (regional or metropolitan), the ages of children, and various lifestyle considerations.
According to the survey, four-person households (which may include families or four individuals living together) spend an average of $207 per week on groceries. This totals approximately $897 per month or $10,764 annually.
Members, what clever tips do you have for slashing grocery bills? Share your top money-saving tricks in the comments!
But one mum left fellow shoppers gobsmacked after revealing she spends a whopping $700 per week on groceries for her family of four!
The mum shared on a popular budgeting Facebook group that she has two pre-teen boys and a fly-in fly-out worker husband. When it's just her and the kids, the weekly grocery bill comes to a jaw-dropping $500. And that balloons to $700 when the dad is home.
'I take my hat off to you all that can shop four people for $10 per meal,' the mum wrote on her social media post.
According to Canstar, the average Australian household spends around $160 weekly on groceries. So this mum's bill is more than triple the typical amount!
She then detailed exactly where all the money goes each week. 'The other night, we made a meal where the ingredients alone cost us $140,' the mum revealed.
'Then, one night, we wanted a fruit salad for dessert, and the ingredients just for that cost us $80. It made six bowls in total.'
Needless to say, other Aussies in the group were blown away by the costly grocery bill.
'I am honestly mind blown that someone can freely spend that much,' one woman responded, attracting dozens of likes.
'Don't get me wrong, I've definitely done specialty dinners and whatnot when the work is good, but not every night. If a fruit salad gonna cost me $80, I ain't having it,' another mum quipped.
While others weren't as helpful with their comments, plenty defended the mum, arguing that she simply asked for help.
'They've come here to learn,' said one woman.
'This person is here to ask for help, and sometimes that can be a MASSIVE thing,' another commented, adding: 'You never know what someone is or has been through. When there are issues in the homes with neurodivergence and allergies, it can really add up.'
Some offered money-saving tips to the mother to help reduce her food expenses.
For example, one person suggested that shopping seasonally is essential. They pointed out that an $80 fruit salad might indicate buying fruits that are out of season, like $15/kg grapes.
They recommended a general guideline of spending no more than $5/kg on fruits (or $3/kg for common ones like apples) and $5/kg on vegetables (or $8/kg for specialty items like Brussels sprouts).
This person also mentioned that they intentionally run out of food in their fridge once a month, leaving only milk and butter behind. This strategy encourages them to get 'creative' with meals, using up all the remaining ingredients, even if it means having dinners with many different small dishes.
'It helps to reduce waste, so you can start restocking with a clean slate,' they added.
As mentioned earlier, on average, Australian households spend about $160 per week on groceries, as per Canstar Blue's August 2023 survey of supermarket shoppers.
This amounts to nearly $693 per month or $8,320 annually. Larger households with five or more people tend to spend around $204 weekly, with most of their expenses going towards essential food items.
According to their survey, here's what most Australians typically buy in their weekly groceries:
- Fresh fruit & vegetables: 65 per cent
- Dairy and eggs: 59 per cent
- Bakery items (such as bread): 55 per cent
- Meat, seafood, and deli items: 53 per cent
- Pantry staples (like rice, pasta, cooking oil, etc.): 52 per cent
- Drinks (including coffee, tea, and soft drinks): 49 per cent
- Frozen foods: 44 per cent
The amount an average Australian family spends on groceries each week can vary significantly based on factors like location (regional or metropolitan), the ages of children, and various lifestyle considerations.
According to the survey, four-person households (which may include families or four individuals living together) spend an average of $207 per week on groceries. This totals approximately $897 per month or $10,764 annually.
Key Takeaways
- A mum has asked for advice on reducing her weekly food bill, revealing she spends up to $700 a week feeding her family of four.
- She broke down her expenses, revealing one meal's ingredients cost her $140 and a fruit salad for dessert cost $80.
- Her post stunned many, with some expressing disbelief while others gave her tips to cut down her food bill.
- Some of the money-saving tips included shopping seasonally, not spending more than $5/kg on fruit and $5/kg on vegetables, and having 'run out' days to use up everything and reduce waste.