This mum's brilliant $300 grocery hack bypasses Woolworths and Coles – find out how she saves a fortune!
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As the cost of living continues to rise, savvy shoppers are always looking for ways to stretch their grocery budget further. For one Australian mum-of-seven, the solution to her family's grocery bill woes came as a clever $300 hack that bypasses the big supermarket chains like Woolworths and Coles, which dominate nearly two-thirds of the grocery market.
Nerita, a South Australian resident, previously spent a hefty $500 weekly at Woolworths to feed her family, including children aged from 7 months to 12 years. With such a large family, Nerita found that careful meal planning and grocery shopping online were crucial to keeping within her budget. 'That truly is our biggest expense, and it’s sometimes really, really hard to keep it under $500,' she admitted, highlighting the challenge many families face in balancing healthy eating with financial constraints.
In her quest to 'clean up' her family's diet without breaking the bank, Nerita discovered Farmer to Fridge, an innovative online platform that connects customers directly with local farmers. Through this service, she was able to purchase an eighth of a cow for just $300. This package included a variety of cuts such as flank and fillet steak, rump, T-Bone, Porthouse, mince, and sausages.
A family is fed on a budget by a South Australian mum-of-seven by purchasing meat directly from farmers, bypassing Woolworths and Coles. Credit: TikTok
When you break down the cost, it's about $11 per kilo based on the 'dressed weight' of the beef, which is the weight before it's cut into portions. The actual 'boxed weight' you receive is around 20 kilos. This is a significant saving compared to supermarket prices, where 500 grams of beef mince can cost $6.50, or $13 per kilo, and a T-Bone steak can set you back $31 per kilo.
Nerita's initial purchase is a trial run, as she explained, 'We’ve only bought a small pack for now because it is a big outlay in cost for a family, and it’s just been Christmas.' She's optimistic that this approach will allow her to feed her family good quality meat at a more affordable price point. With plans to invest in a deep freezer and potentially buy half a cow in the future, Nerita is also excited for her family to try new cuts of meat and see how this impacts their monthly shopping expenses.
The mastermind behind Farmer to Fridge, James Gilbert, founded the platform two years ago to enable farmers to receive retail prices for their meat rather than just the livestock price. 'The farmers will pay abattoirs and pay butchers to turn the cows into meat, and then through us, they sell it retail,' Gilbert explained. This model has proven successful, with the marketplace seeing a significant growth in sales, jumping from $1 million in its first year to about $4 million in 2024 from 16,000 orders.
Customers are drawn to Farmer to Fridge not only for the savings but also for the quality of the meat. 'Fundamentally, people say they come for the deal, and then they stay for the quality,' Gilbert shared, echoing the feedback from satisfied customers. The platform features around 100 different farmers offering a variety of products, and while savings can vary, Gilbert assures that strategic buying, especially in bulk, can lead to substantial discounts.
For those looking to follow in Nerita's footsteps, the key to maximising savings is to be strategic about purchases. Buying in bulk, such as opting for a 10-kilo mince or sausage box, can reduce the price to as low as $10 to $12 per kilo. This approach not only saves money but also ensures a supply of high-quality meat for the family.
Nerita's story is a testament to the power of thinking outside the box when it comes to grocery shopping. By cutting out the middleman and going straight to the source, she has found a way to provide her family with nutritious meals while keeping costs down. It's a strategy that could benefit many Australian families, especially those with multiple mouths to feed.
So, dear readers, have you considered buying meat directly from farmers to save on your grocery bills? Or perhaps you've found other creative ways to reduce your spending while maintaining a healthy diet? Share your experiences and tips in the comments below – your insights could help fellow members of the Seniors Discount Club find new ways to save!
Nerita, a South Australian resident, previously spent a hefty $500 weekly at Woolworths to feed her family, including children aged from 7 months to 12 years. With such a large family, Nerita found that careful meal planning and grocery shopping online were crucial to keeping within her budget. 'That truly is our biggest expense, and it’s sometimes really, really hard to keep it under $500,' she admitted, highlighting the challenge many families face in balancing healthy eating with financial constraints.
In her quest to 'clean up' her family's diet without breaking the bank, Nerita discovered Farmer to Fridge, an innovative online platform that connects customers directly with local farmers. Through this service, she was able to purchase an eighth of a cow for just $300. This package included a variety of cuts such as flank and fillet steak, rump, T-Bone, Porthouse, mince, and sausages.
A family is fed on a budget by a South Australian mum-of-seven by purchasing meat directly from farmers, bypassing Woolworths and Coles. Credit: TikTok
When you break down the cost, it's about $11 per kilo based on the 'dressed weight' of the beef, which is the weight before it's cut into portions. The actual 'boxed weight' you receive is around 20 kilos. This is a significant saving compared to supermarket prices, where 500 grams of beef mince can cost $6.50, or $13 per kilo, and a T-Bone steak can set you back $31 per kilo.
Nerita's initial purchase is a trial run, as she explained, 'We’ve only bought a small pack for now because it is a big outlay in cost for a family, and it’s just been Christmas.' She's optimistic that this approach will allow her to feed her family good quality meat at a more affordable price point. With plans to invest in a deep freezer and potentially buy half a cow in the future, Nerita is also excited for her family to try new cuts of meat and see how this impacts their monthly shopping expenses.
The mastermind behind Farmer to Fridge, James Gilbert, founded the platform two years ago to enable farmers to receive retail prices for their meat rather than just the livestock price. 'The farmers will pay abattoirs and pay butchers to turn the cows into meat, and then through us, they sell it retail,' Gilbert explained. This model has proven successful, with the marketplace seeing a significant growth in sales, jumping from $1 million in its first year to about $4 million in 2024 from 16,000 orders.
Customers are drawn to Farmer to Fridge not only for the savings but also for the quality of the meat. 'Fundamentally, people say they come for the deal, and then they stay for the quality,' Gilbert shared, echoing the feedback from satisfied customers. The platform features around 100 different farmers offering a variety of products, and while savings can vary, Gilbert assures that strategic buying, especially in bulk, can lead to substantial discounts.
For those looking to follow in Nerita's footsteps, the key to maximising savings is to be strategic about purchases. Buying in bulk, such as opting for a 10-kilo mince or sausage box, can reduce the price to as low as $10 to $12 per kilo. This approach not only saves money but also ensures a supply of high-quality meat for the family.
Nerita's story is a testament to the power of thinking outside the box when it comes to grocery shopping. By cutting out the middleman and going straight to the source, she has found a way to provide her family with nutritious meals while keeping costs down. It's a strategy that could benefit many Australian families, especially those with multiple mouths to feed.
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