You won't believe how this Aussie dad makes 40 meals from ALDI for just $3.48 each—Discover his budget shopping secrets!
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If you’ve found yourself grumbling at the checkout as your trolley seems to shrink while your bill balloons, you’re not alone.
The cost of living squeeze is hitting Aussie households hard, and for many, the weekly grocery shop has become the most stressful bill of all.
With eggs up 11%, cooking oil up 7%, fruit and veg up 6%, and lamb soaring by a whopping 17%, it’s no wonder we’re all looking for ways to stretch our dollars further.
But what if we told you there’s a way to feed a family of four or five for less than $3.50 a meal—without resorting to baked beans on toast every night?
Enter Brodie Liam, a chef, dad, and the brains behind the popular social media account ‘That Aussie Dad.’ Brodie’s mission? To prove that you can still eat well, enjoy variety, and keep the kids happy, all while sticking to a tight budget.
The $140 ALDI Challenge: How Brodie Does It
Brodie’s approach is refreshingly simple and practical. He starts with a meal plan, makes a detailed shopping list, and heads to ALDI, where he says the savings are unbeatable.
'Honestly, times are tough for a lot of Aussie families right now. Between rent, fuel, and groceries, it all adds up really quickly,' Brodie says. 'I wanted to show people that you can still eat good, fun, family-friendly meals without blowing your budget.'
His secret weapon? Doubling up on ingredients and making clever use of pantry staples. 'If I buy mince, I’ll use it across three or so different meals,' he explains. 'I also make a lot of slow cooker and one-pan meals, because those save heaps of time and money.'
A Week of Variety—On a Shoestring
Worried you’ll be eating the same thing every night? Not with Brodie’s plan. He mixes it up with slow cooker stews, pastas, meatball subs, schnitzels, curried sausages, wraps, fried rice, and more.
Some nights are all about comfort food, while others are lighter or packed with veggies. 'There’s heaps of variety even on a tight budget,' he says.
For the meat lovers, Brodie’s menu includes beef mince, chicken thighs, sausages, and schnitzels, balanced with a few cheaper veggie or pantry meals to keep costs down.
'Most meals serve 4–5 people easily, and I try to reuse ingredients across the week, so nothing goes to waste. The goal is to keep it simple, tasty, and something the whole family actually wants to eat.'
Source: @that.aussie.dad / Tiktok.
Sample Meals That Won’t Break the Bank
Here are just a few of Brodie’s go-to recipes, all using affordable ALDI ingredients:
The Power of Planning—and Community
Brodie’s followers are raving about the results. Many say they’ve slashed their takeaway bills, stuck to a weekly budget for the first time in ages, and even got their fussy eaters on board.
'I’ve been making quite a lot of your meals, I might even go ahead and do your exact shopping haul!! I appreciate your content so much,' wrote one fan. Another added, 'Your videos are fantastic! The breakdown on each meal is great, I always run out of ideas and the food you have made looks so good! Please keep sharing.'
Brodie says the feedback has been overwhelming. 'So many people message saying they’ve saved money, their kids are eating better, and they’re actually excited to cook again.'
Read more: Are You Eating More Than You Should? Try This Simple Food Trick to Feel Fuller!
Have you tried a budget meal plan like Brodie’s? Do you have your own tips for stretching your grocery dollar? We’d love to hear your stories, recipes, and shopping secrets! Share your thoughts in the comments below!
The cost of living squeeze is hitting Aussie households hard, and for many, the weekly grocery shop has become the most stressful bill of all.
With eggs up 11%, cooking oil up 7%, fruit and veg up 6%, and lamb soaring by a whopping 17%, it’s no wonder we’re all looking for ways to stretch our dollars further.
But what if we told you there’s a way to feed a family of four or five for less than $3.50 a meal—without resorting to baked beans on toast every night?
Enter Brodie Liam, a chef, dad, and the brains behind the popular social media account ‘That Aussie Dad.’ Brodie’s mission? To prove that you can still eat well, enjoy variety, and keep the kids happy, all while sticking to a tight budget.
Aussie dad and chef Brodie Liam has shown it’s possible to make 40 family meals for under $140 at ALDI, averaging just $3.48 a serve, which is a big saving compared to the average Aussie grocery bill. Image source: @that.aussie.dad / Tiktok.
The $140 ALDI Challenge: How Brodie Does It
Brodie’s approach is refreshingly simple and practical. He starts with a meal plan, makes a detailed shopping list, and heads to ALDI, where he says the savings are unbeatable.
'Honestly, times are tough for a lot of Aussie families right now. Between rent, fuel, and groceries, it all adds up really quickly,' Brodie says. 'I wanted to show people that you can still eat good, fun, family-friendly meals without blowing your budget.'
His secret weapon? Doubling up on ingredients and making clever use of pantry staples. 'If I buy mince, I’ll use it across three or so different meals,' he explains. 'I also make a lot of slow cooker and one-pan meals, because those save heaps of time and money.'
A Week of Variety—On a Shoestring
Worried you’ll be eating the same thing every night? Not with Brodie’s plan. He mixes it up with slow cooker stews, pastas, meatball subs, schnitzels, curried sausages, wraps, fried rice, and more.
Some nights are all about comfort food, while others are lighter or packed with veggies. 'There’s heaps of variety even on a tight budget,' he says.
For the meat lovers, Brodie’s menu includes beef mince, chicken thighs, sausages, and schnitzels, balanced with a few cheaper veggie or pantry meals to keep costs down.
'Most meals serve 4–5 people easily, and I try to reuse ingredients across the week, so nothing goes to waste. The goal is to keep it simple, tasty, and something the whole family actually wants to eat.'
Source: @that.aussie.dad / Tiktok.
Sample Meals That Won’t Break the Bank
Here are just a few of Brodie’s go-to recipes, all using affordable ALDI ingredients:
- Creamy Chicken Pasta: Chicken breast, pasta, garlic, cream, cheese, and frozen broccoli. Around $20, serves 4–5.
- Slow Cooker Beef & Veg Stew: Chuck beef, potatoes, carrots, onion, tinned tomatoes, and stock cubes. $20 for a big batch that feeds 5–6.
- Fried Rice: Leftover rice, frozen veggies, eggs, soy sauce, and bacon or ham. $15 for a huge batch.
- Chicken Burrito Bowls: Chicken thighs, rice, canned corn, black beans, salsa, and cheese. $15–$20 for 4 big bowls.
- Spag Bol with Hidden Veg: Beef mince, canned tomatoes, onion, carrots, zucchini, pasta, and Italian herbs. $20, serves 5.
- Creamy Tomato Sausage Bake: Cheap sausages, pasta, passata, cream, cheese, and spinach. Around $20 and super easy.
The Power of Planning—and Community
Brodie’s followers are raving about the results. Many say they’ve slashed their takeaway bills, stuck to a weekly budget for the first time in ages, and even got their fussy eaters on board.
'I’ve been making quite a lot of your meals, I might even go ahead and do your exact shopping haul!! I appreciate your content so much,' wrote one fan. Another added, 'Your videos are fantastic! The breakdown on each meal is great, I always run out of ideas and the food you have made looks so good! Please keep sharing.'
Brodie says the feedback has been overwhelming. 'So many people message saying they’ve saved money, their kids are eating better, and they’re actually excited to cook again.'
Read more: Are You Eating More Than You Should? Try This Simple Food Trick to Feel Fuller!
Have you tried a budget meal plan like Brodie’s? Do you have your own tips for stretching your grocery dollar? We’d love to hear your stories, recipes, and shopping secrets! Share your thoughts in the comments below!
