With the cost of groceries skyrocketing across Australia, many families are looking for ways to cut down on their supermarket bills. One Aussie mum has discovered a surprising way to save over $2,500 a year, and it doesn’t involve hunting for specials or switching to generic brands.
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By ditching the major supermarkets like Coles and Woolworths and turning to a meal kit delivery service, she has slashed her grocery costs, reduced food waste, and saved time on meal planning.
If you’re struggling with rising food prices, read how you could follow in her footsteps and start saving today!
📉 How This Mum Cut Her Grocery Costs by Thousands
“There’s Been No Looking Back” – Why She Switched to Meal Kits
Queensland mum Valerie Congreve, a busy working mother of two, was shocked at how much her weekly food bill had increased.
“I have noticed an increase in how much I am spending on groceries. When I was doing my full food shop at the supermarket, I was comfortably spending $300 to $350 a week,” she told Yahoo Finance.
With grocery prices continuing to rise, Valerie needed a new strategy to keep her spending under control. That’s when she decided to try EveryPlate, a meal kit delivery service that provides pre-measured ingredients and easy-to-follow recipes.
Since making the switch in 2020, she has never looked back.
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💰 How Much She’s Saving – The Numbers
By using EveryPlate, Valerie now receives six meals per week for her family of four at a fixed cost of $140.
She still shops at supermarkets for extra items, but by using a local fruit market and multiple stores, she avoids the high prices of major chains.
Annual Savings Breakdown:
✅ Previous grocery bill: $300–$350 per week → Up to $18,200 per year
✅ New grocery bill with meal kits & selective shopping: ~$250 per week → $15,600 per year
✅ Total annual savings: Over $2,500!
Valerie says the biggest advantage is the certainty of pricing.
💬 “I know exactly what I’ll be paying each week with no surprises, so I can budget really effectively,” she explained.
🛒 Why Meal Kits Can Be Cheaper Than Supermarket Shopping
Many people assume that meal kits are an expensive luxury, but for families like Valerie’s, they have actually helped cut down costs.
📌 The Key Ways Meal Kits Help Save Money:
✔ Fixed Pricing – No worrying about price fluctuations on supermarket shelves.
✔ Less Impulse Buying – No more unnecessary purchases when walking through aisles.
✔ Reduced Food Waste – Only receiving the exact ingredients needed for each meal.
✔ Time Saved – No need to plan meals, make shopping lists, or browse multiple stores.
💬 “I also receive the exact amount of ingredients required per dish, which means there is no wastage,” Valerie added.
🛍️ Should You Switch to Meal Kits?
Meal kit services like EveryPlate, HelloFresh, Marley Spoon, and Dinnerly offer different plans and pricing structures. But are they really cheaper for everyone?
Finder’s head of consumer research, Graham Cooke, says it depends on your shopping habits.
💬 “You probably would be able to buy all the individual ingredients cheaper if you have the time to plan your meals for the week and use ingredients across multiple dishes,” he explained.
However, for busy families, the convenience and time savings can make meal kits a smarter financial choice.
Cooke points out that one of the biggest perks is knowing that you’ll get a fresh, balanced meal with a good mix of vegetables, without having to stress about planning.
🔄 How to Save Even More – Expert Tips & Tricks
If you’re considering trying a meal kit delivery service, here’s how to maximize your savings:
1️⃣ Rotate Between Services to Get the Best Deals
Many meal kit services offer huge discounts for new customers, but loyalty does not pay.
💡 Strategy:
✔ Sign up for a meal kit service using their introductory discount.
✔ After your discount period ends, switch to another service offering a new customer deal.
✔ Repeat the process every few months to continuously save!
💬 “The way to do it is to sign up for these services but swap around between them because a lot of them will give you half-price for four or six weeks when you move on,” Cooke suggested.
2️⃣ Cancel & Wait for Retention Discounts
If you cancel your subscription, many meal kit companies will try to win you back with special discounts.
💡 Strategy:
✔ Cancel your subscription when the price goes back to full.
✔ Wait a few weeks – companies may email you with a discount offer to return.
3️⃣ Supplement with Discounted Grocery Shopping
Valerie still buys extra grocery items but avoids major supermarkets where possible.
💡 Strategy:
✔ Shop at local fruit & veg markets for fresh, cheaper produce.
✔ Use multiple supermarkets to take advantage of specials.
✔ Buy in bulk for pantry staples to save long-term.
🎯 Is a Meal Kit Right for You?
If you’re spending $300+ a week on groceries, a meal kit service could save you thousands.
📌 Who will benefit most?
✔ Busy families who don’t have time to meal plan.
✔ People who struggle with impulse shopping at the supermarket.
✔ Those who want less food waste and more convenience.
📌 Who might not save money?
❌ People who already meal plan carefully and shop around for the lowest prices.
❌ Families who cook in bulk to maximize ingredient usage.
📢 Final Takeaway – Can You Really Save Money Like Valerie?
✔ YES! If you’re currently spending over $300 per week on groceries, switching to a meal kit + strategic shopping can help cut your grocery bill by thousands per year.
💰 Valerie’s real-life example shows that meal kits aren’t just about convenience—they can actually be a smart way to save money too.
💡 Want to give it a try? Start by signing up for meal kit trials with discounts, then compare the costs to your usual grocery spend.
Who knows? You might never look back either! 😉
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