With food costs up 1.3 per cent in the past 12 months, combined with skyrocketing transport and oil costs, now is a good time to do what you can to save.
As the bill at the supermarket checkout goes up, it might feel as though there’s not much you can do to avoid the squeeze on groceries. However, here are eight money-saving smartphone apps that will help slash your grocery bill.
Use one, or use them all, to get more for less at the supermarket. If you combine the use of these apps, the potential savings could be huge.
Half Price
Cost: Free
How it works: Half Price is essentially an online catalogue that tracks everything that’s 50 per cent off at Coles and Woolworths.
Build a shopping list on the app and you’ll be able to quickly see what’s half price and when, and stock up when you can score a 50 per cent discount.
Data is updated every Wednesday morning and Liquorland and BWS specials are included too.
Potential saving: even if you manage to get a couple of items each week for half price and save $5 weekly, you’ll potentially be better off by $260 annually.
Read: Easy ways to save on your food shop as inflation soars
Frugl
Cost: Free
How it works: Frugl allows you to find savings on thousands of products every week across grocery retailers across Australia. The app gives you an instant price comparison between the leading supermarkets – Coles, Aldi, Woolworths, IGA and more – without having to physically head into each store.
Either type in the name of the product you’re after, or just scan the barcode from your home pantry, and grab the best bargains of the week.
Potential saving: one reviewer claims to save on average $40 on her weekly family food shop. That’s a whopping $2000 each year.
ShopFully
Cost: Free
How it works: ShopFully essentially brings the latest supermarket catalogues straight to your phone so you can see what’s discounted.
Browse all the catalogues near you and stay updated about the offers from Big W, Coles, Aldi, The Good Guys, Godfreys, Myer, Lowes, Kathmandu, Kincrome, Sanity, Total Tools and many more.
Potential saving: you can save on everything from food and alcohol to tools and toiletries. A weekly saving of $10 can see you better off by $520 annually.
Read: Supermarket tip that could save you thousands each year
Out of Milk
Cost: Free
Availability: iOS
How it works: Out of Milk allows you to create customisable shopping lists and share them with family members, so no grocery item gets left behind again.
You’re also able to tick off items as you find them, as well as organise them into categories to ensure you’re not doubling back to the same aisles. You can also add the quantity and price of items, handy for those on a budget or those that need to buy in bulk.
Potential saving: no more wasting money on fuel heading back to the store to pick up something you’ve forgotten.
Mealime
Cost: Free
How it works: Mealime is a simple way for singles, couples, and families to plan their meals and eat healthier. The provided meal plans and recipes are highly customisable so you can easily personalise a plan that works with your unique tastes and lifestyle.
When you plan your meals, the necessary ingredients are automatically added to your shopping list – saving you time and effort when it comes to deciding what to eat.
SuperCook
Cost: Free
How it works: SuperCook is the perfect app to consult when you hear the dreaded ‘What’s for dinner?’ You just enter the ingredients you have sitting in your fridge and pantry and SuperCook will work its magic and find recipes that match your ingredient list. It’s a great way to use up leftover items that would otherwise be thrown away.
Potential saving: in Australia, more than one-third of the average rubbish bin will be filled with food waste – the equivalent of one in five shopping bags worth of food simply thrown away. That’s an estimated $2000 worth of groceries each year. If SuperCook helps you halve that food waste, you could be better off by $1000 annually.
Read: Simple tips for reducing your food waste at home
Everyday Rewards
Cost: Free
How it works: Everyday Rewards lets shoppers earn one reward point for every dollar spent at Woolworths and partner stores including Big W. When you reach 2000 points, choose to get $10 off your next shop or convert to 1000 Qantas points. Just downloading the Everyday Rewards app can see you collect 1000 points.
FlyBuys
Cost: Free
How it works: earn one FlyBuys point per $1 spent at Coles, Kmart, Target and Liquorland, or one point per $2 spent at Shell Coles Express. Every 2000 points gets you $10 to spend at the checkout. Use the app to check for personalised offers, or take surveys to score bonus points.
Do you use any apps to save money in day-to-day life? Do you search for supermarket specials or just buy from one main store? Let us know in the comments section below.
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