Meal hack helping Aussie mum save $260 a week

Cost of living pressures are forcing Aussie families to think beyond supermarkets, as even buying raw ingredients and making things from scratch becomes expensive.

As families practice frugality to combat cost of living pressures, you might think the easiest way to cut costs is to buy raw ingredients and make everything from scratch.

However, Sydney mum Dr Anna Crane has slashed her family’s meal budget by as much as $260 per week by incorporating ready-made meals into the rotation.

The family was spending about $400 on groceries and $160 per week on takeaway before making the switch, however, Dr Crane said it’s making a noticeable difference.

“I spend about $200 on them and I’ve been using them to feed my family of five for three meals a week, it’s much more convenient and it actually is saving money,” she said.

“One of the meals we like is a ready-made beef brisket, which I made it into a shepherd’s pie. That serve of meat was less than $20, you couldn’t buy that from the supermarket.”

Dr Crane, who works as a GP, said the switch has also helped her family reduce food waste.

Sydney mum Anna Crane (centre) is hacking her food bills with ready-made meals. Picture: Supplied

Research by Roy Morgan shows more than 7 million Australian now use meal delivery services, with time-poor millennials aged between 31 and 46 leading the charge.

An estimated 45 per cent of them used a meal service in the last three months.

Meal delivery service The St. Food Co has seen a 30 per cent spike in sales of its meals under $12 this quarter, shipping 35,000 meals per week from its Brisbane-based kitchen.

Depending where you shop, the pre-prepared meals could be as much as 25 per cent cheaper than DIY options, with its quick feast kits averaging $7.50 per portion.

“We are seeing a rise in customers choosing more budget-conscious options,” said the company’s chief commercial officer Matt Smith.

“One of the other things that sets us apart is we incorporate salads and fresh leafy greens in our kits grown in vertical farms - this is the future of fresh produce.”

Her kids Matilda Bowyer, 12, and Dominic Bowyer, 10, enjoy helping out. Picture: Supplied

Woolworths is also seeing double-digit growth for prepared meals, especially ready meals such as lasagnes and pasta bakes, as customers look for affordable options to eat in.

“Pre-made meals are getting tastier and better, and we have seen their popularity grow in recent years,” a Woolworths spokesperson said.

The supermarket has introduced a number of new options in response to the growth, including the Dine In range, which offers quick and easy meals for families.

“It’s the ideal ‘fakeaway’ when you want to break the dinner routine without getting takeaways or spend too much time in the kitchen.”