Ways to save on food and fuel

Food and fuel are two big regular costs for most households. Here are some tips to save.

Save money on groceries

Groceries are one of the biggest household costs - even though we’re not always meeting our nutrient intakes!

There are countless food shopping hacks online, as well as easy and cheap to prepare recipes. Some simple savings tips include:

• Plan ahead – plan meals weekly, including lunches and snacks. Check your pantry, fridge and freezer. Make a shopping list and only buy what you need.
• Meal prep – prepare meals or ingredients in advance. Freeze extras for later. Work out your weekly menu based on what you already have in the fridge or cupboard, or what’s on special at the supermarkets that week.
• Buy on special – check online for special deals across different stores, before you head to the shops. Check the time of day your local stores might mark down the price of fresh items.
• Compare unit prices – check the unit price (for example, the price per 100g) under the main price. Then compare the price and value of similar products. The per-kilo price of pre-packaged fruit and veg, for example, can be more expensive than the alternative.
• Buy in bulk – buy staples (like rice, oats, flour) and non-perishables when they’re on special. Or buy bulk amounts with your neighbours or friends.

Get help with grocery costs

Around 1.3 million households report experiencing food insecurity due to a lack of money.

If you don’t have enough money for food, you may be able to access a food relief service near you, or a charity that offers meals, food parcels or food vouchers.

See our urgent help with money page for more information.

Save money on fuel

Even with the federal government temporarily cutting the fuel excise recently, the cost of petrol and diesel is eating into household budgets. Some possible ways to save include:

• Track the petrol price cycle - According to the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC), retail petrol prices move up and down in regular patterns in Australia’s 5 largest cities. The ACCC monitors the retail fuel prices in Australia’s capital cities and over 190 regional locations and publishes a weekly update.
• Use a price-tracking app - There are price-tracking websites and apps for each state, that tap into daily fuel prices. Some states have their own apps and websites and some allow third-party apps to use their data. See our state-by-state list and links in the section below.
• Use retailer apps and deals – A number of major service station retailers have apps that offer rewards and in some cases discounts. An example is the My 7-Eleven app fuel lock feature that allows users to lock in a local fuel price for up to 7 days, with a maximum possible discount of 25 cents per litre.
• Check other retailer discounts – from your supermarket to your insurer to your super fund – you may have access to more discounts and rewards than you’re aware of. Check out what, if any rewards programs – and fuel savings - are offered by the various businesses you shop with or are a member of.
• Catch public transport – it’s not always practical but where it is, consider swapping the car for a bus, train or ferry. Several states currently have free or reduced public transport costs to help sweeten the deal.

Petrol price tracking apps and websites state by state

ACT and New South Wales: Visit the NSW Fuel Check website
Northern Territory: Visit the MyFuel NT website
Queensland: Choose from a range of third-party apps linked via the Queensland Treasury website
South Australia: Choose from a range of third-party apps linked via South Australia’s Consumer and Business Services website
Tasmania: Visit the FuelCheck TAS website and app
Victoria: Visit the Service Victoria app
Western Australia: Visit the WA FuelWatch website and app

Where to get more help

Food and fuel are not the only big costs for Australians. Check out our ways to save money webpage, with links to many other ways to save, and where to find extra help if you need it.