Be honest: Do you actually know what you’re spending on food every month?
If the answer is a hesitant “no” (or a slightly panicked “too much!”), you are not alone. With the cost of living in Australia rising, it’s easy for grocery spending to spiral out of control. We start with good intentions, but between impulse buys and those sneaky “top-up” shops, our bank accounts are feeling the pinch.
In my latest video, Master Your Grocery Budget, I’m pulling back the curtain on my exact method for tracking spend and sticking to a budget that actually works.
Why Budgeting Isn’t “Boring”—It’s Freedom
Most people think budgeting is about restriction. I like to look at it differently: Budgeting is giving every single dollar a job.
When you know exactly where your money is going, you unlock the power to reach your bigger life goals—whether that’s paying off debt, investing, or finally booking that dream holiday. It’s not about eating less; it’s about eating smart and being “good friends” with your money.
Two Ways to Set Your Grocery Budget
Depending on your current situation, I recommend one of two approaches:
- Necessity-Based: You have a fixed amount (e.g., $200/month) and you simply must make it work. This is where extreme budget challenges and creative pantry cooking become your best friends.
- The Ecosystem Approach: You look at your total income and allocate a portion to groceries alongside your other living expenses.
For both methods, I swear by the Zero-Sum Budget. This means your income minus your expenses, savings, and investments equals zero. Every dollar is accounted for!
My 3-Step Method to Level Up Your Savings
1. Define Your Categories
Don’t overcomplicate it. In my household, the “Grocery” category includes food, drinks consumed at home, pet supplies for our cat, and cleaning products. However, I always keep “Eating Out” as a separate category. Seeing the cost of a café meal versus a home-cooked one is a huge motivator to stay on track!
2. The “Once a Week” Rule
This is my ultimate hack: Shop for groceries once a week maximum. Running back and forth to the supermarket is the fastest way to increase impulse purchases. Stick to your list, get creative with what you have, and watch your total spend drop.
3. Track Your “Real” Data
Don’t guess. Go into your banking app and look at your last 3 months of spending at stores like Aldi, Coles, or Woolworths. Take the average. This is your “baseline,” and once you know it, you can start making intentional choices to bring it down.
Download My Free Grocery Budgeting Template
To make this as easy as possible for you, I’ve created a Free Grocery Budget & Tracking Template. It’s the exact tool I use to manage our household spend (which currently sits at about $800/month for two adults and a cat here in Australia).
It’s Okay to Be “Boring”
Sometimes, a budget-friendly lunch is just baked beans on toast and a piece of fruit. It doesn’t always have to be Instagram-worthy or super exciting. Sometimes, being “boring” for a meal or two is the strategic choice that allows you to afford the things that really matter to you.
Are you ready to get real with your budget this month? Watch the full video for the step-by-step tutorial on how to use the template, and let’s start saving together!