Amanda Dean, a Melbourne mother and savvy shopper known as the “Bargain Boss,” has managed to save an impressive $20,000 on her grocery bills by strategically taking advantage of supermarket markdowns. Major grocery chains including Woolworths and Coles typically reduce prices on items approaching their use-by or best-before dates, allowing budget-conscious shoppers like Dean to score significant savings.
Dean recommends that shoppers familiarize themselves with the markdown schedules of their local supermarkets, as the timing can vary between stores. She suggests watching for yellow discount stickers, often found in the meat, bakery, fruit, and dairy sections. According to Dean, markdowns usually begin the day prior to an item’s expiry date, with multiple price reductions potentially occurring within that timeframe.
Recently, Dean put her method to the test by purchasing an impressive $80 worth of groceries from Woolworths for just $16. Her haul included bargain items such as BBQ pork belly strips for $3.10, nine chicken pieces for $1.82, and tortellini for only $2.10. This approach not only helps her save money but also allows her to stock her freezer and prepare meals efficiently throughout the week.
Dean has also discovered that shopping during specific times, such as Christmas Eve, can lead to additional bargains, with previous hauls including rock lobsters for $11 each and pavlovas for just $2.50. Her weekly budget for groceries is set at $200, but she adapts her shopping across various stores, including Aldi and local butcher shops, based on the best deals available.
In addition to markdown shopping, Dean employs other strategies to cut costs, such as utilising rewards programs like Flybuys and Everyday Rewards, along with cashback offers when shopping online. Her resourcefulness extends beyond groceries; she saves money by negotiating rates with service providers and selling unused items on platforms like Facebook Marketplace.
Dean’s overall goal is to allocate these savings towards her mortgage, which she is excited to see drop below $100,000. Her experience shows how planning and adapting shopping habits can lead to substantial savings for families, proving that a little effort can significantly lighten the grocery load.