As mums, we regularly play the function of family challenge supervisor, chauffeur, and even accountant. It’s a tricky job at occasions, however somebody’s gotta do it! Fortunately, you don’t should determine all of it out alone…
On this article, we’ll undergo some ideas that will help you handle your loved ones’s finances, so you’ll be able to take pleasure in extra scrumptious, wholesome meals with out overspending every month.
Bounce forward to learn extra:


How to economize on wholesome meals
No matter your meals finances (whether or not it’s kind of than the everyday Australian household), there’s normally a strategy to in the reduction of not less than a bit of. And you are able to do it with out resorting to low-cost, processed meals. In reality, do-it-yourself, wholesome meals are sometimes extra budget-friendly than takeout meals. Right here’s how…


Plan forward
If you’ve acquired a plan, you’ll be able to keep on with your finances much more simply. You possibly can select wholesome meals that embody budget-friendly substances, and you may be sure to’re all the time prepared with one thing to eat earlier than you’re hungry.
This implies you’re much less prone to have to resort to takeout. You possibly can obtain our favorite meal planning instruments right here, together with our weekly planner and our grocery listing planner.
Make a listing
A part of planning your wholesome meals will embody making a listing. When you’ve deliberate out your menu above, you’ll have to listing out the substances that you must make every recipe.
Then you’ll be able to cross-check this listing towards what’s already in your cabinet, fridge, and freezer so that you don’t double-up or waste one thing you’ve already acquired.
You may as well utilise the purchasing listing operate within the Wholesome Mummy app.
Don’t store once you’re hungry
Buying once you’re hungry is harmful on your finances… and your well being! When you store hungry, you’ll be more likely to seize fast processed meals, snacks, and provides in to cravings.
So be sure to eat a correct wholesome meal earlier than you head to the retailers or pack a wholesome snack so that you by no means store hungry once more.
Store at farmers markets and low cost shops
Typically the very best place to get good, wholesome meals on a finances is your native farmers’ markets or roadside stall. Not solely is the meals more energizing and straight from the farm, however it’s additionally typically cheaper as a result of there’s no intermediary.
However you don’t have to move to the countryside or markets to get reasonably priced substances to cook dinner with. Even simply switching your purchasing from Coles and Woolworths to Aldi can imply you save $$$ every week.
Purchase in season
Ever observed that in a single week, strawberries are $1 a punnet, then a month later, they’re $5 a punnet? It’s all in regards to the seasons. When you choose recent substances which might be in season, you’ll maintain your prices down… AND you’ll create more healthy meals as a result of all of the substances you utilize are recent and native.
Don’t over-buy
Do you ever end up shopping for an excessive amount of meals (or an excessive amount of of the improper meals) after which you need to throw a number of it out? You’re not the one one… actually, one survey exhibits that 43% of Australians do that repeatedly! So keep on with your listing, be sure to don’t over-buy, and also you’ll discover you waste much less and your finances stretches additional.
Purchase in bulk
This might sound to contradict the earlier tip, however it’s nonetheless a sound method to economize in your store. When you repeatedly use a number of one ingredient, why not purchase it in bulk? For instance, in the event you plan to eat a number of brown rice subsequent month, seize it within the 1kg bag as a substitute of the 500g bag so it really works out cheaper, total. Additionally in the event you plan to have a number of wholesome meals that embody the identical meat like rooster or mince you should purchase in bulk, portion it, and freeze it.
Scale back processed meals
If you plan wholesome meals for your loved ones, you’ll mechanically cut back the quantity of expense, unhealthy processed meals. That’s a finances win and a well being win!
Serve smaller parts
If you begin to be extra conscious of what you eat, you’ll cease overloading your plate (and your loved ones members’ plates). This implies you received’t have to spend as a lot on substances and also you received’t find yourself with as a lot waste on the finish of every meal.
Make bulk and freeze
When you purchase your substances in bulk, why not cook dinner in bulk too, then freeze the additional meals? Not solely will you get monetary savings in your substances, however you’ll save time (which is simply as treasured, proper?). And right here’s one other associated tip: in the event you purchase a bunch of recent substances however can’t fairly get by means of them, see in the event you can freeze them for future recipes or smoothies!
Benefit from the leftovers
If one in every of your wholesome meals isn’t freezer-friendly, you’ll be able to in all probability not less than pop it within the fridge in a single day and eat it the following day. Consuming leftovers can prevent a number of money and time. Based on one examine, you can save a median of $150/week simply by doing leftovers as a substitute of consuming out as soon as per week!
For extra money-saving ideas, take a look at our weblog, 250 Cash Saving Suggestions For Mums On A Funds.
Funds-friendly, wholesome, and scrumptious
Yep – you actually can have all three directly! The factor is, once you cook dinner your personal wholesome meals from residence, they’re going to be more energizing, extra scrumptious, and rather more budget-friendly. Even your fussy household will love consuming them!
And when you get into a brand new, more healthy routine, you’ll discover it doesn’t take that a lot time to cook dinner wholesome meals in the event you plan forward of time. Particularly when you’ve acquired a set of wholesome recipes to comply with and help from fellow wholesome mums to maintain on going.
A few of our favorite wholesome meals on a finances
Prepared to start out meal planning and prepping? Listed here are a few of our group’s most beloved wholesome meals – all with a deliciously low price per serve: