With the cost of living crisis continuing to pack a punch on wallets across the world, more and more people are coming up with thrifty ways to scrimp and save on their weekly bills.
With New Zealand battling its worst inflation in decades and the cost of staples skyrocketing, the weekly supermarket shop has become nightmarishly expensive for many households. According to reports, a family of four living in Auckland spent an average of $395 a week on groceries in 2019 - the same trolley would now cost upwards of $427.
However, social media has quickly become a space for the scrimpers among us to share their tips and tricks to shaving costs and living a frugal lifestyle during these troubled times. One such person, an Australia-based British traveller, has managed to keep her weekly food bill to around AU$21 (roughly NZ$23.50) - a staggering AU$83 below the national average.
Mancunian Dominique Nutall is currently embracing #VanLife, exploring the vast country that is Australia with her boyfriend, Jesse. The couple's Aussie adventures have gained attention on TikTok, with Nutall sharing insights into their travels - including how the two keep their weekly food bill incredibly cheap while on the road.
She explained that the pair's weekly expenditure on groceries - including personal items such as toothpaste - is never more than AU$50, with the two usually spending around $3.30 per head, per day, with some meals costing as little as $0.80.
Speaking to news.com.au, Nutall revealed that the couple's weekly shopping list will typically include cheap staples such as bread, milk, tinned tomatoes, beans, wraps, eggs, lentils, coconut milk and pasta.
"We also stock up on fresh produce such as potatoes, carrots, onions and apples," she told the outlet.
"We make all meals in our van, unless it is a very special occasion. We have a two-burner gas hob and a box full of cooking utensils."
Nutall is currently sharing a five-part series on her TikTok, where she has amassed almost 20,000 followers, covering how to eat cheaply on the road. The series focuses on simple and tasty food that doesn't blow the budget, with fried rice, pesto pasta, lentil dahl, chicken wraps and French onion potatoes some of their favourites.
"One of my top tips for someone wanting to eat on a budget is to always buy items on special, and to always check which brand is cheapest," she advised.
"Cutting out meat, or at least reducing the amount you eat, will save you a lot of money. Plant-based protein such as lentils or beans are cheap and filling.
"You need to learn the 'reduction time' of your local supermarket; for example we always knew the time when our local shop was marking things down."
Nutall also recommended buying vegetables frozen rather fresh and exercising self-discipline where possible, noting that skipping the café coffee and takeaway meals will save sizable amounts of money in the long run.
To fund their Australian adventure, Nutall acknowledged that her and Jesse will take breaks from their life on the road for a few months at a time to complete stints of work, boosting their bank accounts before heading off to their next destination.
And their frugal lifestyle took some practice, with Nutall admitting the pair "got super into saving" before heading off on their trip. In order to fund their travels, the couple saved for roughly six months.
"It is cheaper than people think; living in a van you don't pay any bills or rent like you do in a house. I'd really recommend it for anyone thinking about doing it," she told news.com.au.
The thrifty traveller also shared what an average day on their plate might look like to demonstrate how anyone can keep costs low - if they try.
- Breakfast: Coffee (30c each) and toast and vegemite (30c each) = $1.20
- Lunch: Chicken wrap ($1.72 each) = $3.44
- Dinner: Lentil dahl ($1 each) = $2
Average cost for two per day = AU$6.64.
