Media Enquiries
Cassandra Geselle
ING
60 Margaret Street
Sydney NSW 2000
Media Enquiries
Cassandra Geselle
ING
60 Margaret Street
Sydney NSW 2000
published 6 May 2025
Australia’s most frugal grocery shoppers saving $5.3 billion per year with this hack

- Frugal grocery shoppers that buy sale ticket items close to expiration dates slash approximately $315 off their annual grocery bill, or $5.3 billion nationwide
- These Aussies most commonly buy fresh meat, poultry and seafood (49%), bakery products (40%) and fresh produce (40%) close to expiration dates to save a buck
- Research also reveals Aussies could save an additional $1,159 per year by ditching the midweek impromptu grocery trip
On average, these Aussies are buying close-to-expiry items 2.5 times per month, equating to an average of 30 times per year, with two in three (67%) doing so at least monthly. The top items bought close to expiration are fresh meat, poultry and seafood (49%), bakery products (40%) and fresh produce (40%).
Two in five (41%) of these frugal grocery shoppers say they don’t notice a difference between these and non-final sale items.
This isn’t the only way Aussies are trying to save on groceries though, as:
- 44% regularly visit multiple supermarkets/stores to find the best value/sale items;
- One in four (25%) have changed their eating habits to save money (i.e. cut back on eating meat)
- 22% shop at smaller grocery stores (i.e. not the main supermarket chains);
- And 22% of shoppers choose specific times and days for cheaper groceries, with one in five (20%) believing weekday evenings are the best.
Shoppers could save even more by ditching the midweek impromptu shop
In addition to buying sale ticket or close to expiration items, some Aussies could be saving an extra $1,159 annually by ditching the midweek impromptu trip to the grocery store.
More than half (52%) of Aussies often make last-minute trips to buy items outside their main shop, with 59% admitting they buy more than planned during these trips, as the research shows these impromptu shops are costing an average of $97 extra per month.
Aussies spending less on groceries in-store vs online
The research also reveals Aussies who most commonly buy their groceries in-store spend an average of $167 per week, or $8,680 annually, which is about $904 less per year than those who shop online ($184 per week, or $9,584 annually).
Matt Bowen, Head of Consumer and Market Insights at ING Australia, comments on the report findings:
“There are still more opportunities to save though, and with two in five (46%) Aussies admitting they’ve had to leave an item behind at the supermarket checkout because they didn’t have enough budget for it, now is a great time to explore more bargains and smart shopping strategies.
“With that pesky midweek impromptu trip to the convenience store costing us an extra $97 monthly, and shopping primarily online costing us an extra $904 annually, Aussies have the opportunity to implement other ways to save by finding those sale ticket items, tweaking their dietary habits and even shopping in-store on a weekday evening.”
Matt’s grocery cost-cutting tips:
- Use your leftovers creatively. Transform leftovers into new meals. For example, use leftover roast chicken in a salad, soup, or sandwich. This could help to reduce both your grocery budget and food waste.
- Look into buying fruit and veg boxes online from brands that sell rejected produce. Another way to reduce food waste and the blow to the hip pocket, this is a great way to support local farmers too. But make sure you do your own research and comparisons first to see if it really works out to be cheaper for you.
- Grow your own herbs. Start a small herb garden at home. Fresh herbs can be expensive, but growing your own is cost-effective and adds a personal touch to your meals.
- Freeze and preserve. Buy in bulk when items are on sale and freeze or preserve them. This works well for meats, fruits, and vegetables, ensuring you have a stockpile of affordable ingredients.
- Visit local farmers’ markets or smaller fresh produce stores. In addition to supporting local and small businesses, prices can be lower than the large supermarket chains.
More information
The information on this page is correct and true at time of publishing.
For brevity:
- “Aussies” and “Aussie grocery shoppers” refers to Australians aged 18 years and older that regularly buy groceries
- “Frugal grocery shoppers” refers to Aussies that regularly buy marked down food items close to their expiration date
Data point calculations:
- “Australia’s most frugal grocery shoppers saving $5.3 billion per year with this hack” calculation: Average spend per week ($26.23 * 12 months *population that that buy food items that are marked down to save money (16,863,000) = 5.308 billion
- “Research also reveals Aussies could save an additional $1,159 per year by ditching the midweek impromptu grocery trip” calculation: Average spend per week ($96.56 * 12 months *population that frequently make impromptu trips outside of their main grocery shop (10,298,000) = 11.932 billion
Media Enquiries
Cassandra Geselle
ING
60 Margaret Street
Sydney NSW 2000
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All information in the ING Newsroom is accurate at the time of publication.