Turning to toast in tight times: Australians reveal their struggle meals when money’s low
Millions of Australians struggling to pay for groceries are turning to cheaper meals to get by, according to new research by Finder.
A Finder survey of 1,049 respondents revealed 46% of respondents – equivalent to 9.6 million people – have a hard time affording enough groceries to last the entire week.
The research found 1 in 5 (20%) sometimes have to make do with fewer groceries, while 14% occasionally need to get creative with meals to make them last.
More than 1 in 10 (12%) – 2.5 million people – admit it's always challenging to ensure they have enough food for the entire week.
The average Aussie household reports spending $190 per week on their groceries in August, according to Finder's Consumer Sentiment Tracker.
However this figure is much higher for households with at least 1 child under the age of 18.
The average Australian parent reports spending $251 per week for their household on groceries in August.
Rebecca Pike, money expert at Finder, said the rising cost of groceries is putting a strain on household budgets.
"We've seen a sharp increase in the number of people who say their groceries are one of their most stressful expenses.
"Many are having to change where they shop and what they buy just to keep food on the table.
"It's easy to feel ashamed when you can't afford everything you need, but you're certainly not alone."
Finder's research shows almost 2 in 3 (62%) Australians have a common 'struggle meal' they go to when they are low on money.
Instant noodles (17%), leftovers (17%), toast (12%), and breakfast cereal (5%) top the list of 'struggle meals' Aussies create when they're short of cash.
Pike said there are some creative ways to save on your grocery shop.
"Most supermarkets have predictable sales cycles. Learn when certain items are typically discounted and plan your meals around those sales.
"Stock up on non-perishables, like canned goods and pasta, when they're at their lowest price. That goes for food, but also for other items at the grocery store, like toiletries.
"In terms of fresh produce, costs vary throughout the year as things go in and out of high and low season. Plan your meals around what's in season and in abundance at the moment for the lower prices."
Pike urged households to look out for store brand and private label products, as they often offer the same quality as name brands at a fraction of the cost.
"Don't underestimate the power of pantry staples to create delicious and budget-friendly meals.
"Not all specials are created equal – some are incentives to make you buy more than you need.
"Other deals may make higher-end products cheaper in relation to their usual price, but there could still be alternatives which are just as good and will cost you less than the high-end product sale price," Pike said.
| Are you constantly finding it difficult to afford enough groceries to last the entire week? | |
|---|---|
| Yes, it's always challenging to ensure I have enough food for the entire week | 12% |
| Yes, occasionally I need to get creative with meals to make them last | 14% |
| Yes, sometimes I have to make do with fewer groceries than I'd like | 20% |
| No, I rarely have trouble stretching my groceries to cover the entire week | 24% |
| No, I can comfortably buy enough groceries to last the week | 30% |
| Source: Finder survey of 1,049 respondents, July 2024 |
| Which of the following best describes your most common "struggle meal"? | |
|---|---|
| Instant noodles | 17% |
| Leftovers | 17% |
| Toast | 12% |
| Breakfast cereal | 5% |
| Plain noodles | 4% |
| Plain rice | 4% |
| Other | 1% |
| I don't have a struggle meal | 38% |
| Source: Finder survey of 1,049 respondents, July 2024 |
Methodology
- Finder's Consumer Sentiment Tracker is a monthly recurring nationally representative survey of more than 60,000 respondents.
- Figures in this release are based on 1,049 respondents from July 2024.
- The Consumer Sentiment Tracker is owned by Finder and operated by Qualtrics, an SAP company.
- The survey has been running monthly since May 2019.
Here are some creative ways to save on your shop.