From groceries to mattresses, we walk you through offers, sales, and hacks to help you shop savvy and save money on everything at home.

First things first, get clear on your budget and make that a goal. Consider your major household expenses and consider what you’re most keen to save money on. What would have the biggest impact?

Below, we outline some ways to cut costs on key household and health essentials.

Perhaps the greatest source of household spending, groceries are a constant need. So, how can you reduce the daily, weekly, and monthly spending to something manageable?

Buying Alternative

Brands like Imperfect Foods and Misfits Market sell high quality groceries at a discount, due to them not being deemed suitable by traditional retailers. Sometimes it’s fruit and veg that are a bit bigger or smaller than usual, items in outdated packaging, or products in excess supply.

Instead of these perfectly good products going to waste, new marketplaces pass them on to shoppers at a discount. This not only saves you money, but it also helps fight food waste and is a sustainable choice.

Instead of paying a premium for your fruit and veg to be a specific color or look a certain way, consider one of these alternative marketplaces. They often have a rotating stock with unique products, so if you’re keen to try new ingredients without the financial risk, they are a good option.

Bulk Buying

If you have the money to spend a little upfront, buying in bulk can reduce the overall cost of household essentials.

Many everyday necessities are available to buy in bulk, such as a 20 lbs bag of rice or a 1 kg box of oats. The price per unit is typically lower than if you bought a smaller portion multiple times. For example, instead of buying a 5 Ibs bag weekly for a total cost of $15 per month, one 20 Ibs bag may cost as little as $10, saving around $5 a month.

Bulk buying is most cost-effective with purchases you are guaranteed to use, so consider what household essentials you need often. Here are some tips for bulk buying effectively:

  • Storage: Make sure you have space to store your bulk purchases safely. Dry, ventilated areas will preserve your purchases for longer and reduce the risk of spoilage.
  • Longevity: The best items to buy in bulk are long-lasting and shelf-stable. Grains, dried beans, seeds, oils, dried herbs and spices, etc., are good options. Also consider non-food items, such as cleaning products, paper towels, diapers, etc.
  • Expiration dates: Always check that the expiration date of the items you’re bulk buying – this includes cleaning products, toiletries, medication, and other items which may become less effective or safe over time.
  • Management: Keep track of your supplies to avoid unnecessary repeat buying. Check that the products are still in good condition and are contained safely. Keep tabs on bulk buy offers from different retailers.
Wholesale retailers, such as Costco or Boxed, specialize in selling a wide range of products in bulk at a discount. From fresh and frozen foods to diapers, pet food to motor oil, if you use it in bulk, there are savings for you.

Meal planning

When it comes to food, it’s easy to buy more than you need. If you find yourself buying ingredients you don’t use or wasting leftovers, meal planning may be for you.

Planning ahead can prevent impulse or ‘hangry’ purchases and can also prevent food waste. Take time to consider what you’ll cook during the week and the ingredients you’ll need.

A quick search online will bring up free or low cost meal planning templates that can help you simplify healthy eating.

Some apps, such as eMeals, allow you to plan your meals and order only the groceries you need, saving time and money by buying only what you need.

Combine meal planning with batch cooking and freezing for future meals. You could also have a regular ‘use it up’ day for leftovers, minimizing food waste.

Meal delivery

Whether a meal delivery service saves you money may depend on your lifestyle. For busy people with limited time to meal plan and shop, it can be a game-changer.

While some meal delivery services can be costly, others, like Every Plate, can offer a cheap and simple alternative to preparing meals from scratch or buying ready meals.

Meal delivery services, whether they offer meal recipe kits with pre-measured ingredients, or prepared meals to heat and eat, can save time and energy on meal planning and grocery shopping. They can also help prevent food waste or last-minute panic buying.

A key money-saving tip is to take advantage of introductory offers common with meal delivery services, which can provide significant discounts. For example, they may give you 40% off your first box and 20% off the next three.

After your initial discount ends, consider swapping to a different meal delivery brand to take advantage of their introductory offer. You may also find that brands you’ve previously subscribed to will send you new discounts to try and win you back!

This ‘hopping around’ can take a little more time and energy than sticking with one brand, but the savings can be huge, with the potential for ‘hoppers’ to never pay full price for a meal delivery service.

Pharmacy discount and coupon sites can save you money on over-the-counter and prescription medication.

Services like Blink Health and OptumRx allow users to find coupons and discounts for their medication, which can save a lot of money if you have a regular prescription.

Also, look for non-branded options for basics such as pain relief medications. Often, brand-name versions of drugs such as acetaminophen cost a lot more, but contain the same ingredients at the same strength as non-brand versions.

Looking for alternatives to brand-name products is an easy way to save money on many kinds of products. With medications and first aid products, make sure to compare the ingredients and dosage to determine if they are the same and safe for you.

Travelling to doctors appointments and pharmacies can be an expense, particularly if you have to pay for travel or take time off work.

Using a telehealth service, a digital platform that provides virtual doctor’s appointment, can save time and money.

Telehealth can also be cheaper for people seeking healthcare without insurance.

Cleaning Supplies

Concentrated cleaning supplies can cost more upfront, but typically last much longer as you dilute them for use.

One option is to invest in a Force of Nature kit, which can create an all-purpose cleaner at a lower cost than buying several individual products. It is designed to be a safe, sustainable, and cost-effective option.

An alternative option is to use natural products such as white vinegar, baking soda, lemon, and salt as cheap and effective cleaning products. These can be bought in bulk and are nontoxic and affordable.

They may not always be as effective as dedicated cleaning products, but they are typically much safer and less likely to cause reactions than strong chemical products. They are also a very eco-friendly option.

Mattresses

Typically an expensive product, you can save money on a new mattress by shopping during holiday sales. Many mattress brands host sales during holidays, particularly Labor Day, Independence Day, Memorial Day, and Black Friday/Cyber Monday.

Waiting for regular holiday sales is a good idea when buying high-value items. Sales on furniture, technology, and clothes are guaranteed to occur regularly.

Many brands also have ‘mini’ sales toward the end of the month to coincide with a typical employee pay day. This is most true with brands selling food, drink, clothes, toys, or other smaller household essentials.

Saving money at home is about more than just cutting corners—it’s about building habits that support both your budget and your wellbeing. Savvy shopping and household management can ease financial stress and improve your health.

To work out the true cost and value of purchases, here are some additional tips:

• ​Unit price comparison:​ Check price per ounce, pound, or count.
• ​Rule of three:​ Always compare at least three options.
• ​Cost per use:​ Divide price by expected uses to determine the actual cost.

Overall, the best money-saving hacks involve some planning and research. Investing time to assess your spending and budget, investigating the best options, and waiting for deals can all help you save money on household and health essentials.