How I Grocery Shop for a Family of 4 on $150/Week in Australia

Real, Budget-Friendly Tips from a Mum in Victoria

Let’s be real—feeding a family these days feels like a full-time job and a budgeting challenge. With prices constantly rising and kids who can change their food preferences on a whim (ask me how many times my son has switched from meat to vegan in one month), it’s easy to feel like you’re either blowing the budget or running out of ideas.

But here’s the thing: you don’t need a massive grocery budget to feed your family well.

I’m a stay-at-home mum of two boys (ages 2 and 4), living in Victoria, Australia. I’m vegan, my partner isn’t, and our kids are a mix of everything. Oh, and one of them is super picky. Despite that, I consistently keep our weekly grocery shop to $150 or less—and we eat pretty well!

If you’re trying to save money, avoid food waste, and still feed your crew nourishing meals, this post will walk you through how we do it—and how you can too.

🧼 First Things First: This Budget Is For Food Only

Before we dive in, let me clear one thing up:
Our $150 budget is only for food.

I have separate budgets for:

• Toiletries

• Pets

• Baby products (like nappies and wipes)

This helps me stay focused and accurate when budgeting for just our meals and snacks, instead of lumping everything together and wondering why we’re over.

🛒 Our Family Setup (So You Know What I’m Working With)

• 2 adults (I’m vegan, my partner isn’t)

• 2 kids (ages 2 & 4) – both eat child-sized meals + snack all day

• 1 picky eater (our 4-year-old likes all foods separate on the plate)

• 1 adventurous toddler who eats almost anything

We shop at Aldi for 90% of our food and grab top-up bits from Coles when needed. I do our main shop on Wednesdaysand only go back during the week if we really need essentials—otherwise, we eat what we’ve got.

💸 Why We Stick to a $150 Grocery Budget

We started budgeting tighter when money was tough. Bills were piling up and food was one of the areas we could adjust without sacrificing too much. Once I saw how much we were saving and how much less stressful it was to stick to a plan, I just kept going.

Now, even when we have a little more financial flexibility, I still aim for that $150 mark so we can save extra or spend that money on other things—like experiences, the kids, or growing our garden.

📦 A Week’s Worth of Food (Rough Budget Breakdown)

Category Weekly Spend (Approx.) Fresh Produce $35–$40 Pantry Staples $25–$30 Vegan Substitutes $10–$15 Meat (from frozen/bulk monthly buy)$25 avg Bread, Eggs & Dairy $15–$20 Snacks (fruit-based, bars, bulk)$15–$20 Misc./Top-Ups $5–$10

Some weeks are over, some are under — it balances out across the month. If we go over one week, I adjust the next by eating from the freezer or pantry first.

🍽️ What We Eat in a Typical Week

These are just some of the meals and snacks we rotate through — we keep it flexible depending on what’s in season or on special.

🥣 Breakfast

• Avocado toast

• Scrambled eggs + toast

• Fruit platters (cucumbers, apples, strawberries, grapes)

• Hash browns or pancakes (usually on the weekend)

🥪 Lunch

• DIY snack platters (crackers, fruit, boiled eggs, hummus, veg sticks)

• Toasties or wraps

• Dumplings or nuggets with veg

• Leftovers from dinner

🍝 Dinner

• Lentil curry with rice

• Pasta with homemade sauce + meatballs (separate meatballs for the kids & partner, vegan sub for me)

• Burrito bowls (deconstructed for our 4yo)

• Roast veg + chicken for them / tofu or beans for me

• Spaghetti with hidden veg sauce

• Nugget & chip night with salad or frozen veggies

🍌 Snacks

• Seasonal fruit

• Corn thins, rice cakes, nut mixes

• Homemade bliss balls or muffins

• Store-brand snack bars or biscuits

🧑‍🍳 How I Cook for a Mixed Diet Household

Since I’m vegan and the rest of the house isn’t, I’ve learned to cook meals that are easily customizable. Here’s what works:

• Buildable meals – things like wraps, pasta, or bowls where everyone can add their own toppings or protein

• Cooking sides separately – I’ll cook tofu or lentils for myself while my partner and kids get meat or eggs

• Double batching – I make a big batch and freeze extra for those nights I’m too tired to cook anything fancy

It’s not about making 3 different meals — it’s about having a base that works for everyone and building from there.

👶 Dealing with a Picky Eater on a Budget

My 4-year-old is particular about food. He doesn’t like things “mixed together” and will often refuse an entire meal if something looks off. So here’s how I handle that without blowing the budget:

• I serve meals deconstructed — he gets all the same ingredients, just separated on the plate

• I add one new or challenging food next to his favourites, without pressure

• We do snack-style meals with lots of variety (and nutrition hidden in plain sight)

• If he doesn’t eat what I serve, I offer a basic backup like fruit or toast — nothing too exciting, but still filling

• He helps me prep meals which has helped his confidence in trying new things

🧃 Smart Shopping Tips That Actually Work

These are my ride-or-die tips for staying on track:

1. Shop Seasonally & On Special

If zucchinis and apples are on special — that’s what we eat. I plan meals around what’s cheap, not the other way around.

2. Buy in Bulk When You Can

I buy meat in bulk once a month and freeze it in single-use portions. I also freeze leftover sauces, herbs, rice, and even bread if needed.

3. Double Up Dinners

I cook most meals in big batches so we always have leftovers. This saves heaps of time and money, especially on busy days.

4. Use Rewards & Cashback Apps

I use the Shping app for receipt scanning rewards and cashback when available, plus Flybuys and Woolworths Rewards.

5. Cook From Scratch (When Possible)

I keep it simple — sauces, muffins, and snack balls are easy to make and cheaper (and healthier!) than store-bought.

📝 Our Weekly Shopping & Meal Routine

Sunday/Monday:

• Take stock of what we already have

• Check specials and base meals on what’s in season or discounted

Wednesday:

• Main shop at Aldi

• Quick stop at Coles if we need something Aldi didn’t have

Rest of the Week:

• Eat what we have

• Only go back to the shops if we run out of something essential

• Cook once, eat twice — leftovers or freezer meals are lifesavers

🧠 Final Thoughts: Progress Over Perfection

You won’t get it right every week. Some weeks we go over budget. Some weeks the kids refuse everything. Sometimes I want takeaway and we order pizza. It happens.

But the more you try, the easier it gets. You learn your family’s patterns, their favourite meals, and what actually gets eaten (and what just ends up in the bin). You start to make smarter swaps and see the savings roll in.

Don’t beat yourself up. Start where you are. Use what you have. And remember: you’re doing amazing.

If this post helped you or gave you ideas, share it with another mum who’s trying to cut costs without sacrificing sanity. 💛