Grocery Budget Challenge! Woolworths Australia | Cheap Meal Ideas | Australian family

[@bron3936]

Hi Nikki, I’ve just made your dinner meal from this video and it was delicious! Mine was more of a “I can’t be bothered to go shopping what do I have in my pantry” meal!! 😂 I had on hand the tinned tomatoes, chick peas and pasta and winged the rest of it! (I used up a small bit of frozen broccoli/cauliflower rice and froz peas) I’m actually so proud of myself because I’m usually rigid in following recipes but this time I threw in things to taste! Wow! You are opening new doors for me!! Thank you 🙏

[@NikkiBeal]

Oh Bron, this has made my day!! Thank you! (and welcome to the world of "Vibe Cooking", where you go with the flow, follow your nose, and see what happens! It's pretty much how I cook on a daily basis ... it's exciting and nerve-wracking all at the same time! 😂)

[@linrichy1417]

I am an international student. I like your frugal challenges. Keep up good work.

[@NikkiBeal]

Thank you so much for watching! I'm glad to hear you enjoy them.

[@mariasinclair9718]

I get oats from Woolies brand (750gms $1.50) for daily porridge. I add milk, sugar and cinnamon) That's healthy for the heart too. God bless all Amen 🙏

[@NikkiBeal]

We're a family that loves oats too! Cinnamon & Brown Sugar is probably my favourite 👍

[@ryanbruh752]

Milk -lactose aka sugar Oats - carbs aka sugar Sugar - sugar. Sprinkling sugar on your sugar pouring sugar over it all. Sounds horrible for your heart.

[@missragsdale]

@@ryanbruh752 That's not how anything works. Yes, milk has lactose, but it also has protein and fat to balance that out. Yes, oats are carbs, but they're a whole food full of fiber and other nutrients that are extremely heart-healthy. And unless someone is piling several tablespoons of sugar on their porridge, they're likely not eating enough to be unhealthy. Equating a bowl of porridge with eating nothing but sugar is fearmongering, not actual nutrition information.

[@henrymichal8522]

Glad I found your site. You're a genius. Batch cooking is next level in terms of saving time and money. Thank you for sharing

[@NikkiBeal]

Thank you for watching!

[@pek5117]

When I saw the chickpeas and lentils I thought curry. That breakfast cereal looked good, woolies sell own brand wheatbix in big boxes, very good for bigger families, another person mentioned the own brand oats wich is a very cheap option. Woolies pasta and tinned tomatoes are always on my list in a challenge like this, I always have a bag of Italian seasoning and a jar of minced garlic and cheese, the pasta is 4 servings I think so for less than $2 that's a lot of food. With another can of coconut milk, some of the leftover rice and sugar you could make a coconut creamed rice for desert, maybe a tin of fruit to go on top and you could get the fruit in syrup and use the syrup for cooking the rice to cut down on how much sugar you add. I'm pretty sure you can make meringue out of the water from tinned chickpeas. Looked great Nikki, I think I'll be making a pasta bake this week.

[@NikkiBeal]

I nearly made a curry! 🤣 (That's actually coming in the next EGBC video 😂) There are so many possibilities with a few basic ingredients. I didn't even think of making creamed rice ... and I've done a similar thing in an earlier video using the juice from the fruit. Works great! So many great ideas here. Thanks for sharing!

[@janetsinclair3668]

​@@NikkiBealgreat menu 😊❤

[@hayleyemma7953]

Thank you for doing an updated version! I'm fortunate to be able to afford more but still looking to find ways to reduce our woolies cost. I'll be moving out soon and handling a mortgage on a single income so, your tips have been super helpful in preparing me!

[@NikkiBeal]

Thanks so much for watching Hayley! I'm so glad to hear you've found a few useful tips 👍

[@NewmNetwork]

I just stumbled on your channel today. I'm a single mum on a disability pension raising a child with Autism. Its getting harder and harder to make ends meet. I want so much to get out from under the poverty line, so I try so hard to save where I can even though its literally impossible to live on 22k a year and raise a child. Thank you so much for being online Nikki. I have subscribed and I am going to dive into your videos and learn everything I can.

[@NikkiBeal]

Hang in there, Mallory xx I hope things turn around for you soon, and I sincerely hope you have resources in your local area that you can reach out to & receive some assistance. Thinking of you both & wishing you the very best. Stay strong, you've got this xx

[@Always-Hustle]

Stay strong

[@daniellegreig489]

I'd suggest going into Centrelink and getting them to check that you're receiving absolutely every payment you're entitled to-I was previously receiving the DSP until my living circumstances changed and was receiving more than $22k/year as a single (this was about four years ago now, so would have been receiving even more now). Expecting a single mum with a disability to support her family on $22k/year is just madness and I'm so sorry for the situation you're in. 😔

[@janetsinclair3668]

❤great meals for a budget 😊

[@NikkiBeal]

Thank you! x

[@Miriam20023]

Thankyou for the ideas!

[@madamkiwi1094]

Hi just found you ., really liked your ideas, Farmers Wife Homestead did a $50 week challenge from over the ditch here in New Zealand

[@NikkiBeal]

Thank you! I will have to check that out!

[@Dimigt530]

Great menu Nikki, thank you for doing all the hard work . Im struggling financially at the moment and I definitely find your menu very 'do-able' and helpful . Your $15 Coles menu for 5 days has helped me in the past . Thank you again and I hope you have fully recovered from your recent ailment . 😘

[@NikkiBeal]

Thank you so much for watching Blossom. I'm sorry to hear that you are struggling a bit at the moment, hopefully things will improve for you soon. Hang in there! And please make sure you are utilising the resources in your area if need be 🤗 Thank you again for your lovely kind words. I'm doing really well now, thanks!

[@Dimigt530]

@@NikkiBeal That's good to hear Nikki . Take care

[@aussiemumof2253]

Great video! I miss oats but being coeliac i cant have those and the rolled quinoa alternative is expensive 🥲

[@NikkiBeal]

Thanks so much for watching! Substituting in GF alternatives can definitely get expensive. I've been asked in the past to do a GF version, but not being GF myself (or a dietician) I don't really feel comfortable making recommendations / suggestions like that. I'm pretty sure Florishing Miranda eats GF (?) She's American, but does extremely cheap meals.

[@_e11e_78]

I've seen some people making a rice porridge. Haven't tried it myself so can't comment ont he taste, but maybe worth a try?

[@Sonja...]

Great challenge Nikki!!! Interesting to see that breakfast was the most expensive... If others are struggling maybe they could use oats instead of the cereal and a cheaper fruit?! Love that you blended the chickpeas, I would never have thought of that!

[@NikkiBeal]

Thanks Sonja! Absolutely, great suggestions! Oats are a staple at our place bc they are so cheap & so good for you. Love 'em!

[@mariasinclair9718]

500 gms peanut butter at Woolworths is $2.70. Bread $2.20 6.50 grams.Great sandwich for lunch like last century hmm. ?? Online shopping I bulk buy 1/2 price specials. Chocolate for Xmas presents this year. Blessings Maria

[@NikkiBeal]

Great tips! Thanks for sharing, Maria!

[@tireeroach]

Was great video more like this please thanks.

[@NikkiBeal]

Thanks Tiree! Definitely more like this coming in the future 👍

[@simonbrady5287]

Thanks for the video, I enjoy watching this kind of videos and hopefully I can get at least one idea to take away, I'll be trying the coconut rice dish. The only criticism I have of this kind of video is eating the same thing for 6 days, maybe you have already done a challenge but if not could you do one where you cook 2 different breakfasts, lunches and dinners on an extreme budget. Keep up the good work!!

[@NikkiBeal]

Thanks for watching Simon & I don't disagree with what you're saying. I've batched these recipes to make 6 meals each, but you could easily halve them & use the same ingredients to make something slightly different. We are a family of 3 so this meal plan covers us for 2 days. For a large family it would cover 1 day. But you hopefully get the idea. Cheers!

[@joanneruth1168]

Lately I save all the pasta water and use it up in my cooking in the next few days. It’s even good in meals with oats -savoury & sweet. Nutrients better used than going down the drain.

[@NikkiBeal]

Great tip! Thanks for sharing x

[@FAMOFSIX]

The dishes look really yummy 😊

[@NikkiBeal]

Thanks, they were delicious!

[@wyldenfyre784]

Thoroughly enjoyed. I love seeing what you and others do. I dont actually need to but I want to save money, be frugal, not buy meat since those practices are worse for the environment. Rice, beans and lentils are my go to. TOFU is an occasional treat. I do find cooking beans from scratch works out more economical but tins are convenient for sure. many tthanks Nikki - keep going and for sure I dont think I will ever tire from your videos.

[@NikkiBeal]

Thank you! ❤️ We're pretty much the same (re: eating less meat & dairy) but we're also seeing massive health benefits as well, so I feel like it's just good all round! Dried beans are definitely more economical in the long run, but the tinned stuff is easier to accommodate on a limited budget (like in this challenge), plus I'm happy to err on the side of convenience for a few things 😀

[@traceycosta9196]

You’ve done amazing! ♥️♥️

[@NikkiBeal]

Thanks Tracey!

[@TeenaSuttonMurphy]

I really like your channel Nikki, do you have a video where you give a tour of your wonderful caravan?

[@NikkiBeal]

Thank you so much Teena! I do have a walk through video of our caravan here ~ kzbin.info/www/bejne/bnS8aWWBj9iFgpY (or just search Canyon Caravan Review & it should come up)

[@Amani-y3z9h]

Your nails look lovely 😊, thank you for sharing

[@NikkiBeal]

Thank you for noticing!! I could never grow them before, they were always brittle & would chip.

[@lifeprepoutdoors3966]

This is a great series you've been doing. I would be very interested in knowing the rough caloric intake that this kind of diet (for lack of a better word) gives you.

[@hayleygalvin2575]

I haven't worked out the breakfast as it didn't interest me much, but (using the exact products and number of serves without any of the extras) the dinners are 360 a serve. It looked like there was maybe 1/3 of the rice and 1/2 the beans leftover so the lunch would be approximately 480ish per serve? Obviously not super exact but hope that helps!

[@NikkiBeal]

Thanks! Sorry I don't count calories, but thanks to Hayley, it looks like someone's done the hard work for me! Hope that helped!

[@Bunjil22]

Thank you

[@NikkiBeal]

Thanks for watching!

[@blueskyandtrees]

Well done!!! That’s a decent amount of food if you’re limited with funds.

[@NikkiBeal]

Thank you!

[@izabellaparuit8020]

Hey Nik! whats your take on current budgeting going into 2024? seems prices keep rising...can you do a vid?

[@NikkiBeal]

Hey Isabella! Yes, we've definitely seen quite a price hike in basic food items over the past two years, and it's definitely being felt in the wallet! But we're still finding ways to feed the family on a budget. Always happy to hear ideas for a vid - is there anything specific you'd like me to cover?

[@OmgAuntySuzanne16]

You should change the channel to “Our Place” because that will cover a lot of ground from cooking to other money saving Ideas ! It’s a great intro! Go gurl !

[@NikkiBeal]

Thanks! That's an interesting idea! 👍

[@FluffyMarshmallow-x6r]

Hi from New York. I feel like the rice & lentil dish would have been great w either chicken bullion (stock), or hot sauce on top to give it flavor. I understand this video is assuming ppl don't have those things available tho. Great video. Thanks for sharing

[@NikkiBeal]

Thanks for watching! And yes, you can pretty much dress this / flavour it any way you like. It's a very versatile dish flavour wise.

[@danieldieni3188]

With price increases recently this 20$ cost will be about 23$ now

[@alexiscolby9415]

Or even $40 now (2nd Jan 2024 - happy new year!)

[@NikkiBeal]

I actually price checked this today, Jan 3rd, in Baldivis WA, and came in at $21.25 - so that's pretty good considering the inflation we've been seeing.

[@202kittykat]

@@danieldieni3188 indeed. I did similar 4 months ago and it came to $23 (did spend $27 but had eggs and flour left over )

[@leoniebrandt6487]

Hi Nikki, I’ve just spotted the black shelves in the background. How are they attached to the walls?

[@NikkiBeal]

Hey Leonie! The shelves are by Fusion-Loc, and they attach with suction. We picked them up from Bunnings. They're not cheap but they are fantastic. Holds a lot of weight & never fall off 👌

[@Surururu]

Broccolis cabbage now 3.70 Carrots the same Rice is 1.80 now Lentils is 1 dollar Diced Pineapple is 3.70 Cereal is 4 dollars Pasta is the same Interesting to see what’s changed (in a year +)and in the same haha. I was looking to see how other frugal shoppers were doing

[@NikkiBeal]

Thanks for the updated prices!

[@K_C83]

thats quite a bit for $20!

[@NikkiBeal]

Yeah! I was pleasantly surprised, considering some of the prices increases we've been seeing lately 👍

[@cloudten8489]

Try Aldi, much cheaper than woolies

[@NikkiBeal]

Aldi is great if you have access to one! They can be few and far between though, once you leave the East coast or metro areas.