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Supermarkets Cut Checkout Hack Saving Shoppers $315 Yearly

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3 days ago
2 min read

According to new research from ING, Australians are saving an average of $315 a year just by buying fresh food that’s close to its expiry date. Across the country, that’s a whopping $5.3 billion in savings every year.

It turns out a huge 86% of us are doing it, mostly snapping up discounted items like fresh meat, seafood, poultry, bakery goods and fruit and veggies. On average, people are hunting for these markdowns about 2.5 times a month, or roughly 30 times a year.

But here’s the catch — those discounts might not be as easy to find anymore.

Retail expert Gary Mortimer says this trend isn’t new — shoppers have been doing it for years. But now, with supermarkets using smarter AI inventory systems, they’re getting better at ordering just enough stock so they don’t have to mark down as much.

Mortimer explained that the big focus now is on reducing food waste, not just slashing prices. Some supermarkets are even donating unsold food to charities and food banks instead of offering markdowns — which is great for the community, but it means fewer bargains on the shelves.

There’s more good news (and a bit of a warning) in the study too: Australians could save an extra $1159 a year by cutting back on those mid-week top-up shops.

Mortimer says we used to do one big grocery haul a week (usually after payday), but now more people are making small, frequent trips. Why? Because a $40 shop doesn’t feel as painful as dropping $180 in one go. But if you add it all up across the week — you’re often spending just as much, if not more.

And if you’re in Sydney, there are two handy apps — Too Good to Go and Foody Bag — that help you find discounted meals and groceries from local cafes, shops, and restaurants. It’s a win-win: you save money and help reduce food waste at the same time.