Australians struggling to reduce food costs
Australians are struggling to reduce their food spend, with groceries and takeaway costs averaging $150 a week.
A survey of more than 3000 Australians by financial advice platform She's on the Money has found six out of 10 Aussies are spending more than they would like on consumables.
This is an increase on more comprehensive data released by the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) in the 2015-16 Census, which found we were spending an average of $91 a week, or $13 per day, on food.
"Cutting down on food costs is one of the quickest ways to save money by shopping around for better deals on all household services like electricity, mobile phones, insurance and more," said financial planner Victoria Devine.
Australians are reportedly spending approximately $150 a week on food. Getty
The figures are likely influenced by the coronavirus pandemic, which has seen an increase in the use of food delivery services during periods of restriction and lockdown.
Market researcher Roy Morgan found the number of Australians over the age of 14 using food delivery services has doubled nearly four million since 2018.
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Millennials and Generation Z account for 25 per cent of those who prefer to order in.
The increase could account for food costs being included in general food expenses, such as takeaway, as opposed to being included in 'entertainment' expenses such as eating out of pubs, clubs, cafes and restaurants.
'Cutting down on food costs is one of the quickest ways to save...' Getty
COVID-19 has driven the most recent boom in food delivery as restaurants, bars and cafes were shut down by lockdown regulations but remained open for takeaways.
Food deliveries have boomed since the beginning of the pandemic. Uber
UberEats reported the term 'comfort food' had broken through the top searches on the platform during 2020, with food delivery services Menulog, Deliveroo and UberEats all reporting rapid growth in use since the start of the pandemic in March.
Australians have also been ordering groceries to be delivered to their homes. Getty
In August, UberEats announced its delivery revenue grew 103 per cent. Menulog recorded a 54 per cent increase. Deliveroo chief executive Ed McManus reported 1700 new restaurants joining their platform.
Higher-end restaurants such as Melbourne's Chin Chin also joined the food delivery platforms for the first time, in an effort to improve business after it took at hit during the pandemic.
There was also growth reported in home cooking, with many in lockdown keen to keep themselves busy by learning a new skill.
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