Tips that will save you big money on your grocery shopping as costs rise

As petrol and grocery costs go up and we worry more and more about making our dollars go further, some simple tips can help ease the load when it comes to grocery shopping.

Don't panic — there are absolutely ways to get the most out of the weekly shop right now, and some delicious ways to do that. I dropped into Today Extra to share some of my favourite tricks and tips. And there's one big one around the kids' school lunches. Check out the clip above and read on for all the secrets to getting bang for your buck.

READ MORE: How $100 of groceries can make eight family dinners at just $3 a serve

The biggest tips:

• Avoid pre-cut or pre-made and pre-packaged items where you can (especially for school lunches), they seem like a great idea, but they cost more because you're paying for someone else to do that prep for you. So unless it's worth it to you to save those few minutes cutting things up, buy the big packs or whole items and divvy them up yourself.
• Look for items that are versatile when you shop, so you can use them across a number of recipes and meals. Sausage mince and chicken thigh are great for this.
• Check out specials and price drops — you'll find these in the catalogues and at the ends of the aisles.
• Don't panic if your usual item isn't in stock. It's a great time to consider alternatives that are in stock or are cheaper.
• Buy in bulk where you can, it works out much cheaper than buying small packages and quantities.
• Use spices already in the pantry to vary up the flavours, rather than buying pre-made spice mixes.
• Use frozen veggies and tinned beans to bulk things out — they keep and are easy to use.
• Use rice, pasta and grains to bulk out meat purchases, because meat is one of the pricier items.
• Cook dishes and freeze them so you don't lose fresh items before you can use them.
• Buy herbs in tubes and jars. Fresh herbs are expensive and often go to waste.
• Limit cheese and meat purchases — these are one of the bigger costs.

EXAMPLES

Meat-free Monday

One of our biggest expenses can be meat, so look for meat-free dishes to make a few times a week. You don't even need to go full veg the first few times — you can just halve the meat and add in meat alternatives or lots of extra veggies. It will help with budgets, without a doubt. Curries and bolognese are great for this, with lentil and extra vegetables.

School snacks

Don't buy pre-packed items like crackers and cheese in a pack. You're paying for someone else to do the work for you. Instead, buy in bulk packs and then divvy them up yourself in reusable containers. It works out cheaper and saves packaging. You can do this for chips, crackers, biscuits and cheeses.

Frozen veggies are great

They make great fritters and additions to anything where you'll be cooking the vegetables. They are cheaper than fresh items and keep longer too, and today they have plenty of nutrients locked in.

RECIPE: Easy fritters

Bulk out with grains and beans, not just pasta and rice

There are so many great ways to bulk out a dish that don't include pasta or rice. Look for all the grains and pulses available and make something like a cous cous salad or a tabouli with cracked wheat or freekeh. You can add fresh veggies or dried fruit if you have them as well as nuts and seeds. So think beyond the usual grains and pastas, because there's plenty available and it goes a long way.

RECIPE: Easy tabouli