Did you know the average Australian household wastes up to $2,500* worth of food every year? That's a lot of binned groceries! Repurchasing wasted food is a hit to the wallet we'd all rather avoid - and the good news is, there are ways to reduce it!

Suncorp Bank has partnered with OzHarvest to create the Food Savings Challenge. It's a fun way to help you cut down on food waste and save some money at the same time. Ready to dive into some practical tips to keep your grocery spending in check? Let’s go!

1. Practice spend awareness

While sticking to a strict budget isn’t always realistic—like when you need to pick up essentials such as milk—it’s still helpful to practice spend awareness. As you shop, try keeping a running tally of your total. Some people find it useful to use a calculator or shopping app to track costs, while jotting down prices can help you understand what to expect next time. This way, you can adapt to fluctuating prices while staying in control of your spending.

If keeping track feels overwhelming, Suncorp Bank’s Everyday Options Account can make it simpler by letting you create up to 9 sub-accounts to separate your money for things like groceries, bills, and everyday spending. When payday rolls around, you could use the automatic transfer feature to move money into your sub-accounts without the admin hassle. It’s a smart way to stay on top of your expenses and see exactly where your money is going.

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2. Meal plan 

When you plan your meals for the week, it’s easier to stay mindful of your spending and avoid unnecessary purchases. Choose one day a week to plan your meals. It’s a great opportunity to create a shopping list and check what ingredients or leftovers you have at home before heading to the shops. 

“Keep it simple and stick to a few selected recipes that can complement another. Tuesday’s chicken & vegetable roast could be Wednesday’s chicken and veggie pie and Thursday’s chicken fajitas. Make sure you leave space in your plan for a “use-it-up” meal once a week—gather whatever is left in the fridge, and get creative!” - Monique, OzHarvest.

3. Shop smart

There are simple ways to shop smarter that can help you save more money. A few tips that could make a big difference include buying fresh product that’s in season when they’re at their cheapest prices, choosing store brands over name brands and checking the price per unit (like per ml or kg) to see which product offers the best bang for your buck. 

4. Use your Feel Good Rewards

As a Suncorp Bank customer, you can make the most of our Suncorp Bank Feel Good Rewards^ to get cashback, and might even be able to get cashback on your supplements or protein powder, or even the occasional treat – because we know when it comes to shopping, every dollar counts. 

All you need is an eligible Suncorp Bank Visa Debit card^‡ linked to an Eligible Account^ – no extra apps or sign-ups required. Then whenever you shop** one of our Feel Good Rewards offers from participating brands, you’ll enjoy cashback directly into your account. Easy!

5. Be flexible 

Being on a budget doesn't mean you have to sacrifice delicious meals. Try planning your meals around versatile ingredients that can easily be substituted into different dishes – like roast chicken, which is great for wraps, soups, sandwiches and salads. Keep an eye out for great deals or specials, ensuring you don’t buy more than what you need to avoid food waste.

Last, but not least, don’t forget to celebrate your success! Acknowledge the money you might’ve saved through practicing spend awareness and making other changes, and use those savings for other financial goals or a special treat. 

Suncorp Bank’s Growth Saver account could help you consistently save towards a goal. Receive bonus interest each month  you grow your net balance by $200 or more (excluding interest) and make no more than one withdrawal.^# Plus, there’s no monthly account keeping fee.  

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Published 10 February 2025

Any representations, views or opinions contained in this article of any expert, specialist or person interviewed (interviewee) are personal to that interviewee and do not reflect those of and are not endorsed by Suncorp Bank, unless expressly stated.

*Source: FIAL (2021). National Food Waste Strategy Feasibility Study Reducing Australia's Food Waste by half by 2030 (fial.com.au)

^Feel Good Rewards is a rewards program which provides cashback paid into your Eligible Account when you use your eligible Suncorp Bank visa Debit card and meet the Eligibility Criteria as set out in the Account Terms and Conditions. For more information on the Feel Good Rewards program and full terms and conditions, please refer to the Account Terms and Conditions.

^‡ An Eligible Card is a Suncorp Bank Visa Debit Card linked to Suncorp Bank personal transaction account (“Eligible Account”) for customers aged 18 or over. An Eligible Account does not include Suncorp Bank Growth Saver Account, Kids Savings Account or Suncorp Bank PayLater Account.

^** An eligible purchase is one completed via the Visa network with your eligible card, that satisfies the terms and conditions associated with each offer as provided by each participating merchant from time to time. You can choose the Visa network when prompted to do so, or selecting "credit” when completing a debit card transaction or using Visa payWave. Purchases made using an online payment platform (such as PayPal) are not eligible, even when an eligible card is linked to that online payment platform.

The period for a cashback to be paid to your Eligible Account is typically 7 days, but in some cases may take up to 90 days from the day the purchase is made by you. This period is determined by the merchant and is detailed by the merchant within each cashback offer terms and conditions.

If you are eligible for Feel Good Rewards, you can change your opt-out preferences by submitting the “Feel good rewards Opt Out/Opt In Form” located on our website Product Information Documents & Forms | Suncorp Bank.

Check our website for the full Terms & conditions.

^#Interest is calculated daily and paid at the end of the calendar month. Bonus interest is payable for every calendar month that you grow your net balance by at least $200 and make no more than 1 withdrawal. Interest accrued does not contribute to monthly account balance growth requirement for bonus interest. If bonus interest conditions are not met the standard variable rate only will apply. If you need to make more than one withdrawal, you’ll still receive the base interest rate.