Save Money Save Food challenge

Did you know that the average Brisbane household throws away $40 worth of food every week? That adds up to over $2000 of wasted food per household per year.1

Save Money Save Food is a free, three-week text challenge, designed to help Brisbane residents save money and food. Participants will receive tips, hacks, videos and recipes via text messages sent to their mobile device.

It's easy to start the Save Money Save Food challenge. Text the word 'food' to 0481 889 889 and you'll receive 10 messages over a three-week period with simple tips and hacks to help prevent food waste.

Cost of Brisbane's top five most wasted foods

You might be shocked to learn the average cost per 100 grams of Brisbane's top five most wasted foods.2

This table includes the average cost per 100 grams of food by type.
FoodAverage cost (per 100 grams)
Beef$4.80
Pork$3.80
Salad leaves$3.20
Chicken$2.10
Bread$1.60

How the challenge was designed

In our current economic times, most Brisbane households want to reduce waste and save money.

Save Money Save Food helps households to be more resourceful by targeting three key steps in the household food journey.

  1. Plan
  2. Prepare
  3. Store.

PPS is an easy way to remember these steps.

Text messages are timed around these three steps. It's curated to consider what's in season and Brisbane's top three most wasted foods:

  1. Meat
  2. Salad greens
  3. Bread.

After the challenge

Once you complete the challenge:

  • tell your family, friends and neighbours about how much money you saved
  • share your favourite food waste prevention tips
  • encourage others in your social networks to take the challenge.

You may inspire others to take the challenge, thereby boosting the impact of your action to save money and food.

Food is priceless, so let's save it, not waste it!


1. Karunasena, G.G, Pearson, D, and Fight Food Waste CRC (2021) Australian household food waste: A summary of behaviours, attitudes, perceived and actual food waste, Fight Food Waste Cooperative Research Centre, Adelaide. Australia
2. Average prices collected from Woolworths and Coles websites in July 2022
3. Brisbane City Council waste characterisation assessment, July 2022

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