‘Firstly you work out what you buy. Nappies, laundry powder, the lot. Every week you check the specials and when something is 20-50% off you buy enough of that item for 4-6 weeks. So like Napisan was 50% off this week, I bought 6m worth. You then just buy your normal groceries.
‘Every week you should buy 1-3 items on your list in bulk as they go on special. One week you might get tonnes of shampoo, the next week you get tonnes of dishwashing tablets. If nothing is on special you buy an extra 1-2 of things that are never on special (like homebrand stuff) as your back up, and save the rest of your budget for next week when something new is on sale.’
Zara says there’s another important element to her shopping system.
‘Secondly I have a "two" system,’ she writes. ‘There are always two of everything in my cupboard at least - one being used, one backup. Everything from sauces to tinned veg to pasta to oil. This way if you have a dodgy week and literally can't afford something, it's ok - you have your backup and can get a new backup next week
‘Basically what this means is you never buy expensive stuff at full price again. At first you'll be like "my shopping is more expensive!" Because you are buying so much of one thing and you still need to buy everything else you need. But suddenly you aren't buying laundry powder when it's $30 a box anymore, because you have tonnes from when it was $15. So you literally save yourself more money every single week you follow my plan.
‘If one week you have a shitty money week you just stop with the stockpile for that week, and you don't need to buy much because you have your two system - all you need is the basics (bread/milk) and fruit/veg/meat.
I have stockpiles of so much stuff - razors, pads, toothpaste, shampoo, coffee, soft drink, nappies, wipes, toilet paper, because of this method.’
Zara says that by following the supermarket sales, you’ll soon become a pro and stockpiling items on special will become second nature.
‘You'll also learn cycles of specials,’ she says. ‘Like razors are half price 2-4 times a year. So you always buy enough to get through 3-6 months. Whereas toilet paper is on special fortnightly, so don't panic in that department (except this isn't working right now, but if you used my method it wouldn't be an issue for you anyway!). You also need to remember to keep stockpiling. So just because I bought 6m of Napisan this week doesn't mean I won't buy any more for 6m. I'll just put that one on the back burner until there's a week where nothing I need is on sale but that is.’
Zara’s system means she’s saving thousands every year.
She adds: I would say my weekly shop would be $240 if I didn't do this method, but its $150 including my stockpiling budget.’
The mum said she was inspired to go public with her genius shopping plan after reading talk from people vowing to spend their $750 government bonus on stockpiling.
‘So a few people have said they want to spend their $750 stockpiling but I've also read a few people say they don't know how to stockpile,’ she says. ‘DO NOT SPEND ALL $750 IN ONE HIT. IF YOU USE MY METHOD YOU WILL SPEND IT OVER ABOUT 3 MONTHS AND IT WILL SET YOU UP PERFECTLY.’
Zara’s method has now gone viral with thousands vowing to try her simple technique.
‘Wow your system sounds awesome I am excited to give it a try thank you for sharing it with us,’ said one. Added another: ‘Omg 👏👏👏👏👏 THANK YOU SOOOO MUCH FOR SHARING..... you have totally changed my game in this area.’
Said a third: ‘This is fantastic and couldn’t have come at a better time for me . Can’t thank you enough 👏🏻👏🏻💗’
