July 24th 2024.
Ten years ago, the Gower family became known as "Australia's thriftiest family" after their television appearance revealing their frugal tips for keeping their monthly grocery bill to just $270. But even after a decade, Wendy and Darren Gower from Melbourne's Narre Warren are still sticking to their super-saving ways.
Back in 2014, when they were first featured on A Current Affair, the family of four was surviving on a very low income. Both Wendy and Darren had lost their jobs in 2005, yet they still managed to pay off their $100,000 mortgage in just five years thanks to their careful spending. Now, as empty-nesters, their grocery bill has decreased significantly with only two mouths to feed. However, this does not mean they have loosened their spending habits, as Wendy shared with 9news.com.au.
"We're still living the same way we did in 2014 when the story aired. There have been a few changes, but fundamentally, we're still very thrifty," Wendy explained. "As my husband likes to say, there's no cost-of-living crisis in our house. We do feel the pressure, but we've managed to handle it quite well."
Despite the rising supermarket prices, the couple now spends $100 less on groceries per month compared to ten years ago, even with a smaller household. Their grocery bill now stands at just $150 per month, or $37.50 per week, which includes basic toiletries and cleaning supplies.
However, Wendy revealed that until the start of this year, their grocery bill was only $120 per month. But with higher prices at the checkout, their careful management was still impacted. Despite this, Wendy believes it is still possible to live well on a low income, even with the current high inflation and interest rates.
"Everyone is under some sort of financial stress or pressure, depending on whether you have a mortgage or not," Wendy acknowledged. "If you have a mortgage, then times are definitely tough. But there are ways to stretch your income and make your dollars last longer if you're willing to put in the effort."
Although Darren now works full-time in a hospital administration job and one day a week at their church, the Gowers still consider themselves to be living on a low income. Wendy also does some house cleaning to supplement their income, but she hopes to retire in a few years. When asked about their secrets for saving so much on groceries, Wendy shared some of her top tips from her blog, My Abundant Life.
Wendy's key principles for saving on groceries are "make, bake, sew, and grow." The couple grows a lot of their fruits and vegetables in their backyard, including lemons, apricots, plums, and raspberries. Wendy proudly shares that their raspberry plants produce four kilos of raspberries each season, which would otherwise cost a fortune at the supermarket. She also uses the fruit to make homemade jam, which only requires the purchase of sugar.
Their winter vegetables include potatoes and silverbeet, which they continually plant throughout the year using supermarket-bought sprouting potatoes. During the recent potato and chip shortage, the Gowers were able to dig up 10-15 kilos of potatoes from their backyard. Wendy's strategy at the supermarket is to avoid processed foods and only purchase ingredients to make meals from scratch.
"I have to do this because the price of processed food is just outrageous," she explained. Treats like chips or chocolate are reserved for special occasions, such as birthdays. When grocery shopping, Wendy's list consists of basic ingredients like flour, sugar, milk, butter, eggs, cheese, tuna, and canned tomatoes.
The Gowers have certainly mastered the art of saving on groceries while still living a fulfilling life. Their story serves as an inspiration for others, proving that with some careful planning and a bit of effort, it is possible to live well on a low income.
Ten years ago, the Gower family caught the attention of the nation when they were hailed as "Australia's thriftiest family". They appeared on national television, sharing their secrets for keeping their monthly grocery bill at an impressive $270. Today, Wendy and Darren Gower from Narre Warren, Melbourne, continue to stick to their super-saving ways, despite being empty-nesters now.
In 2014, when the Gowers were first featured on A Current Affair, they were a family of four surviving on an extremely low income. Both Wendy and Darren had lost their jobs in 2005, but their careful spending allowed them to pay off their $100,000 mortgage within five years. Now, with their children grown up and no longer living at home, their grocery bill has significantly decreased. However, Wendy insists that their thrifty ways have not changed much since 2014. According to her, they are still living just as frugally as they did back then.
Even as supermarket prices continue to rise, the Gowers have managed to reduce their grocery bill by $100 compared to a decade ago. They now spend only $150 a month, which breaks down to just $37.50 per week. This amount not only covers food, but also basic toiletries like shampoo, conditioner, deodorant, and cleaning supplies. Wendy revealed that they used to spend $120 a month until earlier this year, but the increasing prices have forced them to make even more budget cuts.
Wendy acknowledged that many families are struggling due to high inflation and interest rates, but she believes that it is still possible to live well on a low income. She also mentioned that everyone is facing some sort of financial pressure, especially those with mortgages. However, she firmly believes that if one is willing to stretch their income and make the most of every dollar, they can manage to get by.
Despite Darren now working full-time and Wendy doing some house cleaning on the side, the Gowers still consider themselves to be on a low income. They hope to retire in a few years, and are actively working towards that goal. Wendy runs a blog called "My Abundant Life" where she shares her frugal tips with others.
So, how exactly do the Gowers manage to save so much on their grocery bills? Wendy shared her top tips with 9news.com.au. According to her, the key to their super-saving lifestyle is to "make, bake, sow, and grow". They grow a variety of fruits and vegetables in their backyard, including lemons, apricots, plums, and raspberries. Wendy proudly stated that their raspberry plants alone produce four kilos of raspberries each season, which they use to make jam. She also mentioned that growing their own produce helps them save a lot of money, especially on expensive fruits like raspberries.
During winter, the Gowers grow potatoes and silverbeet in their backyard. Wendy revealed that they use supermarket sprouting potatoes, which they continuously plant throughout the year. During a recent potato shortage, they were able to dig up 10-15 kilos of potatoes from their backyard. When it comes to grocery shopping, Wendy's strategy is to avoid processed foods and opt for ingredients to make meals from scratch. She believes that the price of processed foods is outrageous, and they are better off making their own meals at home.
Wendy also mentioned that treats like chips and chocolates are reserved for special occasions, such as birthdays. Their grocery list mostly consists of essential items like flour, sugar, milk, butter, eggs, cheese, and some canned goods. Despite their low income, the Gowers have managed to maintain a healthy and sustainable lifestyle by sticking to their frugal ways. Their story serves as an inspiration for others who are looking to save money and live a more mindful and sustainable life.
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