F
rom the teenager
who stored her dirty
clothes under her bed,
Katrina Springer has
become Australia’s
own Stepford wife, blogging
to her half a million followers
about organisation, cleaning
and saving cash.
‘I wasn’t born organised,’ the
Gold Coast mum-of-three tells
New Idea. ‘When I had twins,
and then my daughter two years
later, we had a family of five on
one income and I realised being
organised saved me money.’
Some of her most popular tips
and tricks are ways to save cash
at the supermarket.
‘I always advise to meal plan
at the start of the week and then
shop just once for what you
need,’ she says. ‘When my twins
were little it was too chaotic to
go more than that and I found
being clever meant I could get
everything in one go.’
Instead of shopping around
in different supermarket chains
Katrina, 40, just visits one store
and knows it back-to-front.
‘It means I know which aisles
to skip,’ she says of her shopping
process. ‘So no getting tempted
by the lollies and chips.
‘I can also write my shopping
list in order, which makes itKatrina shares many of
her hints and tips on her
successful blog The
Organised Housewife.THIS SAVVY AUSSIE HAS
MADE A LIVING FROM HER
SIMPLE TIPS AND TRICKS AND
NOW SHE’S SHARING HER
WISDOM WITH NEW IDEA
quicker, and I also know they
have the cheaper items on the
bottom shelf,’ she adds.
But how does she manage to
avoid the quick pop in for bread
or milk, and the inevitable extra
purchases that come with that?
‘Freezing bread is such
a lifesaver,’ she says. ‘I am a
self-confessed bread snob and
I love a fresh loaf but, if you
freeze the bread the day you
buy it, I really can’t taste the
difference once it’s defrosted.’
It makes kids’ packed lunches
a breeze, too. Katrina explains
she makes sandwiches when the
bread is still frozen and then it
defrosts in the lunch box ready
for eating at midday.
Another money saving tip?
She purchases milk in bulk.
‘Buying three litre bottles is
cheaper and I buy a few because
it lasts 10 or so days,’ she says.
Katrina’s simple tips on
how to store fruit and vegetables
again mean saving cash because
these perishable items will last
longer and there’s no need for
top-up supermarket visits.
‘When I get home from the
shops I chop all the vegetables
up and store them in plastic
containers. They last longer
than if I leave them in plastic
bags,’ she explains.She cuts and portions up the
watermelon and grapes, making
easy snacking options. She pops
carrot and celery sticks into jars
of water to keep them fresh.
‘I want my kids to eat
healthily and this stuff is cheaper
than pre-packaged biscuits and
chips,’ she says.
Another simple tip to help you
save cash is to buy at the deli.
‘Things like chicken breast,
bacon and sliced cold meats are
cheaper than if you buy them
pre-packaged,’ she says. ‘It also
means you get exactly how much
you want so there’s no wastage.’KATRINA’S
SANDWICH
TRICK WILL
SAVE YOU
CASH!THE SU PERMARKET!
15 WAY S TO SAVE AT
THRIFTY MUM TELLS