We're going through abit of an extravagant phase at the moment but (before my DH's significant raise at the end of last year) we really had to pull in the purse strings.

We're a family of 5. Our 13yo DD eats more than what I do (she's into athletics and is fit though)... and we have 2 young boys. We currently spend $200 a week at the supermarket/s on "consumables" not just groceries... I lump things like hair dye and my DH's expensive psoriasis shampoo in with that budget. We don't eat red meat but we eat good quality fish and organic free range chicken... but also have at least 2 vego meals per week.

Ways that we save when we have to include:

Buying bulk laundry powder like Doudou said... we buy Omo or Drive and it works out to be $2.40 per kilo when you buy in bulk.

Lots of bulk products are worth buying but don't take it for granted that it's cheaper... take a calculater with you. Non perishables are the best things to buy in bulk.

Don't compromise with meat. You usually get what you pay for. I buy my chicken from a local independant supermarket which if you go early on a Saturday has amazing specials. I can't stand most supermarket chicken... can't stand the bleachy taste... but this place sells good quality chicken which I only buy on special.

I basically have expensive tastes which is a real handicap LOL because once you have experienced the best it's hard to "go back" to what you had before.... so to deal with this I basically wait until what i want is on special and I plan my meals around that. However I also cook mainly from scratch so feel confident making do with whatever ingredients are available.

Things like toothpaste and tissues can be bought from the HomeBrand range... ok, not ideal, but won't be too intolerable. Don't buy Homebrand shampoo though... it's nothing better than dishwashing detergent. Homebrand automatic dishwashing powder is almost universally fine... I think i have tried them all... does the job.

Try not to buy things like pancake, biscuit, cake mix.... making these from scratch using homebrand flour and homebrand butter is waaaaay cheaper.

We buy longlife (UHT) milk. Saves us a fortune compared to fresh. We go through almost 2L a day!!! (remember I do a lot of cooking from scratch).

Long life cream is also a weekly purchase... once again much cheaper and the risk of it going to waste is reduced.

Try to cook with cheap protein sources like legumes: dahl, split peas, lentils. Indian Dahl is one of our favourites... served on a bed of Basmati rice (bought in bulk) with papadams and a dob of chutney can work out to be about $2 a serve.... pleases my whole family... doesn't have to be spicy.

If you like a drink (wine) with meals don't pay any more than about $5 a bottle. Buy in boxes of 12 bottles when you can afford it... Dan Murphies sells a drinkable Chardonnay for about $2.70 a bottle if you buy it in bulk. I add a drop of Cassis to my glass of Chardy and this becomes a classic French apertif called "Kir".

If I can think of anything else I'll add