How to Stretch Your WINZ or Benefit Payment Through the Grocery Week

Step 1: Plan Around Your Payment Day

Most people shop the day their benefit arrives-but that's when supermarkets are busiest, and impulse buys are easiest. Instead:

• Shop 1-2 days later - stores are quieter, and you've had time to plan.
• Never shop hungry - it increases spending by up to 20%.
• Withdraw only your grocery amount in cash - this creates a hard limit and reduces overspending.
• Plan Around Sales First - Before writing your meal plan, check the **weekly specials flyer**. Structure your meals *around* the heavily discounted ingredients (meat, produce, staples) to maximize savings.
• "Inventory First" Audit - Always do a quick check of your pantry and fridge before making your list. This prevents buying duplicates and ensures you use up food you already own.
• Use the Running Total Tactic - Keep your phone's calculator open and **tally up the cost** as you add items to the cart. This forces real-time awareness and accountability for your budget.

Step 2: Build a "Core 10" Pantry

You don't need 50 items. Focus on 10 versatile, long-life staples that form the base of countless meals:

• Rice or pasta
• Oats
• Canned beans or lentils
• Canned tomatoes
• Tuna or corned beef
• Flour or self-raising mix
• UHT or powdered milk
• Oil
• Tea or coffee
• Stock cubes

Once you have these, you can create soups, stews, pasta dishes, fritters, and more-even with just a few fresh add-ons.

Step 3: Set a Low-Cost Dinner Target

Instead of a fixed limit, aim to keep the majority of your main meals under an achievable total target (e.g., $5-$7 for one person, or $8-$12 for a family of four). Focus your meal planning on cheap, versatile ingredients to hit this goal most nights.

Examples of high-value, low-cost meals (cost estimates will vary by region and sale prices):

• Monday: Lentil & Rice Soup - Utilizes cheap dried staples like lentils, rice, and stock.
• Tuesday: Tuna Pasta Bake - Relies on inexpensive pasta, canned tuna (look for sales), and a simple white sauce.
• Wednesday: Potato & Cabbage Stir-fry - Features ultra-cheap, long-lasting vegetables and minimal seasoning.
• Thursday: Bean & Corn Fritters - Uses canned beans and corn, which are great sources of protein and fiber.
• Friday: "Clean-Out-the-Fridge" Fried Rice - A strategic meal to use up all vegetable scraps, leftover rice, and small portions of meat/protein.

💡 Low-Cost Breakfast & Lunch Tip: These meals can be even simpler and cheaper by relying on pantry staples: oats, toast with peanut butter, or last night's leftovers.

Step 4: Shop Smart-Not Hard

• Choose one store (Pak'nSave is usually cheapest for basics).
• Stick to store brands-Pam's or Signature Range save 30-50%.
• Ignore end caps and checkout aisles-they're designed to trigger impulse buys.
• Buy whole vegetables-a whole cabbage lasts longer and costs less than pre-cut coleslaw mix.

Step 5: Let NzGrocerySaver Do the Work for You

Our free app was built to remove the guesswork-especially when every dollar counts:

• Configure your local stores-only see prices from the supermarkets you actually use.
• Save your Core 10 to a Refreshable Shopping List-we'll let you know where to go when tuna goes on special.
• Compare unit prices automatically-so you know if 1kg oats really is cheaper than 500g.

Best of all? It's 100% free, with no paywall-just ads to keep it running for everyone.

What If You Run Out Before Next Payment?

You're not alone. Many Kiwis face this. Try these compassionate steps:

• Contact your local food bank-find one via Foodbank NZ or your community centre.
• Check with your local church - Many churches run food pantries, community meals, or "pay-what-you-can" cafés-even if you're not a member. They often provide groceries, hot meals, or holiday food packs with no questions asked.
• Ask about school lunch programmes-many schools offer free or low-cost lunches.
• Use "wonky" or markdown produce-Pak'nSave's yellow tickets often mean 50% off near-expiry items (freeze what you can't eat).
• Connect with your community - Neighbourhood Facebook groups, community centres, or marae often share surplus food or organise food swaps. A cup of sugar for an egg builds support-and stretches resources.