<div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Emelie and Jon Watson have taken the ethos of "</span><a href="https://livingmorewithless.org/" rel="" target="_blank" title="living with less"><span>living with less</span></a><span>" to an impressive new level.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/brisbane" rel="" target="_blank" title="Brisbane"><span>Brisbane</span></a><span> couple and their two children are radical adopters of the growing </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/environment" rel="" target="_blank" title="sustainability"><span>sustainability</span></a><span> movement in Australia.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>They live car-free, </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/dumpster-diving-exclusive-aussies-breaking-the-law-free-groceries/4f7d44a9-bade-48c0-927d-03d8c379417d" rel="" target="_blank" title="dumpster-dive for groceries"><span>dumpster-dive for groceries</span></a><span>, aggressively thrift shop for clothes and have avoided buying "brand new" since 2008.</span></div></div><div><div id="adspot-mobile-medium"></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>It's not a glamorous lifestyle. But the money they save affords the Watsons a life they always dreamed of having.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/small-business-owners-cashflow-issues-payday-super-struggling-to-cope/4d66bf51-443a-461e-b659-178caa209571" rel="" target="_blank" title="'I wish I could charge $5': New grim reality for Aussie business owners"><strong><span>'I wish I could charge $5': New grim reality for Aussie business owners</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>EXCLUSIVE:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/italian-dual-citizenship-strict-new-rule-that-destroyed-carlas-retirement-plans/bf9f10ff-2911-40fa-b7ee-d8f92600742a" target="_blank" title="'Lost my identity': Strict rule destroyed Carla's retirement plans"><strong><span>'Lost my identity': Strict rule destroyed Carla's retirement plans</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"Living simply and inexpensively has given us the opportunity to give far more and do more good," Jon told </span><a href="http://nine.com.au"><span>Nine.com.au</span></a><span>.</span></div></div><div><div class="OUTBRAIN" data-reactroot="" data-src="//www.9news.com.au/national/cost-of-living-brisbane-family-living-sustainably-dumpster-diving-car-free-how-they-do-it/6bbd9b86-fb71-4dec-bb9d-ed30991460b5" data-widget-id="AR_5"></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"Our overall lifestyle involves quite minimal consumption, but it's not a sacrifice."</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"We are very, very lucky in Australia to have so much. And just because we can [consume so much] doesn't mean we should," Emelie added.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Emelie and Jon are mortgage-free and are able to choose when they work.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>To fund their family's lifestyle, they take up casual or part-time jobs relief teaching and in engineering, jointly earning about $190,000 per year.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"We've only ever worked a maximum of four days a week for a year," Jon said, adding that the couple is now "trialling retirement".</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>There's no need for full-time hours when they rarely spend money on groceries.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE: </span></strong><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/uk-eta-rules-family-scotland-trip-ruined/6ea6d79b-6e43-4adc-9507-d2b80096cbdf" target="_blank" title="Jessica's family trip was ruined over a 'distressing' citizenship revelation"><strong><span>Jessica's family trip was ruined over a 'distressing' citizenship revelation</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Meat, bread, fruit, vegetables and everything in between can be found discarded in a waste trip near the supermarket loading docks.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The family, on average, will spend less than $40 per week on extra food they may need – but say they go weeks without spending a cent.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"A year's worth of dumpster diving for our family of four saves us between $7,000 and $10,000 on groceries," Jon said.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"From Friday night until Sunday or Monday morning, we go twice a day, morning and night, until we find that the bin has been replenished."</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Emelie said it is "startling" to see just how much edible food goes straight into the bins of an evening.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Supermarkets habitually throw out food that is either past its "best before" date or are slightly imperfect.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"We've shared some of our spoils with other people who've not been into dumpster diving, and when they see the quality of the food that we get out of the dumpster and the quantity, they're shocked," Emelie said.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"There's no compromise really on our diet or our nutrition," Jon added.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"In fact, we probably eat better eating what we take out of the waste stream than what we would normally."</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><em><strong><span>Do you have a story? Contact</span></strong></em><span> </span><strong><em><span>reporter April Glover at</span></em></strong><span> </span><a href="mailto:april.glover@nine.com.au" target="" title="april.glover@nine.com.au"><em><strong><span>april.glover@nine.com.au</span></strong></em></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/cost-of-living-crisis-australian-women-cant-afford-sanitary-items-as-petrol-prices-soar/c5214cfc-0d28-49f2-829b-a8658339f285" target="_blank" title="'I'm scared': Price of petrol is fuelling a hidden crisis at the supermarket"><strong><span>'I'm scared': Price of petrol is fuelling a hidden crisis at the supermarket</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The Watsons say their local supermarket is aware that they take food from the dumpster.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>They are mindful of being respectful of staff and employ safe practices.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"If you make anything difficult for the staff or the store, you just give them excuses to lock you out and lock other people out as well, who may depend on dumpster diving for survival" Jon said.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Australia's major supermarkets have previously discouraged people from dumpster diving, citing health and safety risks.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Emelie and Jon say the risk is worth the reward.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"If we get the timing wrong, we're exposed to maggots and putrid stuff. But life is not without risk," Jon explained.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"We experience a little bit of discomfort in order to do the right thing.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"The reason that it's all being wasted is because of a hyper-concern about minimising risk, which proves to be very wasteful."</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The savings extend far beyond groceries. </span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The couple also choose to cycle everywhere instead of using a car, helping them avoid potentially thousands of dollars in extra fuel costs while motorists battle soaring prices at the pump.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>At home, they use a veggie garden, rely on solar panels for power and pick up anything they need at second-hand stores, tips or curbside.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"Most of our life is designed around doing things without needing a car or without needing any substantial resources," Jon added.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"I'd say that we've won at capitalism, and I don't just mean financially."</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Part of Emelie and Jon's lifestyle, described as "living more with less", is to help fund their charitable endeavours.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>In 2024, the pair funnelled over $47,500 of their annual income to healthcare, food insecurity and educational organisations.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>It's all about making the earth a better place and minimising their footprint while they are doing it.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"There is reward and satisfaction, feeling like part of a solution rather than part of a problem," Jon said.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><em><strong><span>NEVER MISS A STORY: Get your breaking news and exclusive stories first by following us across all platforms.</span></strong></em></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><ul><li><em><strong><span>Download the 9NEWS App here via</span></strong></em><span> </span><a href="https://apps.apple.com/au/app/9news/id1010533727" target="" title=""><em><strong><span>Apple</span></strong></em></a><span> </span><em><strong><span>and</span></strong></em><span> </span><a href="https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=nineNewsAlerts.nine.com&amp;hl=en_AU&amp;pli=1" target="" title=""><em><strong><span>Google Play</span></strong></em></a></li><li><em><strong><span>Make 9News your preferred source on Google by</span></strong></em><span> </span><a href="https://9.nine.com.au/8x987w" target="" title=""><em><strong><span>ticking this box here</span></strong></em></a></li><li><em><strong><span>Sign up to</span></strong></em><span> </span><a href="https://login.nine.com.au/edm?client_id=nineatnine" target="" title=""><em><strong><span>our breaking newsletter here</span></strong></em></a></li></ul></div></div>