Consumer advocacy group CHOICE has released its top tips for savings in the supermarket, based on years of research and reviews.
"Many people are dealing with tight budgets and reduced income so every dollar at the supermarket counts. We've looked across our reviews and research to find the best ways to make your dollar go further," says CHOICE editor, Marg Rafferty.
"These tips and tricks could potentially save you hundreds of dollars on your grocery bills if you incorporate them into your regular shopping routine," says Rafferty.
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CHOICE's tips and tricks to save money on your groceries:
1. Avoid pre-prepared fruit and vegies if possible.
"While pre-prepared fruits and vegetables are a really convenient option, they are also a lot more expensive. At the moment, Woolworths advertises loose carrots for $2 a kilo, while their shredded and sliced carrots are priced at $10 a kilo. That's five times the price! If it's an option for you, buying whole fruits or vegetables can save you a lot of money," says Rafferty.
2. Check out the cheapest supermarket in your area.
In April of this year, CHOICE compared grocery prices at 120 supermarkets across Australia, including Woolworths, Coles, Aldi and IGA.
"According to our survey, Aldi is the cheapest place to pick up your groceries, a similar trend to previous years. A shopping basket of goods at Aldi cost us $80.75 while a similar shop at Woolworths was $141.83, and $145.23 at Coles. Aldi was also the cheapest supermarket in our Australia-wide research in 2015 and 2017."
"If you don't have an Aldi in your area, there are still ways to save. Our 2021 Supermarket Satisfaction survey found that SA-based Foodland stores had the most satisfied customers in the country due to prices, store quality and customer service. Sometimes your local store can have great deals combined with quality customer service."
Read the full results of the supermarket grocery basket survey here: https://www.choice.com.au/shopping/everyday-shopping/supermarkets/articles/cheapest-groceries-australia
Have a look at the full results of the Supermarket Satisfaction survey here: https://www.choice.com.au/shopping/everyday-shopping/supermarkets/articles/which-is-the-best-supermarket-satisfaction-survey
3. Swap your favourite brand for a cheaper alternative.
"If you always buy the same branded product, it might be time for a change. House brands are typically much cheaper than branded products, and they've also dramatically improved in quality. CHOICE's food taste tests have found that house brands can often score the same or even better than more expensive products."
These are some of the house brand products CHOICE recommends giving a go in your next shop:
- For ice-cream, try Aldi Monarc Indulge Vanilla Opulence or Woolworths Vanilla Bean. Both of these products tied for first place with Connoisseur Classic Vanilla in our testing, and they cost less than half the price.
- If you're after butter, CHOICE recommends Aldi's Beautifully Butterfully, which received 83% in our testing.
- If you're a strawberry jam fan, it's worth trying Aldi Grandessa Signature Jam or Woolworths Essentials Jam. They both scored 74%, only one percentage point behind the test's winner.
See which house brand products taste best here: https://www.choice.com.au/shopping/everyday-shopping/supermarkets/articles/supermarket-house-brands-which-wins-on-taste-woolworths-coles-aldi
4. Buy "ugly" produce.
"If you're not bothered by some misshapen vegies, picking up some imperfect produce is a great way to save money. At Woolworths, the produce is called 'The Odd Bunch', at Coles it's referred to as 'I'm Perfect', and at Harris Farm it's 'Imperfect Picks.'"
5. Swap out-of-season fresh produce buys for frozen.
"Buying in-season produce is the best way to ensure that you're getting the best value for money. If you want to buy fruit or vegetables that are out of season, consider opting for frozen, as they'll be much cheaper. Buying frozen fruits or vegies also means that it's really difficult to waste them, potentially saving you more money."
Media contact: Katelyn Cameron, 0430 172 669, media@choice.com.au
Read the full list of tips and tricks here: https://www.choice.com.au/shopping/everyday-shopping/supermarkets/articles/simple-grocery-swaps-to-save-you-money
