How Do You Cross-Shop Groceries?

LWinnieRallycar on 22/11/2023 - 14:45

Unfortunately, it's taking me a lot longer to find work than I was hoping. As a result I'm really starting to feel the effects on inflation.
I want to start price comparing items on my shopping list at Coles, Woolies and Aldi before buying to make sure I'm getting the most value I can. Fortunately, all three are within 1km of each other, so visiting them all within one trip isn't much of a burden.

I was wondering how youse price compare across the different grocers. Do you make a trip to each, and mark down the price of every item you want with pen and paper and then return and buy what's cheapest at each store?
Do you have each store open on a different tab on your browser, and write a list of what to get from each place? Is there some easy, obvious way I'm missing?

Cheers :)

Food & Grocery

Related Stores

Coles
Coles
ALDI
ALDI
Woolworths
Woolworths

Comments

  • jv on 22/11/2023 - 14:47

    Use the 'Half Price' App…

  • AustriaBargain on 22/11/2023 - 15:02

    If you're already buying cheap meals anyway, you could just not worry too much about price comparisons on everything and use the mental energy for job hunting instead. I order deals on Amazon, get staples from Aldi, then do other shopping at Woolies usually looking for what's cheap and takes my fancy. I could save a few bucks dashing between Coles and Woolies and IGA but that's a lot of hassle.

  • Typical16-bitEnjoyer on 22/11/2023 - 15:11
    +4

    There's a limit to what effort you should go to. If you spend an hour a week cross shopping, income from that time spent would probably exceed any savings you would achieve.

    Focus more on flexible shopping, ie. buying beef instead of lamb if it's on special or vice versa, buying a different brand milk, than hunting for the best price on a particular specific item x 80 in your weekly shop.

    • Nugs on 22/11/2023 - 15:42
      +2

      "income from that time spent"
      "taking me a lot longer to find work"
      .

      • Typical16-bitEnjoyer on 22/11/2023 - 15:58

        You can earn income without having full time work, which presumably is what OP is seeking.

  • try2bhelpful on 22/11/2023 - 15:16
    +2

    Check out the catalogues of all three to compare your shopping list. Look at the websites to compare goods. Check the Catalogues for the “next week” to figure out when to buy things. Also frozen fruit and veggies can represent good value and good quality options. In store look at the short dated items if you can eat them immediately.

    If you are near a market head there later in the day, preferably on Sunday. The meat and fish sellers are usually doing good deals.

    Best of luck for your job hunting.

    • WinnieRallycar on 22/11/2023 - 15:28

      Thank you! I appreciate your advice :)

  • Nugs on 22/11/2023 - 15:42

    wiselist ap?
    it compares coles and woolies only though
    .

  • hasher22 on 22/11/2023 - 15:43
    +3

    The easiest way, for me anyways, is to look at the woolies and coles catalog and look at the specials going on, especially the 50% off deals. Write a shopping list and go get them.

    Even easier if there's a woolies and coles in the same centre, but also don't forget Aldi. I usually go to Aldi first then woolies or coles for the 50% off deals as they are brand names.

    If you have a mind set that aldi-brand and colesworth brands are doable in your lifestyle then get those brands.

    For example: I buy coles sugar than CSR sugar or coles long life milk vs the branded stuff. It's the same to me.

    If you can buy bulk on a really good deal on a long shelf item, do it

  • coffeeinmyveins on 22/11/2023 - 16:35

    I was wondering how youse price compare across the different grocers. Do you make a trip to each, and mark down the price of every item you want with pen and paper and then return and buy what's cheapest at each store?

    penny wise, pound poor.

    It will take hours of extra time to do this to save very little.

    The best thing to do is to identify what will generally be cheaper at which store. Eg, you'll always get cheaper dishwashing tablets at Aldi than woolworths, even when on sale. Next is to realise what products should only be purchased on special eg chips.

    Another thing that will save you a stupidly large amount of money is getting your fresh fruit and vegetables from flemington markets or another market if you're close to any. Failing that, any independant grocer will be cheaper than colesworth on this front.

  • mskeggs on 22/11/2023 - 19:52
    +2

    I look in the catalog for Coles and Woolies and make a list of the best specials for each. If there is enough reason to visit both, I will, but often just pick whichever one wins, though often will end up at the other to buy some milk or bread during the week.
    I go to ALDI when I need to stock the pantry, less often these days as we try and eat more fresh food.

  • Sweet3st on 22/11/2023 - 20:55
    +1

    Check catalogues as others and check prices in apps for what's on my shopping list (stick to the list! Is a good way to save). I also stockpile if something I use pretty regularly is a great price. The prices see-saw around so much these days, stock up when the market bottoms. Don't buy fruit and veg from Colesworth, Harris Farm is cheaper than those guys.

  • soan papdi on 22/11/2023 - 21:09
    +1

    You might be better off sticking to Aldi and veggie markets and only visiting colesworth for specific branded items. Another option is https://hotprices.org/ from https://www.ozbargain.com.au/node/803632

  • Protractor on 22/11/2023 - 22:46
    -2

    Follow your instincts?
    Survival of the fittest, intellectually.
    More so these days than in the primal sense.

    You do you.

    Also 'false economy'.

Login or Join to leave a comment
Login Join