10 Tips to Saving at the Supermarket

By Andrew Willink
20 August 2008

With grocery prices still on the rise, more people than ever are sitting back and thinking about how they can save money, before they even step foot inside their local supermarket. The government is spending millions to fund a new web site called Grocery Choice (see related links below) which gives consumers research data on the prices of certain bundles of groceries from the major supermarkets, updated weekly. You can use the site to bring up a quick comparison between grocery prices in your area.

Armed with this knowledge, plus our tips below, you stand a good chance of securing some substantial savings.

  1. Always shop on a Sunday afternoon or a weeknight. Meat, dairy and fruit products are usually discounted more heavily to make way for shelf-filling the following morning. Hunt down the clearance or reduced-to-clear stickers and net yourself a bargain.
  2. If you live close to a farmer’s market, try to pick up as much of your produce as you can there, but only if it is cheaper! Sometimes people assume that produce sold at the markets is cheaper, yet this is not always the case. Take a Coles or Woolworths catalogue to your local market so you have a way to compare apples with apples.
  3. Buy meat in bulk on special, and freeze it. Meat will eventually go off even when frozen, but if you buy a reasonable amount when it’s on special and use it up within a few months it can still save you some serious dollars.
  4. Buy refill packs and re-use your old trigger packs for items like window cleaner and clothes washing liquid. This also helps to reduce landfill.
  5. If you have kids, leave them at home. This may or may not be possible for you, but when you’re trying to concentrate the last thing you want is distractions at the checkout.
  6. Always check the deli meat prices before you buy from the pre-packaged section. Usually, deli meat is cheaper, and since you can buy exactly the amount you want there should be less wastage.
  7. Shop around – if you live near two or three different supermarkets it can be financially beneficial to make the trip to at least two of them. But to do this you’ll need to do some planning. Check the weekly specials catalogues and make note of what you’re going to buy where. That way, you effectively double the chances of getting an item on special.
  8. For staples such as sugar and milk, stick to home brand labels. They’re cheaper, and the quality often parallels other more expensive brands.
  9. Give Aldi a try for items such as toilet paper, bread, cereal and milk. They can be even cheaper than the home brands at Coles or Woolworths, and you can usually pick up a few other bargains while you’re there.
  10. Don’t forget your green bags! Not only are green bags easier to pack and carry, the millions of plastic bags we use each year cost a fortune and are horrible for the environment. By re-using your green bags you’ll not only save the planet but also help reduce costs for everyone, which keeps food prices down.

 

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