Grocery prices in Australia

[mjf981]

Things have gone up here recently, but not at the level of the UK. Whenever I have been home (UK) prior to covid, I was always amazed at how cheap things were. I gather this has changed.

I’ve just been to Woolworths and bought this top up shop for $55.65 (£29.03). How much would it cost where you are? All were regularly priced aside from the instant meals, which were half price ($7.50).

Aussie born and bred, nor do I. I don't care for milk chocolate on biscuits. Dark chocolate, yes, but not milk.

Double chocolate Tim Tams cost the same as all the other Tim Tams though..... and are bloody delicious.

I'm a Specials shopper so not good to use as a gauge. I buy whatever is 30% or more off usually. I also buy a lot of home brands, but can often buy named brands for around the same in special.

I buy bulk lots of meat at Costco occasionally and divide up and freeze as well. Costco is also great for multi pack lots of things that I can store in my pantry cupboard.

I use Aldi for long life lactose free milk as that is so much cheaper than elsewhere and buy some cereals etc that are good value at the same time, also stock up in frozen chicken tenders for cheat meals when short in time for my DSs. I don't particularly like a lot of their home brand biscuits etc. and their fruit and veg rarely last more than a couple of days so not worth the money for me.

Interesting - I buy apples and bananas from Aldi and they last as long as any other shops’ produce (both sitting on the bench). I like the Belmont brand biscuits, their Scotch Fingers are nicer than Arnott’s imo, and the 40% chocolate chip biscuits are downright addictive.

ETA I’m very grateful for their long life milk, too - we get through a fair bit and I have no room in my fridge for large bottles. These cartons can sit on the shelf!

Apples are usually fine, bananas are hit or miss, last ones were so hard even when 'yellow' and tasted Bleugh.

Beans, cucumbers etc don't last long. Berries are awful. I'll buy cooking veg only if I'm using within 3 days.

And yes to no room in the fridge for lots of milk! Although I do need to get better at leaving one unopened carton in the fridge, my DS likes to drink a glass of cold milk with his pancakes.

But I time my Woolies shop to use my monthly 10% off and try to get as many bonus points, same with Fly Buys.

I do have an Asian fruit and veg store not too far away that has some really good value fruit and veg as well as great noodles for stir fries etc and try buy from there sometimes.

I live in Australia in a regional city where we only have either Woolworths or Coles. I'm on a pension and the costs are shocking - as a friend of mine points out, pick up a pink basket (Woolies or Coles) and you are looking at at least 50 dollars - pull out a trolley and it's at least $100.

When I lived in a regional centre that had two other supermarkets to compete with as well as the Coles/Woolies, it was easier to shop around for cheaper deals, plus one sold locally produced slightly damaged fruit and veggies for a song.

Where I am now,we are screwed.

I'd like to know what's happened with those Woollies points - I never get the discount coming up on the card and haven't for years. It's not just that I don't buy as much there, either, this started when I was still using them all the time.

Yeah, the bananas do tend to be a rather radioactive green and hard often enough! I buy the ones that are yellow already and leave them till their black spots are clustering, lol. With the apples it's as hit and miss as any other supermarket. I buy the cartons of Royal Gala or Pink Lady and they're either really tart or nice and sweet. I just have to sit them on top of the fridge (no other space for them) and hope they'll ripen a bit more in their box.

@Turquioseblue I agree, I'd be spending SO much more if I had to shop at Coles or Woollies for everything. As it is, it's limited to cat litter (the brand I buy is only available from Woollies or PetStock), tinned fruit (I like Aldi's but it's way too heavy on the sugar for a diabetic), sardines in tomato, carrot loaf, Nerada tea and Hermesetas. Fortunately I don't have to buy those things too often.

Very interesting!

U.K. here, family in Aus and have been recently so feel your pain.

I do mainly Tesco home deliveries (with a bit of meal planning) as it saves me sooooo much time and money. Do the occasional convenience top up shop guilt-free if we need something or fancy something in particular, but that's hardly ever. Only really eat out / get takeaway for occasions, never just for the sake of getting food.

So... I didn't price for the ready meals as they could be anything from £1 to £5 each depending on markdowns etc.

I put everything else into my Tesco online basket... £25

Then swapped everything to own-brand (not budget) and it was £15

Make of that what you will?!

Have you got it set to Christmas only? We have ours set so the points can't be used to the 1 December. We are at around $470 worth of points so will get either a Christmas shop or a kids presents from big W with them.

This would be about £25 in my local UK supermarket , but in reality I’d be buying own brand rather than things like Heinz so I’d get it for around £18

No, I've never set it at all. I didn't know there was such a thing!

Maybe £20 but I don't recognise the brands, in lidl it would be under £15 if own brand

@Catsmere - I have the paid for Woolies rewards which gives a 10% discount once a month (in store only).

If you give them a call during the day and give them your rewards card number they'll help you sort it out. I had to do that with the old free one, and updated my details etc at the same time. The Woolies reward seems to be owned by them unlike Fly Buys so they are able to help you easier.

Should add I'm fortunate to have lidl, Aldi and Iceland in walking distance, plus Waitrose and Sainsbury's also in walking distance for when I want more premium products. I buy the bulk in lidl then go into the full sized supermarket for just the items lidl doesn't sell. Weekly shop is circa £90 for 3 full time adults, 1 pt and visiting boyfriends...

I price checked Malta (wellbees)
€40.20, £34.65, $66.40 AUD