NEWS

CONSUMER 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,” Choice editor Marg Rafferty said. “We’ve looked across our reviews and research to find the best ways to make your dollar go further.

“These tips and tricks could potentially save you hundreds of dollars on your grocery bills if you incorporate them into your regular shopping routine.” 1. Avoid pre-prepared fruit and vegies if possible While pre-prepared fruits and vegetables are a convenient option, they are also a lot more expensive. Loose carrots can sell for $2 a kilo, while shredded and sliced carrots are $10 a kilo.

That’s five times the price! If it’s an option, buying whole fruits or vegetables can save a lot of money. 2. Check out the cheapest supermarket in your area In April, Choice compared grocery prices at 120 supermarkets around Australia, including Woolworths, Coles, Aldi and IGA.

According to the 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 $80.75 while a similar shop at Woolworths was $141.83, and $145.23 at Coles. Aldi was also the cheapest supermarket in Choice’s Australia-wide research in 2015 and 2017.

“If you don’t have an Aldi in your area, there are still ways to save,” Rafferty says.

“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.” 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 trying in your next shop:

For ice-cream, try Aldi Monarc Indulge Vanilla Opulence or Woolworths Vanilla Bean, which tied for first place with Connoisseur Classic Vanilla in testing, and they cost less than half the price.

For butter, Choice recommends Aldi’s Beautifully Butterfully, which received 83

Misshapen vegies are a great way to score a bargain if you don’t mind appearances. per cent in testing.

For strawberry jam, Aldi Grandessa Signature Jam and Woolworths Essentials Jam scored 74 per cent, only one percentage point behind the test’s winner. 4. Buy “ugly” produce If you’re not bothered by misshapen vegies, picking up 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 you’re getting the best value for money. If you want to buy fruit or vegetables out of season, consider opting for frozen, as they’ll be much cheaper. Buying frozen fruit and vegies also means that it’s difficult to waste them, potentially saving you more money. For the full list of tips and tricks, and the supermarket grocery basket and satisfaction surveys visit choice.com.au AUSTRALIANS over 60 rank among the best hosts in the world on accommodation platform Airbnb.

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