Cost of living crisis has forced Aussies to pick up a new weekly habit

The cost of living crisis has forced Australians to rethink how they do their weekly shop and it’s saving them a lot of money.

There’s a hated new walk that many Australians are doing, and it is a physical manifestation of the cost of living crisis.

Aussies are now shopping at multiple supermarkets and trekking between different options to save cash.

Inflation has hit 7 per cent, the current cash rate is sitting at 4.1 per cent and there is also a nationwide rental crisis to contend with.

Finder’s Consumer Sentiment Tracker reveals the average Aussie household spent $188 per week on groceries in August – up $18 a week compared to 12 months prior.

That’s a $936 increase per household over 12 months – or $9.17 billion more nationwide based on Australia’s 9.8 million households.

Life has become more expensive and that means Aussies aren’t just being loyal to one supermarket anymore, because they can’t afford to be.

Interestingly, although Aussies are becoming less loyal to one supermarket, they still have their preferences.

Aussies are going for walks. Picture: AAP Image/Peter RAE

Gone are the days of people doing their weekly shop at a single store. Picture: NCA NewsWire/Jeremy Piper

Data from news.com.au’s Great Aussie Debate survey found that all age groups were more likely to shop at Woolworths over Coles and that young people between the ages of 18-29 were the most likely to be enamoured by Woolworths.

Aldi fell behind the other supermarket giants, with 26.3 per cent of the 50,000 respondents saying they solely shop there.

Yet, despite what Aussies may like in theory, they are being forced to branch out, with 27.9 per cent of Aussies saying they shop around at multiple stores.

New research by Aldi has also revealed that 1 in 10 Aussie shoppers have switched their supermarket in the last year. Plus, Aldi has seen a 5.2 per cent increase in customers in the second quarter of 2023.

Interestingly, because of brand loyalty to Coles and Woolworths, plenty of Aussies aren’t prepared to devote their whole shopping cart to Aldi, even if they think it is cheaper.

Instead, they’d rather do some of their shops at Aldi and then return to Coles or Woolworths to buy the brands they’ve been purchasing for years.

“I shop at Aldi and then get whatever I can’t get there at Woolies,” one Aussie shopper revealed.

She explained that, although she thinks she gets way more bang for her buck at Aldi, she still has certain items she likes to buy elsewhere.

“I swear you buy three things at Woolworths and it costs $50, but at Aldi it could get me at least 10,” she claimed

Aussies still adore Woolies. Picture: NCA NewsWire/Gaye Gerard

Coles is also loved. Picture: Shae Beplate

Ultimately, she kept also shopping at Woolworths because she believes that some of Aldi’s versions of things “don’t taste as nice”.

It has become an increasingly common scenario, with Aussies splitting up their shopping via multiple grocery stores.

“I shop at Woolworths for whatever I can’t get at Aldi,” a shopper explained.

“I shop most of my stuff at Coles and then go Aldi,” someone else said.

“When I do my usual food shop, I start at Aldi and get whatever I don’t get from them at either Woolworths or Coles,” another revealed.

One shopper said that she bought 90 per cent of her food shop from Aldi but did still find herself heading to Coles for that last 10 per cent.

Another shopper said that she shopped at Aldi for the big things but still headed into Coles or Woolies for “small things” like baby snacks and formula.

Someone else explained that they had started shopping at Aldi again because of the cost of living crisis but they hadn’t broken up with Woolies or Coles completely.

“I’ve started shopping at Aldi again, but I do still get things from Coles and Woolies,” she said.

Shopping only at one grocery store isn’t the way to go if you want to save money. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Gaye Gerard

Finder expert Sarah says shopping around is key.

Despite Aussies’ love of Coles and Woolworths, should we be doing all our shopping at Aldi to save a little bit of extra cash?

Well, no.

Sarah Megginson, money expert at Finder, said that shopping around was actually the answer instead of only going to just one supermarket – even if that supermarket was Aldi.

“Investing a little extra time into shopping around and comparing can absolutely save you money, but the key is to be strategic so it’s convenient and you’re not wasting time and money getting from place to place,” she said.

Ms Megginson said you can start small by shopping around for pricey items like “laundry detergent” to see how much money you can save.

“At Big W, 6L of laundry liquid is $22. You can pay up to $26 for 2L at Woolies, so you’re getting three times the volume for less money,” she said.

Ms Megginson also advised that it is important to remember that every supermarket has its own special offerings and you should take advantage.

“Remember that every supermarket has its own deals and discounts, so shop the 50 per cent off sales. I often plan meals around what’s on sale, like half-price ravioli packs and tinned tuna,” said.

It seems that dreaded walk between supermarkets that so many Aussies have taken to doing isn’t going anywhere any time soon.

Originally published as Cost of living crisis has forced Aussies to pick up a new weekly habit