With two supermarket giants dominating the Australian grocery scene, it can be hard to shop without running into them. After all, they seem to cover every corner of the country and are often the most convenient choice when it comes to everyday food shopping.

But what if you decided to put aside the two household names for a week? Is it possible to avoid them and still get everything you need without breaking the bank?

Three shoppers decided to try just that. Opening a diary, they kept a record of their shopping habits, and though all three ended up spending less than they would usually, the results differed greatly in accordance with their location and their existing grocery routines.

Could you buy everything you need without Coles or Woolies? Image Credit: Shutterstock

'I desperately wanted to flake,' said Molly from inner Melbourne.

Being a self-proclaimed farmers’ market snob who splurges on post-work Coles and Woolworths trips, Molly Glassey expected the challenge to be a breeze. But after only 24 hours of avoiding the giants, Molly was shocked to find some of her essentials no longer at her fingertips.

'Sticky date pudding in the oven and no ice cream in the freezer, all I wanted was half-price Connoisseur from Coles,' Molly lamented.

'I usually get sucked into buying more than I need at Coles or Woolies. But at the “popping out” to IGA, I wasn't at all wooed into buying more than I needed,' she says.

Did she save any money? ‘Yes, definitely.’

Did she save any time? ‘No.’

Would she do it again? ‘Sure, but not willingly.’

Meanwhile, Jasper from regional Victoria exclaimed, 'I'm a convert.’

Living in rural Victoria, Jasper is used to enjoying the convenience of Woolworths deliveries every two weeks. Ditching them for a week forced Jasper to discover the many small shops, local stores and discount shops that made up his hometown.

After visiting a few local stores and his usual fresh produce haunts, Jasper saved a whopping $197! Not only that, but he also found his shopping trips were much faster, and he realised he was better off without the supermarket deliveries due to not easily being tempted to stock up on more than he needed when shopping.

'Having a relationship with shop owners such as Jo, Ro, Patricia, and Paul is a special part of small-town life. And Cheaper Buy Miles' $3 meal kits were the real solution for me for when I needed quick and easy dinner ideas,' Jasper says.

Did he save any money? ‘Yes, this week $197!’

Did he save any time? ‘Yes! Even though Woolies delivery sort of saves time, the reasons for delivery aren’t applicable once you shop a few times a week and stop prepping for the apocalypse.’

Would he do this again? ‘Absolutely.’

'I'll always need a major [supermarket] to cover the gaps,' said Mostafa from Western Sydney.

Mostafa, living in an area filled with ethnic grocers, began his journey thinking he could comfortably avoid the industry giants for a week. However, although his local independent grocers carried a wide range of fresh produce and items from dried pasta to Lotus Biscoff biscuits, they missed a very important item—paper towels!

‘I ended up walking away without paper towels, and felt strangely sad about it.’ he said.

Did he save any money? ‘Yes, roughly $10.’

Did he save any time? ‘Nope! Going up and down the stairs between the different grocers and hunting for a final few items added about 15 minutes to my shop.’

Would he do this again? ‘I really wanted to do it all, and I really enjoyed the wider selection and slightly cheaper options at the independent grocers, but I think I’ll always need a major supermarket to just cover the gaps.’

Key Takeaways

• Three shoppers managed to successfully complete their weekly groceries avoiding Coles and Woolworths. They reported spending less money than usual.
• A shopper from inner Melbourne found it hard to avoid Coles and Woolworths, missing the convenience and range of products but noted she spent less.
• A resident from regional Victoria enjoyed the community feel, personalised service and found it less expensive to shop locally. He plans to continue with this practice.
• Despite the wider selection and cheaper options at independent grocers, a resident of Western Sydney missed certain goods, stating that he would always need a major supermarket to cover the gaps.

The verdict?

It looks like the verdict is that while you can save money by not going to Coles or Woolworths, it may not be possible to get all your groceries from one place.

However, for those who think it is possible, being mindful of your spending habits and forming relationships with your local shop owners is the key to making it work.

So, members, why not give it a try yourself? You could be surprised by the results!

 

[Jennylolo]

All the Aldis within 15-20 mins of me a ridiculously tiny. They carry only one brand of g/f bread which is revolting, and no alternate milks. They don't cater to dietary needs of those with health issues. The fruit/veg is about 1/5 the size of the other stores. I can barely get my staples there. within 10 min drive I have 10 supermarkets. But I buy fruit and veg at an independent that is the best variety and quality I have known in my life. I can't say one company over another is better, its more like store to store.

 

[Sunshine Rae]

With two supermarket giants dominating the Australian grocery scene, it can be hard to shop without running into them. After all, they seem to cover every corner of the country and are often the most convenient choice when it comes to everyday food shopping.

But what if you decided to put aside the two household names for a week? Is it possible to avoid them and still get everything you need without breaking the bank?

Three shoppers decided to try just that. Opening a diary, they kept a record of their shopping habits, and though all three ended up spending less than they would usually, the results differed greatly in accordance with their location and their existing grocery routines.

View attachment 26339

Could you buy everything you need without Coles or Woolies? Image Credit: Shutterstock

'I desperately wanted to flake,' said Molly from inner Melbourne.

Being a self-proclaimed farmers’ market snob who splurges on post-work Coles and Woolworths trips, Molly Glassey expected the challenge to be a breeze. But after only 24 hours of avoiding the giants, Molly was shocked to find some of her essentials no longer at her fingertips.

'Sticky date pudding in the oven and no ice cream in the freezer, all I wanted was half-price Connoisseur from Coles,' Molly lamented.

'I usually get sucked into buying more than I need at Coles or Woolies. But at the “popping out” to IGA, I wasn't at all wooed into buying more than I needed,' she says.

Did she save any money? ‘Yes, definitely.’

Did she save any time? ‘No.’

Would she do it again? ‘Sure, but not willingly.’

Meanwhile, Jasper from regional Victoria exclaimed, 'I'm a convert.’

Living in rural Victoria, Jasper is used to enjoying the convenience of Woolworths deliveries every two weeks. Ditching them for a week forced Jasper to discover the many small shops, local stores and discount shops that made up his hometown.

After visiting a few local stores and his usual fresh produce haunts, Jasper saved a whopping $197! Not only that, but he also found his shopping trips were much faster, and he realised he was better off without the supermarket deliveries due to not easily being tempted to stock up on more than he needed when shopping.

'Having a relationship with shop owners such as Jo, Ro, Patricia, and Paul is a special part of small-town life. And Cheaper Buy Miles' $3 meal kits were the real solution for me for when I needed quick and easy dinner ideas,' Jasper says.

Did he save any money? ‘Yes, this week $197!’

Did he save any time? ‘Yes! Even though Woolies delivery sort of saves time, the reasons for delivery aren’t applicable once you shop a few times a week and stop prepping for the apocalypse.’

Would he do this again? ‘Absolutely.’

'I'll always need a major [supermarket] to cover the gaps,' said Mostafa from Western Sydney.

Mostafa, living in an area filled with ethnic grocers, began his journey thinking he could comfortably avoid the industry giants for a week. However, although his local independent grocers carried a wide range of fresh produce and items from dried pasta to Lotus Biscoff biscuits, they missed a very important item—paper towels!

‘I ended up walking away without paper towels, and felt strangely sad about it.’ he said.

Did he save any money? ‘Yes, roughly $10.’

Did he save any time? ‘Nope! Going up and down the stairs between the different grocers and hunting for a final few items added about 15 minutes to my shop.’

Would he do this again? ‘I really wanted to do it all, and I really enjoyed the wider selection and slightly cheaper options at the independent grocers, but I think I’ll always need a major supermarket to just cover the gaps.’

Key Takeaways

• Three shoppers managed to successfully complete their weekly groceries avoiding Coles and Woolworths. They reported spending less money than usual.
• A shopper from inner Melbourne found it hard to avoid Coles and Woolworths, missing the convenience and range of products but noted she spent less.
• A resident from regional Victoria enjoyed the community feel, personalised service and found it less expensive to shop locally. He plans to continue with this practice.
• Despite the wider selection and cheaper options at independent grocers, a resident of Western Sydney missed certain goods, stating that he would always need a major supermarket to cover the gaps.

The verdict?

It looks like the verdict is that while you can save money by not going to Coles or Woolworths, it may not be possible to get all your groceries from one place.

However, for those who think it is possible, being mindful of your spending habits and forming relationships with your local shop owners is the key to making it work.

So, members, why not give it a try yourself? You could be surprised by the results!

Once upon a time when I needed to save as much money as possible I stopped going to supermarkets and instead went home via a fruit and vege shop that had seconds out front and next door was a butcher and I only bought specials in bulk. If I needed chemicals although I now make my own (5 min job) I went to Reject Shop. I saved a lot of money

 

[VicCiCi]

We have three supermarkets in our small town. Woolworths, Foodland and IGA. I can see it would be a good idea to browse the catalogues and make a list of which store has the things you need on special, and shop at all three if necessary. I realize it takes extra time and sometimes I just can't be bothered. But it would definitely save money and provide custom for the locally owned businesses such as IGA and Foodland. I just wish supermarket would include more real food in their catalogues, rather than heaps of confectionary and soft drinks.

We have two supermarkets in our small town Woolworths and IGA. As one employee from Woolworth said one day as l could not find what l needed they are only a tourist supermarket and stock changes with the tourist seasons. I’m fed up with supermarkets as they dictate what we have to eat. They don’t upload their computers as l just payed 50 cent more for a tiny cucumber. If l lived in a big city l would give supermarkets a big miss. Glad l grow as many veges as l can and we eat what is in season. Least my veges have taste.

 

[Isis]

With two supermarket giants dominating the Australian grocery scene, it can be hard to shop without running into them. After all, they seem to cover every corner of the country and are often the most convenient choice when it comes to everyday food shopping.

But what if you decided to put aside the two household names for a week? Is it possible to avoid them and still get everything you need without breaking the bank?

Three shoppers decided to try just that. Opening a diary, they kept a record of their shopping habits, and though all three ended up spending less than they would usually, the results differed greatly in accordance with their location and their existing grocery routines.

View attachment 26339

Could you buy everything you need without Coles or Woolies? Image Credit: Shutterstock

'I desperately wanted to flake,' said Molly from inner Melbourne.

Being a self-proclaimed farmers’ market snob who splurges on post-work Coles and Woolworths trips, Molly Glassey expected the challenge to be a breeze. But after only 24 hours of avoiding the giants, Molly was shocked to find some of her essentials no longer at her fingertips.

'Sticky date pudding in the oven and no ice cream in the freezer, all I wanted was half-price Connoisseur from Coles,' Molly lamented.

'I usually get sucked into buying more than I need at Coles or Woolies. But at the “popping out” to IGA, I wasn't at all wooed into buying more than I needed,' she says.

Did she save any money? ‘Yes, definitely.’

Did she save any time? ‘No.’

Would she do it again? ‘Sure, but not willingly.’

Meanwhile, Jasper from regional Victoria exclaimed, 'I'm a convert.’

Living in rural Victoria, Jasper is used to enjoying the convenience of Woolworths deliveries every two weeks. Ditching them for a week forced Jasper to discover the many small shops, local stores and discount shops that made up his hometown.

After visiting a few local stores and his usual fresh produce haunts, Jasper saved a whopping $197! Not only that, but he also found his shopping trips were much faster, and he realised he was better off without the supermarket deliveries due to not easily being tempted to stock up on more than he needed when shopping.

'Having a relationship with shop owners such as Jo, Ro, Patricia, and Paul is a special part of small-town life. And Cheaper Buy Miles' $3 meal kits were the real solution for me for when I needed quick and easy dinner ideas,' Jasper says.

Did he save any money? ‘Yes, this week $197!’

Did he save any time? ‘Yes! Even though Woolies delivery sort of saves time, the reasons for delivery aren’t applicable once you shop a few times a week and stop prepping for the apocalypse.’

Would he do this again? ‘Absolutely.’

'I'll always need a major [supermarket] to cover the gaps,' said Mostafa from Western Sydney.

Mostafa, living in an area filled with ethnic grocers, began his journey thinking he could comfortably avoid the industry giants for a week. However, although his local independent grocers carried a wide range of fresh produce and items from dried pasta to Lotus Biscoff biscuits, they missed a very important item—paper towels!

‘I ended up walking away without paper towels, and felt strangely sad about it.’ he said.

Did he save any money? ‘Yes, roughly $10.’

Did he save any time? ‘Nope! Going up and down the stairs between the different grocers and hunting for a final few items added about 15 minutes to my shop.’

Would he do this again? ‘I really wanted to do it all, and I really enjoyed the wider selection and slightly cheaper options at the independent grocers, but I think I’ll always need a major supermarket to just cover the gaps.’

Key Takeaways

• Three shoppers managed to successfully complete their weekly groceries avoiding Coles and Woolworths. They reported spending less money than usual.
• A shopper from inner Melbourne found it hard to avoid Coles and Woolworths, missing the convenience and range of products but noted she spent less.
• A resident from regional Victoria enjoyed the community feel, personalised service and found it less expensive to shop locally. He plans to continue with this practice.
• Despite the wider selection and cheaper options at independent grocers, a resident of Western Sydney missed certain goods, stating that he would always need a major supermarket to cover the gaps.

The verdict?

It looks like the verdict is that while you can save money by not going to Coles or Woolworths, it may not be possible to get all your groceries from one place.

However, for those who think it is possible, being mindful of your spending habits and forming relationships with your local shop owners is the key to making it work.

So, members, why not give it a try yourself? You could be surprised by the results!

Having a lot of pets I spend a lot if time trawling through the specials. Did anyone near Bunnings know that their branded pet food etc is really cheap all of the time? Otherwise Aldi first what,s left the big two for the cheapest price.

 

[deni67]

Having a lot of pets I spend a lot if time trawling through the specials. Did anyone near Bunnings know that their branded pet food etc is really cheap all of the time? Otherwise Aldi first what,s left the big two for the cheapest price.

Iv'e started giving my cat human foods like tuna and salmon. The tins are quite cheap and he loves them all, the sardines not so much!

 

[Macarj]

I think I'll stick to Woolies

 

[Singomate]

With two supermarket giants dominating the Australian grocery scene, it can be hard to shop without running into them. After all, they seem to cover every corner of the country and are often the most convenient choice when it comes to everyday food shopping.

But what if you decided to put aside the two household names for a week? Is it possible to avoid them and still get everything you need without breaking the bank?

Three shoppers decided to try just that. Opening a diary, they kept a record of their shopping habits, and though all three ended up spending less than they would usually, the results differed greatly in accordance with their location and their existing grocery routines.

View attachment 26339

Could you buy everything you need without Coles or Woolies? Image Credit: Shutterstock

'I desperately wanted to flake,' said Molly from inner Melbourne.

Being a self-proclaimed farmers’ market snob who splurges on post-work Coles and Woolworths trips, Molly Glassey expected the challenge to be a breeze. But after only 24 hours of avoiding the giants, Molly was shocked to find some of her essentials no longer at her fingertips.

'Sticky date pudding in the oven and no ice cream in the freezer, all I wanted was half-price Connoisseur from Coles,' Molly lamented.

'I usually get sucked into buying more than I need at Coles or Woolies. But at the “popping out” to IGA, I wasn't at all wooed into buying more than I needed,' she says.

Did she save any money? ‘Yes, definitely.’

Did she save any time? ‘No.’

Would she do it again? ‘Sure, but not willingly.’

Meanwhile, Jasper from regional Victoria exclaimed, 'I'm a convert.’

Living in rural Victoria, Jasper is used to enjoying the convenience of Woolworths deliveries every two weeks. Ditching them for a week forced Jasper to discover the many small shops, local stores and discount shops that made up his hometown.

After visiting a few local stores and his usual fresh produce haunts, Jasper saved a whopping $197! Not only that, but he also found his shopping trips were much faster, and he realised he was better off without the supermarket deliveries due to not easily being tempted to stock up on more than he needed when shopping.

'Having a relationship with shop owners such as Jo, Ro, Patricia, and Paul is a special part of small-town life. And Cheaper Buy Miles' $3 meal kits were the real solution for me for when I needed quick and easy dinner ideas,' Jasper says.

Did he save any money? ‘Yes, this week $197!’

Did he save any time? ‘Yes! Even though Woolies delivery sort of saves time, the reasons for delivery aren’t applicable once you shop a few times a week and stop prepping for the apocalypse.’

Would he do this again? ‘Absolutely.’

'I'll always need a major [supermarket] to cover the gaps,' said Mostafa from Western Sydney.

Mostafa, living in an area filled with ethnic grocers, began his journey thinking he could comfortably avoid the industry giants for a week. However, although his local independent grocers carried a wide range of fresh produce and items from dried pasta to Lotus Biscoff biscuits, they missed a very important item—paper towels!

‘I ended up walking away without paper towels, and felt strangely sad about it.’ he said.

Did he save any money? ‘Yes, roughly $10.’

Did he save any time? ‘Nope! Going up and down the stairs between the different grocers and hunting for a final few items added about 15 minutes to my shop.’

Would he do this again? ‘I really wanted to do it all, and I really enjoyed the wider selection and slightly cheaper options at the independent grocers, but I think I’ll always need a major supermarket to just cover the gaps.’

Key Takeaways

• Three shoppers managed to successfully complete their weekly groceries avoiding Coles and Woolworths. They reported spending less money than usual.
• A shopper from inner Melbourne found it hard to avoid Coles and Woolworths, missing the convenience and range of products but noted she spent less.
• A resident from regional Victoria enjoyed the community feel, personalised service and found it less expensive to shop locally. He plans to continue with this practice.
• Despite the wider selection and cheaper options at independent grocers, a resident of Western Sydney missed certain goods, stating that he would always need a major supermarket to cover the gaps.

The verdict?

It looks like the verdict is that while you can save money by not going to Coles or Woolworths, it may not be possible to get all your groceries from one place.

However, for those who think it is possible, being mindful of your spending habits and forming relationships with your local shop owners is the key to making it work.

So, members, why not give it a try yourself? You could be surprised by the results!

I think it's a breeze I shop Aldi's

 

[MariaG]

I used to shop once a week, mostly at WW. Then I changed by adding a day between shops. Say week 1 Monday, week 2 Tuesday, and so it went on. I keep a spreadsheet of my grocery shops and saw that I was saving by doing this. Then, as we aged we found our requirements lessened, so, I now shop once a fortnight. Only top up shop would be fresh milk. ALWAYS go with a list and never divert from it.
I take advantage of all rewards program offers and do online surveys to procure vouchers. The only time it takes out of my day is the dedicated allocation of time to do those surveys.
There are the occasional IGA specials in their catalogue that I look for, specifically to give my darling man special treats. He is stuck at home so much, I don't mind splurging on a box of ice creams every now and then.
The main thing for me was to find the thing that works and commit.

 

[IAN3005]

With two supermarket giants dominating the Australian grocery scene, it can be hard to shop without running into them. After all, they seem to cover every corner of the country and are often the most convenient choice when it comes to everyday food shopping.

But what if you decided to put aside the two household names for a week? Is it possible to avoid them and still get everything you need without breaking the bank?

Three shoppers decided to try just that. Opening a diary, they kept a record of their shopping habits, and though all three ended up spending less than they would usually, the results differed greatly in accordance with their location and their existing grocery routines.

View attachment 26339

Could you buy everything you need without Coles or Woolies? Image Credit: Shutterstock

'I desperately wanted to flake,' said Molly from inner Melbourne.

Being a self-proclaimed farmers’ market snob who splurges on post-work Coles and Woolworths trips, Molly Glassey expected the challenge to be a breeze. But after only 24 hours of avoiding the giants, Molly was shocked to find some of her essentials no longer at her fingertips.

'Sticky date pudding in the oven and no ice cream in the freezer, all I wanted was half-price Connoisseur from Coles,' Molly lamented.

'I usually get sucked into buying more than I need at Coles or Woolies. But at the “popping out” to IGA, I wasn't at all wooed into buying more than I needed,' she says.

Did she save any money? ‘Yes, definitely.’

Did she save any time? ‘No.’

Would she do it again? ‘Sure, but not willingly.’

Meanwhile, Jasper from regional Victoria exclaimed, 'I'm a convert.’

Living in rural Victoria, Jasper is used to enjoying the convenience of Woolworths deliveries every two weeks. Ditching them for a week forced Jasper to discover the many small shops, local stores and discount shops that made up his hometown.

After visiting a few local stores and his usual fresh produce haunts, Jasper saved a whopping $197! Not only that, but he also found his shopping trips were much faster, and he realised he was better off without the supermarket deliveries due to not easily being tempted to stock up on more than he needed when shopping.

'Having a relationship with shop owners such as Jo, Ro, Patricia, and Paul is a special part of small-town life. And Cheaper Buy Miles' $3 meal kits were the real solution for me for when I needed quick and easy dinner ideas,' Jasper says.

Did he save any money? ‘Yes, this week $197!’

Did he save any time? ‘Yes! Even though Woolies delivery sort of saves time, the reasons for delivery aren’t applicable once you shop a few times a week and stop prepping for the apocalypse.’

Would he do this again? ‘Absolutely.’

'I'll always need a major [supermarket] to cover the gaps,' said Mostafa from Western Sydney.

Mostafa, living in an area filled with ethnic grocers, began his journey thinking he could comfortably avoid the industry giants for a week. However, although his local independent grocers carried a wide range of fresh produce and items from dried pasta to Lotus Biscoff biscuits, they missed a very important item—paper towels!

‘I ended up walking away without paper towels, and felt strangely sad about it.’ he said.

Did he save any money? ‘Yes, roughly $10.’

Did he save any time? ‘Nope! Going up and down the stairs between the different grocers and hunting for a final few items added about 15 minutes to my shop.’

Would he do this again? ‘I really wanted to do it all, and I really enjoyed the wider selection and slightly cheaper options at the independent grocers, but I think I’ll always need a major supermarket to just cover the gaps.’

Key Takeaways

• Three shoppers managed to successfully complete their weekly groceries avoiding Coles and Woolworths. They reported spending less money than usual.
• A shopper from inner Melbourne found it hard to avoid Coles and Woolworths, missing the convenience and range of products but noted she spent less.
• A resident from regional Victoria enjoyed the community feel, personalised service and found it less expensive to shop locally. He plans to continue with this practice.
• Despite the wider selection and cheaper options at independent grocers, a resident of Western Sydney missed certain goods, stating that he would always need a major supermarket to cover the gaps.

The verdict?

It looks like the verdict is that while you can save money by not going to Coles or Woolworths, it may not be possible to get all your groceries from one place.

However, for those who think it is possible, being mindful of your spending habits and forming relationships with your local shop owners is the key to making it work.

So, members, why not give it a try yourself? You could be surprised by the results!

I haven't shopped at either Cole or Woollies for the last 20 years..
I buy my good quality vegetables at the local greengrocer much cheaper than Coles, Woollies or Aldi. Because they sell volumes the quality of the vegetables is good.
the eggs are $9.95 for 20 but they are so big they do not fit in a 700gm box...double yolks too.... 2 for the price of one....

 

[Cheezil]

With two supermarket giants dominating the Australian grocery scene, it can be hard to shop without running into them. After all, they seem to cover every corner of the country and are often the most convenient choice when it comes to everyday food shopping.

But what if you decided to put aside the two household names for a week? Is it possible to avoid them and still get everything you need without breaking the bank?

Three shoppers decided to try just that. Opening a diary, they kept a record of their shopping habits, and though all three ended up spending less than they would usually, the results differed greatly in accordance with their location and their existing grocery routines.

View attachment 26339

Could you buy everything you need without Coles or Woolies? Image Credit: Shutterstock

'I desperately wanted to flake,' said Molly from inner Melbourne.

Being a self-proclaimed farmers’ market snob who splurges on post-work Coles and Woolworths trips, Molly Glassey expected the challenge to be a breeze. But after only 24 hours of avoiding the giants, Molly was shocked to find some of her essentials no longer at her fingertips.

'Sticky date pudding in the oven and no ice cream in the freezer, all I wanted was half-price Connoisseur from Coles,' Molly lamented.

'I usually get sucked into buying more than I need at Coles or Woolies. But at the “popping out” to IGA, I wasn't at all wooed into buying more than I needed,' she says.

Did she save any money? ‘Yes, definitely.’

Did she save any time? ‘No.’

Would she do it again? ‘Sure, but not willingly.’

Meanwhile, Jasper from regional Victoria exclaimed, 'I'm a convert.’

Living in rural Victoria, Jasper is used to enjoying the convenience of Woolworths deliveries every two weeks. Ditching them for a week forced Jasper to discover the many small shops, local stores and discount shops that made up his hometown.

After visiting a few local stores and his usual fresh produce haunts, Jasper saved a whopping $197! Not only that, but he also found his shopping trips were much faster, and he realised he was better off without the supermarket deliveries due to not easily being tempted to stock up on more than he needed when shopping.

'Having a relationship with shop owners such as Jo, Ro, Patricia, and Paul is a special part of small-town life. And Cheaper Buy Miles' $3 meal kits were the real solution for me for when I needed quick and easy dinner ideas,' Jasper says.

Did he save any money? ‘Yes, this week $197!’

Did he save any time? ‘Yes! Even though Woolies delivery sort of saves time, the reasons for delivery aren’t applicable once you shop a few times a week and stop prepping for the apocalypse.’

Would he do this again? ‘Absolutely.’

'I'll always need a major [supermarket] to cover the gaps,' said Mostafa from Western Sydney.

Mostafa, living in an area filled with ethnic grocers, began his journey thinking he could comfortably avoid the industry giants for a week. However, although his local independent grocers carried a wide range of fresh produce and items from dried pasta to Lotus Biscoff biscuits, they missed a very important item—paper towels!

‘I ended up walking away without paper towels, and felt strangely sad about it.’ he said.

Did he save any money? ‘Yes, roughly $10.’

Did he save any time? ‘Nope! Going up and down the stairs between the different grocers and hunting for a final few items added about 15 minutes to my shop.’

Would he do this again? ‘I really wanted to do it all, and I really enjoyed the wider selection and slightly cheaper options at the independent grocers, but I think I’ll always need a major supermarket to just cover the gaps.’

Key Takeaways

• Three shoppers managed to successfully complete their weekly groceries avoiding Coles and Woolworths. They reported spending less money than usual.
• A shopper from inner Melbourne found it hard to avoid Coles and Woolworths, missing the convenience and range of products but noted she spent less.
• A resident from regional Victoria enjoyed the community feel, personalised service and found it less expensive to shop locally. He plans to continue with this practice.
• Despite the wider selection and cheaper options at independent grocers, a resident of Western Sydney missed certain goods, stating that he would always need a major supermarket to cover the gaps.

The verdict?

It looks like the verdict is that while you can save money by not going to Coles or Woolworths, it may not be possible to get all your groceries from one place.

However, for those who think it is possible, being mindful of your spending habits and forming relationships with your local shop owners is the key to making it work.

So, members, why not give it a try yourself? You could be surprised by the results!

Surprised there was no mention of fuel costs (false economy) driving around all over the place to find the "bargains" (& walking carrying lots of stuff a long way is hardly time saving/convenient)??
Woolies here dont charge for delivery if you spend a minimum ($250 a shop i think it is)
Oh well, to each their own.