Lydia and Darryl Bugg are on a mission to save on their weekly grocery shop. And the first step, they say, is to look beyond the major supermarkets like Coles and Woolworths.
As cost-of-living pressures bite, the British couple, who’ve just settled in Newcastle, NSW, revealed what $20 got them at a fruit and veg market in Nowra, south of Sydney. And the answer is, their entire weekly shop.
Speaking to Yahoo News about their savings, the Buggs said they were “really surprised” to see so many great deals on fresh fruit and veggies, as well as pantry staples at the Nowra Farmers Market. And it’s a reminder to Aussies that affordable groceries can still be found.
“Veg prices are literally triple in the supermarkets,” Lydia said.
The couple join the growing number of shoppers ditching Coles and Woolworths in search of cheaper options.
A poll last year of more than 7,600 Yahoo readers found 45 per cent intended to shop at Coles and Woolworths less after they were accused of misleading customers about discount labels.
Woolworths is currently in the Federal Court facing allegations of deceptive price tactics from the ACCC. The Federal Court hearing with Coles and the ACCC ended in February, and no decision has been handed down.
“We still go to Coles and Woolies for basic things like milk and yoghurt, but we do look for discounted meats and produce elsewhere,” Lydia said.
Are fruit and veg markets cheaper than major supermarkets?
While the couple often hunt for cheaper ways to shop, they admit they stumbled upon the Norwa Farmer’s Market during their travels last month.
“There was quite a queue when we went there on a weekend, so it did seem very popular with the locals,” Lydia told Yahoo.
And it’s not hard to imagine why, after seeing what the pair walked away with.
Do you have a story? Contact newsroomau@yahoonews.com
The couple save big on fruit and veg and turn them into delicious meals. Source: Instagram/travel_buggs_
What the couple bought for under $20:
Three packs of eggs at 99c each- $2.97
Two red capsicums at $1.99 per kilo – $0.25
Whole cauliflower – $2.99
Two packs of gnocchi at $1.50 each – $3
Then the pair discovered the reduced section where they picked up a punnet of grapes for 99c and a loaf of sourdough bread for $3.99. The entire shop came in at under $20.
RELATED:
How to make a $20 food shop stretch the week
Using pantry staples Lydia and Darryl already had, including rice and noodles, the $20 shop lasted them the entire week. The eggs lasted more than two.
The trick is being flexible when it comes to meal planning, Lydia said. They also limit their meat intake and opt for veggie meals, which “tend to be cheaper”.
“We just plan our meals around what is in season and what’s on offer,” she explained.
“If we find a lot of meat on discount, we’ll just put it in the freezer and portion it up for the next month”.
And if they do buy from Coles or Woolies, Lydia said they “buy own brand, which is fairly affordable.”
While they admit that cheaper groceries are getting harder to come by, the couple put in the effort to look for them.
They will often scroll social media to see if any small businesses have weekly offers. They also regularly search for “budget groceries near us” wherever they go.
So it pays to do your research.
If the couple do shop at major supermarkets, they only pick up discounted items. Source: Supplied.
Do you have a story tip? Email: newsroomau@yahoonews.com.
You can also follow us on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Twitter and YouTube.