Life event

Updated 18 January 2026

Your first grocery shop after moving out

Moving out for the first time? Here is exactly what to buy, what it costs, and how to not blow your budget on week one.

Day one: the pantry starter kit

Before you buy fresh food, stock your pantry. This costs about $30-40 at ALDI and sets you up to actually cook:

• Cooking oil (olive or vegetable, 1L bottle)
• Salt and pepper
• Soy sauce
• Pasta (500g pack)
• Rice (1kg bag)
• Tinned tomatoes (2-3 cans)
• Stock cubes (vegetable or chicken)
• Plain flour (1kg)
• Sugar (1kg)

That's it. Not fancy. Survival food that actually tastes good and costs nothing.

Week one essentials

Now the perishables. Budget another $25-35:

• Milk (2L)
• Bread (one loaf)
• Eggs (dozen pack)
• Butter
• Cheese (cheddar block, good for cooking)
• Chicken thighs or beef mince (whichever's on special)
• Frozen vegetables (peas, carrots, or mixed veg)
• Onions (1kg bag)
• Garlic (fresh bulbs)

Buy the frozen veg on purpose. It doesn't go off, it's cheaper than fresh, and it's exactly as nutritious. Your fresh produce graveyard starts with good intentions and ends in the bin.

The don't-forget list

Budget $20-25 upfront for the stuff that makes living possible:

• Dishwashing liquid
• Sponges or dishcloths
• Bin bags
• Toilet paper
• Laundry detergent

These aren't food but they're non-negotiable. ALDI and home brand are genuinely cheap here.

Five meals you can actually make

With the above, you can make these without thinking:

Spag bol: mince, tinned tomatoes, pasta, onion, garlic. About $2.50 per serve.

Stir-fry: chicken or mince, frozen veg, soy sauce, garlic, rice. $2-3 per serve.

Fried rice: rice, eggs, frozen veg, soy sauce. $1.50-2 per serve.

Pasta bake: pasta, mince or chicken, tinned tomatoes, cheese. $2.50-3 per serve.

Omelette with toast: eggs, butter, bread, cheese. $1-1.50 per serve.

None of these require skills you don't have. All of them have leftovers. All cost less than delivery.

The realistic weekly budget

Once your pantry's stocked, aim for $50-80 per week if you cook most meals. That's roughly $7-11 per day. It's doable if you:

• Shop at ALDI for basics (they're genuinely cheaper on rice, pasta, oil, and tinned goods)
• Use Coles or Woolworths for specials and variety
• Buy own-brand stuff without shame
• Check prices per kilogram, not per package

Buying takeaway once kills a whole day's budget. Cook the five meals above on rotation and you'll have money left over.

Where to shop

ALDI is your best friend for pantry staples. Prices on basics are unbeatable: rice, pasta, cooking oil, tinned stuff, and frozen veg are all cheaper than the big two.

Coles and Woolworths have more choice and run proper specials. If you're buying meat or looking for variety, their weekly specials can actually beat ALDI. Check both. The difference between $15 and $25 for chicken matters when you're on your own budget.

The unit price lesson

This one changes everything. Always check the price per kilogram or per 100g, not the price on the label. A 2kg bag of rice at $8 looks expensive until you see it's $4 per kg. The 500g bag at $2.50 is $5 per kg. Buy the bigger size, always, unless you actually won't eat it.

The biggest mistake

Buying too much fresh food. You're excited, you've got a fridge, and suddenly you're grabbing lettuce, tomatoes, capsicums, everything. Then Thursday comes and half of it is wilted. Start small. Buy one or two fresh items per week until you know what you actually eat. Frozen veg and tinned tomatoes do the job.