Smart shopping

Updated 8 March 2026

Is shopping at multiple supermarkets worth it?

The honest answer: yes, if done right. ALDI can save 15-25% on staples. But time matters. Here is the strategy.

The numbers

A typical Aussie family spends $150-200 per week on groceries. If you split your shop and save 20%, that's $30-40 back in your pocket. Over a year, that's $1,560-2,080.

Time-wise, most people can knock out a second store in 20-30 minutes. If you value your time at $20 per hour (roughly award rate casual wages), that's $7-10 per trip. Still a win.

47% of Australians now compare prices before every shop, up from 17% in 2008, according to ACCC data. People are already thinking about it.

The split shop strategy that works

Don't just bounce around randomly. The strategy is simple:

• Staples and protein at ALDI. Milk, bread, eggs, chicken, mince. ALDI owns this tier.
• Specialty items at Coles or Woolworths. Imported cheese, specific brands, organic stuff. ALDI doesn't carry everything.
• Fresh produce wherever is cheapest that week. Prices swing by 30-40% week to week. Check before you go.

This isn't about visiting three stores. It's about hitting the two that matter for your basket.

The trap that kills your savings

Impulse buying at the second store wipes out savings faster than anything else. You go to ALDI, save $15 on staples, then wander Coles and grab stuff you didn't plan for. Net result: you spent more.

The fix: plan your list by store before you leave the house. Decide exactly what you're buying at each place. Stick to it. No browsing.

Time trade-offs that matter

Split shopping makes sense if:

• You live near multiple stores (same trip, roughly same time).
• You shop weekly, not daily. One extra stop per week is easier to swallow than five.
• You have a clear list. Winging it at two stores is slower and more expensive than one.

It doesn't make sense if:

• Stores are 10+ minutes apart. Travel time kills the savings.
• You shop daily for fresh stuff. Stop-hopping becomes a job.
• You have young kids or mobility issues. One trip is already hard enough.

How to make it actually work

1. Plan before you leave. Write down what you need at ALDI, what at Coles or Woolworths. Commit to the list.
2. Check prices the night before. Know your win before you walk in.
3. Set a time limit. 15 minutes per store. In, buy, out. No aimless walking.

How Pinch helps

Manually checking prices at two stores is tedious. Pinch prices your entire list across all four retailers so you see exactly where to buy each item. Want to know if ALDI's milk is actually cheaper this week? Check. Is Harris Farm's spinach on sale? Check. You get the data in seconds, not 10 minutes of wandering.

You can also track price trends on the stuff you buy every week and catch when ALDI drops its weekly specials.

The real answer

Split shopping works if you're willing to plan. It's not for everyone. If you value time over money, stick to one store. If you're tight on cash or you live near ALDI and Coles, the maths are simple: it pays.

The best supermarket is the one that fits your life. For most families on a budget, that means ALDI for staples and one major chain for the rest.