Mum reveals why you should shop from ALL of the major supermarkets to get the cheapest grocery bill

A budget-conscious mother-of-two has revealed why you should shop from all of the major supermarkets to get the cheapest grocery bill.

Cam Collier, 36, from Toowoomba in Queensland visited Aldi, Coles and Woolworths to find out which supermarket was cheapest.

She then took note of the cost of each product from each shop and re-visited all three supermarkets to buy the cheapest items she’d found. 

‘I’d noticed the prices rising at Aldi, and so I wanted to see which is the cheapest supermarket for our groceries – Coles, Woolworths, Aldi or a combination of the three of them,’ Ms Collier told FEMAIL.

While Aldi was still the cheapest shop overall, Ms Collier said that a combination of Aldi, Coles and Woolworths led to the best budget overall shop.

Cam Collier (pictured), 36, from Queensland visited Aldi, Coles and Woolworths to find out which supermarket was cheapest

After visiting the three supermarkets, Ms Collier said she figured out why putting in time and research leads to saving money.

‘When I visited a combination of shops, the total bill came to $217.82,’ she told FEMAIL.

‘Aldi’s total was $230.53, while Coles was $245.49 and Woolworths was $262.39.’

Ms Collier said she bought the cheapest item she could find, and where the cheapest shop didn’t have the item, she then bought the next cheapest.

‘In order to conduct the experiment, first of all I sat down and made a meal plan for the week, preparing our required shopping list around that meal plan,’ she said.

Next, the budget-conscious mother said she worked out the quantities required with the help of an Excel spreadsheet, and used Coles and Woolworths online to get the ‘best and lowest current price for each item’. 

She found Aldi’s total to be $230.53 (left), while Woolworths cost $262.39 (right). Ms Collier didn’t buy the items four times over, but instead made an Excel spreadsheet and only bought the cheapest items

Where possible, she worked out the cost per unit – whether it was per gram, litre or kilogram –  and she then said she multiplied the per unit price by the amount she required.

‘This gave me a perfect equivalent (in weight) for the amount of product we needed for the shopping list,’ Ms Collier said.

Following the Coles and Woolworths comparisons, the 36-year-old next said she took her spreadsheet to Aldi, where she cross-checked prices and highlighted the cheapest item.

‘Finally, I went to all three stores and purchased the cheapest item from each store,’ she said.  

A Coles shop would have set the mum-of-two back $245.49 (left), while a combination cost $217.82 (right)

When Ms Collier got home, she inputted all of the information into her spreadsheet.

After crunching the numbers, she said she found Aldi was cheapest for the majority of fruit and vegetables like spinach, bananas and mushrooms, but the other supermarkets did work out better value for other items.

‘It was a big effort to complete the three comparisons, but if you are time rich but cash poor, then the combined shop may suit you best,’ Ms Collier aid.

‘On the other hand, if you are cash rich and time poor then Coles may be a better option, as Aldi doesn’t stock everything and you wouldn’t want to waste your time going to multiple stores if you don’t have much time.’

Ms Collier also revealed her top supermarket shopping tips, which include meal planning and shopping at night for the best bargains (pictured: her haul from all of the supermarkets)

Ms Collier also revealed her top supermarket shopping tips, including meal planning, getting organised and being consistent.

‘Know what you are going to eat each week and write it down, as well as the recipes,’ she said.

‘I have a shopping list template with all of the food and grocery items we use on a regular basis. Each week, I print off my list and check off the stock at home against my list.’

While you might think the half price specials are the best value, Ms Collier said you shouldn’t just blindly buy these from Woolworths and Coles.

‘Some people buy products they don’t even use because they’re half price,’ she said.

‘If you don’t buy them at all, then you save 100 per cent. Also, sometimes the cheaper brand is still cheaper than the half price items – so double check.’

Lastly, the mum-of-two said you should be consistent and ‘find a system that works for you and stick to it’.

‘Once you have a system, it gets easier over time and becomes automatic,’ she said. 

Ms Collier said she will often do her supermarket shopping at night, as this is typically when there are the most markdowns. 

‘I also keep an eye on the promotional aisle in Coles and Woolies, as often at the end of this, there are items on clearance,’ she said.  

To read more from Ms Collier, you can visit her website Cheap As* Mum here. All prices below are as listed on the day when Ms Collier visited each supermarket.