There’s nothing worse than standing at the checkout watching that total grow and grow feeling panicked by how much you’re about to spend.
Save yourself from that stressful scenario with one of our bank balance-friendly shopping baskets designed to feed a family of four, a foodie couple or a solo household for the whole week. Yes really!
Family of four
Feeding your family on a budget can be tough, but the trick is to look for versatile ingredients that you can use multiple ways. Stick to seasonal produce, which is often cheaper, and don’t be afraid to frequent the frozen food aisle where you’ll find bargains that will last longer than just a week.
Meal plans: multigrain toast with avocado, cereal, crisp bread with cheese, tuna sandwiches, shepherd’s pie, spaghetti bolognaise, tuna pasta bake, pie and mash, pizza and salad, chicken tenders with veggies, spinach and ricotta parcels with salad.
TOTAL: $50.79
Bakers Life Multigrain Sandwich Sliced $1.49
2 x Hass Avocado, $3.58
Goldenvale Extras Fruit & Fibre Cereal, $2.99
Farmdale Full Cream Milk 2L, $1.99
Damora Crispetts, $1.99
Cowbelle Tasty Cheese Block 1kg, $6
Cavendish Bananas, $1.29
Continental Cucumber, $1.49
Karidale Farm Fresh Carrots, $1.19
Jindurra Station Beef Mince, $4.29
Karidale Farm Fresh Brown Onions, $1.29
Karidale Farm Fresh Washed Potatoes, $1.99
Remano Italian Diced Tomatos,$0.59
Market Fare Frozen Mixed Vegetables, $1.59
Has No Wholemeal Penne, $2.49
Ocean Rise Yellowfin Chuck Tuna, $1.19
Elmsbury Spinach & Ricotta Triangles, $1.99
Elmsbury Chunky Beef Pies, $3.99
The Fresh Salad Co Salad Mix, $1.69
Farmwood Chicken Breast Tenders (Frozen), $3.69
Casa Barelli Stone Baked Vegetable Pizza, $3.99
Foodie couple
There’s a misconception that eating well costs a fortune. But if you follow a few rules, it needn’t. Stick to a carefully-edited, concise weekly meal plan, keep an eye on weekly deals and amend your shop list accordingly, switch from fresh produce to frozen where possible and be mindful that you can get award-winning olive oil for less than $5. Not bad!
Meal plans: Greek yoghurt with berries and chia seeds, linseed and soy crackers with avocado and smashed feta, salmon or chicken with roasted pumpkin, feta and rocket salad.
TOTAL: $50.16
Lyttos Lite Greek Style Yoghurt, $3.99
Sweet Haven Mixed Frozen Berries, $3.69
Oh So Natural Black Chia Seeds, $6.99
Damora Vita Grain Linseed & Soy Wholegrain Crackers, $1.99
Emporium Greek Feta Block, $3.99
3 x Hass Avocado, $5.37
Ocean Royale Premium Salmon Filets (Frozen), $3.49
Broad Oak Farms Chicken Breast Fillets, $8.69
Karidale Farm Fresh Butternut Pumpkin, $2.49
The Fresh Salad Co Rocket, $1.99
The Olive Tree Australian Extra Virgin Olive Oil Fruity, $4.69
Moser Roth Finest Dark Chocolate Sea Salt $2.79
Solo households
When you live alone, quick, easy and affordable meals are often most appealing. If you can’t always be bothered to cook every night, whip up batches of food that you can reheat for lunch or dinner the next day. You can be more flexible with structured meals, too – you only have yourself to please – so keep some snacks and treats on hand in case you only fancy something light or deliciously naughty.
Meal plans: breakfast muesli, scrambled eggs on wholemeal toast, pumpkin and sweet potato soup, hummus with rice crackers and crudités, tuna pasta bake, baked sweet potato with sour cream and salad, cheese and spinach omelette, salmon with veggies.
TOTAL: $43.80
Goldenvale Fruit & Nut Muesli, $2.49
Farmdale Light Milk, $1.19
Bakers Life Wholemeal Sandwich Sliced, $1.49
Lodge Farm Free Range Eggs (Dozen), $3.99
Sweet Potato (1kg), $2.99
Karidale Farm Fresh Butternut Pumpkin, $2.49
Karidale Farm Fresh Brown Onions, $1.29
Deli Originals Hommus Dip, $1.79
Damora Rice Crackers, 89c
1 x Green Capsicum, 89c
Karidale Farm Fresh Carrots, $1.19
Casa Barelli Creamy Tuna Pasta Bake, $1.99
Casa Barelli Penne, 89c
Emporium Aged Cheddar, $3.99
Farmdale Light Sour Cream, $1.09
The Fresh Salad Co Salad Mix, $1.69
Market Fare Frozen Spinach, 99c
Ocean Royale Premium Frozen Salmon Filets, $3.49
Monarc Obsession Ice Cream Triple Choc, $3.99
South Point Estate Pinot Grigio, $4.99
Brought to you by ALDI. Take the Supermarket Switch Challenge today and discover high quality groceries at everyday low prices. All products are available in store and prices are correct at time of publishing.
