If you’ve just moved to Brisbane, you may be making some tough decisions, adjusting your weekly budget after paying your new rent or mortgage, rates, fees, and charges and so on.
So, you may be wanting to know how you can save as much as possible on the things you cannot live without, especially groceries. But is there more than Aldi and the temptations of the middle isle?
Never fear, the locals are here. These are where Brisbane goes to get the most bang for their buck:
Southside:
Brisbane’s 24/7 savings institution is Sam Coco’s, Annerley. With a wide variety of local seasonal produce and non-perishables from near and far, you really would be hard pressed not to find something here that you need for your weekly menu. Notable examples include 98 cents for a 2-pack of Crème Caramels, 2 for $3 on Pineapples, and Cos Lettuces for 68 cents each.
The inner-south go-to for all things rice and spice is All India Foods, Woolloongabba. Buy in bulk and save heaps on bags of rice, chickpeas, lentils, oils & ghee, sugar, and curry spices.
Some may hesitate at the mind-bending specials offered by the Rochedale Markets, asking if it’s too good to be true that you could buy a dozen caged eggs for $1.98. But you’d be more annoyed if you didn’t check them out. While that deal has come and gone, at the time of writing, you can still pick up potatoes for 88 cents/kg, 900g of Cocobella Vanilla for $2.98, and whole watermelon at 68cents/kg.
If you’re willing to cross the BCC border into Redland City, the Golden Circle Factory Outlet is known for big deals on non-perishable food and drink. Fun fact – while they have a contract with Heinz group, their products make up just 30% of total stock, so you’ll find plenty of variety from brands you know and love. They also have a store in Morayfield.
If you don’t mind the drive, head out to Lighthouse Care in either Hillcrest or Loganholme for their $25 trolley or $55 bundle. They also give away freebies with your basket!
Northside:
Referred to by Reddit as the “Sam Coco’s of the Northside” T-Bones in Aspley often gets comments from interstate netizens frustrated that this store is nowhere near their home.
We can understand why.
A quick perusal of weekly specials posted to social media shows passionfruit for 8 cents each, iceberg lettuce for 48 cents each, and buckets of eggplants for $1.98. Yes, they sell meat too – we couldn’t ignore 1KG of thick-cut bacon for $5. There’s also a wide variety of international products as shelf staples and promotions. The best part? No buying limits for retail customers.
Northsiders also recommend Fresh N Save, Deagon, known for periodic and themed sales.
24/7 stores aren’t just for the Southside. Also in Deagon is Cabbage Patch Market, open around the clock. Locally renowned for their “Super Specials” on weekends and sometimes even weekdays. For example, their Monday special is limes for 8 cents. Otherwise, consider rockmelons for 98 cents/kg, drinking coconuts for $199 each or eggplants for 98 cents/kg.
If you don’t mind the drive, Skippy’s Fruit and Veg in Rothwell can be well worth it. One Reddit user spoke of such deals like 5c avocados 1c limes, buckets of potatoes for 52c/kg, kale for $1 and celery for $2.
Other Options
If transport or time is limited, why not consider a grocery box delivered to your door? Funky Food and Farmer’s Pick boxes include a wide variety of fruits and vegetables, just select the quantity you need for your household. Just because these fruits and veggies did not meet the Big 2’s aesthetic requirements, doesn’t mean they’re any less fresh, so why not save on food waste as well as your cash? You can also opt to have all produce organic.
All prices and offers mentioned were current at the time of writing.
