Shopping Guide
This section outlines strategies for minimising your living expenses if you are on a tight budget.
• Market Food
• Food & Household Supplies
• Clothes
• Furniture & Other Household Goods
Market Food
The cheapest places to buy good food (particularly fresh fruit, vegetables, meat and fish) are the markets around Melbourne. Here is a list of the main markets and their locations. All are easily accessible by public transport.
| Market | Melway Ref. |
|---|---|
| Victoria Market: Cnr Victoria Street and Elizabeth Street, Melbourne |
Melway Ref. Pg.2B, B11 |
| Footscray Market: Hopkins Street, Footscray |
Melway Ref. Pg.2S, G8 |
| Preston Market: Cramer Street, Preston |
Melway Ref. Pg.18, G11 |
| South Melbourne Market: York Street, South Melbourne |
Melway Ref. Pg.2K, B1 |
| Prahran Market: Commercial Road, Prahran |
Melway Ref. P.2L, H9 |
| Melbourne Wholesale Fish, Fruit and Vegetable Market: 542 Footscray Road, West Melbourne |
Melway Ref. Pg.2T, G 11 & 12 |
top of pageFood & Household Supplies
Supermarkets vs Convenience Stores
As you are probably aware, it is much cheaper to buy supplies (such as bread, groceries and household products) at a supermarket than purchase them at a Convenience Store (such as a Seven-Eleven) or at a smaller local shop. Also, some supermarkets are cheaper than others. Many supermarkets are open 24 hours a day. NQR ('Not Quite Right') Stores may be cheaper than other stores for groceries and household products.
Planning
Plan your purchases for your household.
Work out your menu for the coming week.
If you are in a shared household, start up a contribution system (often called a 'kitty') with your housemates to purchase commonly used household products eg. coffee, tea, bread, milk, sugar, butter / margarine, rice, flour, eggs, soap, cleaning products, etc.
Consider the generic or 'home-brand' products at the Supermarket, particularly products such as toilet paper, aluminium foil, plastic wraps, flour, sugar, tinned tomatoes, etc. They will be cheaper and are usually produced by the manufacturers of well-known brands.
Meat and bakery items at supermarkets are often marked down in price in the evening. Shopping later in the day may reduce your costs.
If possible (and it is difficult!) avoid impulse buying. Shopping when you feel hungry is probably not a good idea.
Fruit and vegetables
Fruit shops (greengrocers) may be cheaper than supermarkets for fruit and vegetables, particularly in areas such as Coburg, Richmond, North Melbourne, Brunswick.
Keep an eye on the prices.
The prices of fruit and vegetables can 'swing' quite dramatically, depending on the seasons. The differences in price can have a significant effect on your budget.
Clothes
Melbourne has fairly distinct seasons and the temperature has a broad range over the year. In summer the temperature can reach 35-40 degrees (celsius) while in winter it will average 12-15 degrees (celsius) during day time, with colder nights. If you are moving from interstate or overseas, it is likely to be cheaper for you to bring warm clothes from home rather than to buy new ones.
Some areas for shops and factory outlets which sell cheaper new clothes, recycled clothes, and warehouse seconds are:
- Richmond - in and around Swan Street and Bridge Road
- Footscray - Barkly Street
- Brunswick - Sydney Road
- Fitzroy - Smith Street
- City - Victoria Market in Elizabeth Street
Opportunity ('Op') shops (shops run by charity organisations such as St Vincent de Paul and The Salvation Army) and markets are good places to buy cheaper new or recycled clothes.
Sunday markets often stock clothing and shoes. Check The EG for Sunday market times and locations (some are called Trash and Treasure markets).
Furniture & Other Household Goods
Opportunity Shops sell cheap furniture, and other items such as crockery and cutlery.
The Good Shepherd Buying Service offers discounts of up to 20% to Health Care Card holders. The service, which sells furniture, bedding, TVs, 'white goods' (such as fridges and washing machines) and other household items, can be contacted on: 94174666.
Check out the Trading Post newspaper which comes out every Thursday, for a wide range of second-hand furniture and household items for sale.
For comprehensive listings of community clothing outlets (eg. Brotherhood of St. Lawrence, St. Vincent De Paul etc.), check the Technology for Social Justice website.
Many household items can be purchased cheaply via the student noticeboard in Union House
Cheaper Transport Costs
See Transport Costs