Aldi, Coles, Woolies shoppers reveal the one item they won't give up amid price hikes

Cost of living pressures have forced Australians to re-evaluate their shopping lists but there are some everyday items that Aldi, Coles and Woolies shoppers refuse to sacrifice or substitute.

A Victorian woman has declared her devotion to brand-name butter online, asking others what they will continue to buy as their budgets tighten amid surging mortgage, rent and food costs.

"With rising grocery prices and the cost of living, what is one thing you WON'T compromise on?" she posted to a popular Facebook group for saving tips, revealing she won't "eat margarine instead of butter".

"It has to be Western Star butter," she added.

Many fellow bargain hunters overwhelmingly agreed they couldn't live without butter but didn't share the same brand loyalty.

"Yeh same I don't care on the brand but must be butter," commented one woman.

Fresh produce a priority

Another said she buys the organic butter at Aldi: "yuk to margarine, agree!"

Fresh produce also remained a priority for shoppers despite staggering price hikes following recent floods and cold snaps.

"We will continue to buy fresh fruit and vegetables. I know it's just as good nutritionally, but frozen just doesn't taste the same," one person wrote.

Another admitted she will never stop buying iceberg lettuce "no matter how costly" it gets: "I have one child who will only eat iceberg lettuces and carrots. I wrap it in newspaper and it lasts longer."

"I'm gonna keep buying watermelon, it's my favourite fruit and although it's expensive as an individual item, you eat it across the week so it's worth it," another commented.

One woman admitted to spending "a fair bit" on fruits like berries, bananas and apples each week because her daughter "loves it": "And now that my son is starting solids I'm also buying more fresh veggies. Hate the frozen stuff."

Another mother agreed, explaining she spends more on fruit than meat each week: "But in saying that, my two (toddlers) have always liked frozen mixed berries in their yoghurt, smoothies and cereal. Especially frozen blueberries, it works out a lot cheaper."

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Aussie meat and luxe toilet paper high on the list

Other shoppers are dedicated to buying Australian meat.

"I refuse to buy the imported stuff," a woman commented.

"Nothing but Porterhouse or Eye Fillet" and "Definitely no Devon, it's fresh ham only," others added.

Toilet paper and tissues also topped the list of household staples many families won't cheap out on.

"I need proper loo paper," one woman wrote.

"As an allergic rhinitis sufferer it has to be Kleenex tissues for me or I end up with sandpaper nose!" another said.

Brand name products still popular

Many shoppers shunned home brands and admitted to staying loyal to particular big names such as Heinz for canned baked, beans and Moccona or NesCafe for coffee.

One woman even listed her favourites, explaining she counts costs for other items and does her best to make meals stretch.

"Toilet paper - Quilton

Ice cream - Peter's

Chocolate - no cheap brands

Bread - low carb, hi fibre Woolworths," she stated.

Some said their shopping habits haven't changed but they're putting more effort into reducing food waste.

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