Strangely, I have only noticed this thread now. The subject has been on my mind a lot lately.

As a single living alone, I have budgeted $50.00 a week for groceries for some time now. It used to be comfortable, but is getting to be a bit of a squeeze these days. As I hate shopping altogether, I play a bit of a game with myself when I shop. I do the adding in my head as I go, and give myself two objectives:

1) come in under $50.00, and
2) avoid paying any more GST than I have to.

The latter isn't as silly as it seems - generally speaking, it forces me to buy fresh stuff rather than the packaged stuff, and healthy food rather than junk. Obviously, I get whacked with things like toothbrushes, deodorant and toilet paper, but I'm fine with that - they are things I need, after all.

Shopping as a single rather than a couple or a family has its own unique set of difficulties. Buying in bulk may be cheaper, but I only have so much room in my freezer for meat, and much of my veg ends up on the compost heap. I have started to run my fridge down to empty before shopping again, so that nothing goes to waste. Lettuce looking a bit tired? Eat it. Tomatoes going soft? Cook 'em and eat 'em. I have found that it is a well-stocked fridge/pantry where things go to waste.

As for the Coles, Woolies and others debate, the only 'all-in-one' alternative to the big 2 I have here in Townsville is IGA which, from experience, doesn't offer that great value for money either. Sure, I could go to the butcher, then to the greengrocer, then to the baker - but if time is money, then I'm spending a lot to save a little. I'm content with Woolies, which is just as well - there are 3 of them in the suburb in which I work. Always room for a little 'grocery game' on the way home!

Australian families will be thanking you all for your fantastic assistance OLOer's.

After all of the joyous rain I have decided to pop in a vegie garden [after ten years] with remaining chook poo in the soil and turn it over a dozen or so times for potatoes, pumpkins, carrots and some salad items. The pumpkins and potatoes next winter hopefully will assist a few families in need of a few basic vegies. [One girlfriend with six kids early twenties down to 8 years old] and she for one will be most grateful!

Kindest wishes to you all!

Yabby I know they are not forcing you to buy 2 for $5 or 1 for $3.59. What I do is buy a similar bread (not the name brand that Woolies have) at Aldi for $2.60 a loaf. IGA who are not a cheap supermarket often have the name brand on special for $2.59. I do think the $3.59 price is very much inflated to, should I say, encourage you to buy 2 and pay $5.
Otokonoko, as a single you are always going to be behind the eight ball when it comes to grocery shopping. Short of joining a bulk buy co-op, and they have there draw backs, "I don't like X brand tomato sauce etc." If you find you are on a tight budget then you have to buy the cheaper cuts, you can do a lot with mince and sausages, don't be afraid to buy just one 'apple' if that's all you need, frozen veg are a good cost saving over fresh if you find you are throwing out fresh stuff. Its a bit of a grind but shop around get the specials in one shop and then go to another to see what they have on special etc. never shop on an empty stomach it might just cost you an extra $20 if you do. Never buy on impulse, never buy just because its cheap. Make the max use of your freezer. Avoid take aways, take your lunch to work. If you budget $50 and spend $45 put the $5 in a jar for Xmas treats. There are many more little thing you can do to save, eg if milk is cheap in 2Lt and its to much for your cuppa tea, then use the extra milk to make a custard or rice pudding, the recipes are on the net, these things are tasty and keep fairly well in the fridge.

Nairbe,

The majority of the rise is based on infrastructure, but about 1/3rd is provision for a future carbon tax over the next few years.

If this is combined with an reduction of food produced in the Murray basin, costs can only go up.

*One girlfriend with six kids early twenties down to 8 years old] and she for one will be most grateful!*

I am sure she will. Mind you, when people make 6 children, don't
they ever consider how they will feed them? A bit of teaching
kids family planning at schools, would not go astray. Even if the
churches protest.

""" How much of your
time can I buy for 3$, RawMustard? """

That depends on whether you're a wholesaler or a retailer and does that include GST?

Yabby, I don't mind a company making an honest living, but I draw the line at being sold a water logged, chemical cocktail as food for 3 times the price of the real thing!

When others can offer the same thing at 1/3rd the price with similar infrastructure, it's a no brainer for me.

If they have to charge more because of their business model, then maybe they need to look at that model huh? Just like you and I have to.

And it surprises me being a farmer that you would defend these scoundrels, they are far from friendly to your type?