Bittersweet nostalgia: Video from the past reveals shockingly low grocery prices

Who would have thought that a handful of change rescued from the depths of your pockets could once buy you the daily essentials like bread and milk?

As time continues to rush forward, a nostalgic video on social media has plunged us right back into the past, leaving plenty of Aussies with a bittersweet taste of the considerably cheaper grocery prices from the 'yesteryears'.



The video, shared last week, illustrated the stark contrast between shopping before the COVID pandemic and current prices.

Simpler times, when choosing to spend an evening in with a home-made meal or ordering takeaway was a leisure decision and not the financial dilemma it is today.


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A loaf of bread and a bottle of milk were much cheaper than they are now. Credit: TikTok/jaydee2915.



Do you remember times when a homebrand loaf of bread was a mere dollar, and two litres of milk could be snapped up for $2?

Regular staples like a pre-cooked roast chicken had a friendly price tag of $7.90, and remember that block of Cadbury chocolate we managed to slip into our trolleys for $2.50? Even the much-loved Ristorante frozen pizza was just $3.75!

In 2023, finding such prices would be an equal challenge to locating the mythical 'pot of gold'.



As we walk down memory lane, it's essential to understand why we've seen such a significant change in prices. Inflation plays a huge role.

It's a long-established financial phenomenon witnessed over generations, and although expected, it doesn't make the price hike sting any less.

The nostalgia-inducing video also revealed an old Woolworths catalogue featuring a pork roast for $6 a kilo and a bag of Allen’s Party Mix for a paltry $1.50. Side by side with today's prices, these comparisons show us how even our beloved comfort food hasn't escaped the grip of inflation.



Among the comments on the video, Australians reminisced about the age of affordability and lamented recent price hikes.

'Used to be cheaper to buy a frozen pizza. Now it's cheaper to just go to Domino's!' one user quipped.

A report by investment bank UBS noted that food and grocery prices at prominent supermarkets like Woolworths & Coles surged by a whopping 9.6 per cent in April, significantly higher than the overall inflation rate of 7 per cent.

Breakfast staples such as dairy products and spreads have catapulted by 13 per cent, while dry goods have seen an increase of 9.4 per cent.



For many Australian seniors living on a fixed budget, these increases have taken a serious toll on affordability and spending flexibility. In response, both Woolworths and Coles indicated that they are taking active measures to help alleviate these cost-of-living pressures for their customers.



These measures include weekly specials, seasonal price drop programs, and a range of quality homebrand products.

Despite these reassuring words, the ghost of the good old days when grocery prices were friendly continues to haunt us.

Key Takeaways

  • A throwback video highlighting cheap grocery prices from the past has surfaced, leaving Australians shocked and nostalgic.
  • The cost of common groceries have soared higher than the overall inflation rate.
  • Supermarket chains, including Coles and Woolworths, have responded to criticisms about rising prices, explaining their efforts to provide value and savings for customers.
  • Consumers have lamented the increasing costs and shared fond memories of when these items were far cheaper.

Members, we'd love to hear from you. Do you have any nostalgic price tales to share? Perhaps there's a supermarket staple that never missed a spot on your shopping list in the good old days? Well, don't keep us in suspense! Share those cherished memories with us in the comments below. We can't wait to hear them!
 
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Coles and Woolies are really crazy , if they expect us to believe they are looking after us with their specials.
I wouldn't go there at all if it doesn't wasn't for Nescafe Hazelnut coffee, which I love.
When it's half price I buy up big until the next time
Yesterday they had one of their great specials, buy 2 for $11 (20sachets).
How generous of them when you can always buy the large box of 26 sachets for $11. They treat us like we are idiots, but some people fall for it .
I saw two ladies picking up the so called special, until I pointed it out to them.
 
My parents owned a suburban milkbar in late sixties /early seventies. Milk was 10c a pint, and a loaf of bread was 20c. (1 and three-quarter pints equals a litre.) Cigarettes were from 34c to 40c a box of 20, depending on the brand.
Petrol in 1974, when I bought my first car was 38c or 39c a gallon for regular! (A gallon equals 4 and a half litres.)

Prices did not change quickly and I had heaps of spending money on an annual salary of just over $6000 in 1974.
Those were the days!
 
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My parents owned a suburban milkbar in late sixties /early seventies. Milk was 10c a pint, and a loaf of bread was 20c. (1 and three-quarter pints equals a litre.) Cigarettes were from 34c to 40c a box of 20, depending on the brand.
Petrol in 1974, when I bought my first car was 38c or 39c a gallon for regular! (A gallon equals 4 and a half litres.)

Prices did not change quickly and I had heaps of spending money on an annual salary of just over $6000 in 1974.
Those were the days!
True Jay Jay I too recall those days. We cant live in the past but lets NOT forget those memories.
 
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Yes prices were a lot lower but so were people’s wages, and most women did not work once they became mothers. Comparatively I’m sure there were just as many people struggling to put food on the table, they just didn’t publicise it but kept it private.
 

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