British expat shocked by 'insane' cost of grocery shop, asks Aussies for advice
- Replies 15
Most of us here at the SDC are regular supermarket shoppers, and we are already all-too-aware of the rising costs of living in recent months.
Australians have been having a harder and harder time making ends meet for some time now, and the situation is made worse by the rising cost of food.
This was a shocking reality for a new British expat who couldn't help but note the huge discrepancy between the expense of living in their home country and Australia upon their arrival, especially with regard to the cost of food.
Financial advisor Ryan King from London, 25, experienced the shock for himself after recently going for a grocery shop at Woolies in Melbourne.
Ryan was astounded to have spent $61.90 for just chicken, fruit, vegetables, condiments, flour, and bread. He documented his purchases on video, pointing out that two onions were $2.19, four bananas were $3.25, and 1.4 kilograms of chicken was a whopping $14.65.
'Soy sauce $7.50, feel a bit mugged off there — should have got a cheaper brand,' he said.
He went on to say that he normally gets more for his money - rice, pasta, potatoes, and dips and sauces - and if it weren't for the sauce, he could have saved himself more.
'If any Australians are watching and have any hacks on how to get better or cheaper food, please let me know, as this is quite expensive,' he concluded.
And fellow shoppers were quick to agree - many commented that grocery prices in Australia are 'through the roof' with one person saying: 'The cost for basic products and groceries is insane in Australia.'
So, what advice did they have to offer?
As the video of his grocery buy went viral, a bunch of helpful viewers came to the rescue with an abundance of advice.
The main tip was to shop in ALDI and take advantage of local food markets, as these can be full of amazing fresh produce without the hefty cost. Some also suggested buying in-season produce as often as possible and keeping a hawk-eye out for any supermarket specials, too.
Some of the other tips were to buy goods in bulk wherever possible and to be constantly aware of how much you're spending.
'Food shopping in Australia is so expensive compared to the UK because a lot of our produce is locally produced,' one Aussie explained.
In comparison, according to the website My Life Elsewhere's user-contributed data, the average cost of groceries in Australia is around 28.7 per cent higher than the average cost of groceries in the UK.
With reports of food inflation spiking 8.3 per cent for Woolworths, and 8 per cent for Coles for the July-to-September quarter last year, it's no wonder most of us are struggling to buy decent-quality food affordably.
A representative from Woolworths recently spoke to a news outlet and claimed that they were doing their best to help Australian families with their cost-of-living pressures and were determined to keep working hard to make a difference.
To ease the financial burden that many people were feeling, Coles and Woolworths both came up with price-freezing promotions last year.
While these promotions helped to keep prices steady, they were only temporary.
Woolworths' promotion ended in December, but Coles surprised everyone by announcing they were going to keep their promotion going – making it clear that they're also determined to help out their customers during these tough times.
Members, we here at the SDC can pretty much guarantee this much: if you're meticulous, conscious, and strategic with your shopping, you can maximise your savings!
If you're feeling a bit stressed out about the cost of groceries these days, you're not alone! With prices on the rise, it can be hard to make ends meet.
But before you start panicking, we want to remind you about one of our previous articles about 'unsupermarketing' - this strategy can help you to find ways to save money on your grocery bill without having to skimp on quality.
Unsupermarketing is all about finding alternative ways to buy the food you need, without relying on big chain supermarkets. In the article, we explore a variety of different strategies in more detail and provide some tips and tricks for getting started.
If you're feeling overwhelmed by the cost of groceries, we highly recommend giving this article a read. It just might help you to find a way to save some money and put your mind at ease.
Best of luck with your groceries shopping, everyone!
Australians have been having a harder and harder time making ends meet for some time now, and the situation is made worse by the rising cost of food.
This was a shocking reality for a new British expat who couldn't help but note the huge discrepancy between the expense of living in their home country and Australia upon their arrival, especially with regard to the cost of food.
Financial advisor Ryan King from London, 25, experienced the shock for himself after recently going for a grocery shop at Woolies in Melbourne.
A British expat was shocked at the cost of food items at Woolies. Credit: TikTok/makingmoneysimple.
Ryan was astounded to have spent $61.90 for just chicken, fruit, vegetables, condiments, flour, and bread. He documented his purchases on video, pointing out that two onions were $2.19, four bananas were $3.25, and 1.4 kilograms of chicken was a whopping $14.65.
'Soy sauce $7.50, feel a bit mugged off there — should have got a cheaper brand,' he said.
He went on to say that he normally gets more for his money - rice, pasta, potatoes, and dips and sauces - and if it weren't for the sauce, he could have saved himself more.
'If any Australians are watching and have any hacks on how to get better or cheaper food, please let me know, as this is quite expensive,' he concluded.
And fellow shoppers were quick to agree - many commented that grocery prices in Australia are 'through the roof' with one person saying: 'The cost for basic products and groceries is insane in Australia.'
So, what advice did they have to offer?
As the video of his grocery buy went viral, a bunch of helpful viewers came to the rescue with an abundance of advice.
The main tip was to shop in ALDI and take advantage of local food markets, as these can be full of amazing fresh produce without the hefty cost. Some also suggested buying in-season produce as often as possible and keeping a hawk-eye out for any supermarket specials, too.
Some of the other tips were to buy goods in bulk wherever possible and to be constantly aware of how much you're spending.
'Food shopping in Australia is so expensive compared to the UK because a lot of our produce is locally produced,' one Aussie explained.
In comparison, according to the website My Life Elsewhere's user-contributed data, the average cost of groceries in Australia is around 28.7 per cent higher than the average cost of groceries in the UK.
Grocery staples such as bread, cheese, and milk are reportedly more expensive in Australia than in the UK. Credit: My Life Elsewhere.
Apparently, fresh fruit and vegetables are more costly in Australia as well. Credit: My Life Elsewhere.
With reports of food inflation spiking 8.3 per cent for Woolworths, and 8 per cent for Coles for the July-to-September quarter last year, it's no wonder most of us are struggling to buy decent-quality food affordably.
A representative from Woolworths recently spoke to a news outlet and claimed that they were doing their best to help Australian families with their cost-of-living pressures and were determined to keep working hard to make a difference.
To ease the financial burden that many people were feeling, Coles and Woolworths both came up with price-freezing promotions last year.
While these promotions helped to keep prices steady, they were only temporary.
Woolworths' promotion ended in December, but Coles surprised everyone by announcing they were going to keep their promotion going – making it clear that they're also determined to help out their customers during these tough times.
If you're feeling a bit stressed out about the cost of groceries these days, you're not alone! With prices on the rise, it can be hard to make ends meet.
But before you start panicking, we want to remind you about one of our previous articles about 'unsupermarketing' - this strategy can help you to find ways to save money on your grocery bill without having to skimp on quality.
Aussies are complaining that grocery prices are through the roof. Credit: Unsplash/Brooke Cagle.
Unsupermarketing is all about finding alternative ways to buy the food you need, without relying on big chain supermarkets. In the article, we explore a variety of different strategies in more detail and provide some tips and tricks for getting started.
If you're feeling overwhelmed by the cost of groceries, we highly recommend giving this article a read. It just might help you to find a way to save some money and put your mind at ease.
Best of luck with your groceries shopping, everyone!
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