Groceries have gotten more expensive these days. No matter how carefully you shop, the cost of essentials, especially food items, can eat away at your budget.

So, when it comes to the regular grocery shop, it can be overwhelming, especially for those barely managing to keep afloat.

Recently, a Centrelink recipient shared her $100 fortnightly grocery haul on the social networking site Twitter to show the food you can get on a tight budget.

‘I thought I'd share what my shopping looks like,’ she said. ‘This is for a fortnight. People who believe Jobseekers are out here living the high life are wrong.’

The woman’s 39-item shopping list at Coles consisted mostly of store-brand items such as milk, vegetables, bread, coffee, cereal, and canned goods. She also bought some pasta, pasta sauce, a pack of beef sausages, and some instant noodles.

Of course, she also made sure to buy some toiletries and home cleaning products like laundry detergent.

In total, her shop cost her $94.62.

The woman’s fortnightly grocery shop had a fair mix of veggies. Image Credit: Twitter

So where’s the remaining $6, you ask? Well, it’s at Woolies, she said: ‘This also doesn't include dog food. They are out of the dog rolls except for the expensive ones, so I’ll have to ask my brother to pick one up from Woolworths, which will bring the total to $100.’

It didn't take long before many Twitter users sang the same tune, with pangs of understanding and shared experience running through their responses.

‘What I'm finding absolutely insane is, at the moment, it's cheaper for my mum and me to get pizza (lasts three nights of dinner) than to buy ingredients to make a healthy dinner (to last three nights, depending on what we make),’ one user said.

Another found the woman’s shop all too familiar: ‘(This) literally mimics my own two-week shopping list. (It’s) only getting worse as prices go up too.’

‘(I) can remember when $100 used to feed my family of five, it would fill a trolley, now (it) hardly covers the counter,’ a third, who is a mum, added.

And another added, perhaps most relatably: ‘I often think when I go shopping how would anyone shop on the pittance that is welfare payments. Everything absolutely everything is going up. Every week I see some new item I buy increase in price — some even double from a few years back. The bill at the checkout is always a worry.’

As so many others resort to in these tough times, they criticised the woman’s shop in jest too.

‘Coffee? Coffee! Such a luxury item. Why, in my day, we'd have a giant tin of International Roast topped up with sweepings of dust from the factory floor and be happy for it!’ one user said.

‘Two different milks! Outrageous,’ added a second.

Others even jokingly said her buying meat and vegetables in one shop was already in the range of showing off: ‘Basically flaunting wealth, this is.’

And then there’s the response you’d hear uttered now and then whenever someone complains of high grocery prices: ‘You can buy most of those things (probably not all) from ALDI at much better prices.’

The woman’s shop, accounting for dog food unavailable from Coles, cost her around $100. Image Credit: Twitter

Sadly, this latest story is part of a long-running saga of rising grocery prices, and the issue doesn't seem to be going away any time soon.

According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS), the Consumer Price Index rose by 7.8 per cent in the 12 months to December 2022. Dairy, bread and cereal, other products, and non-food household products all saw annual increases of at least ten per cent.

What’s more, with the fate of supermarkets’ discount deals uncertain beyond stated deadlines — which would be mid-April for Coles’ ‘Dropped & Locked’ — the picture isn’t entirely rosy for the average Aussie consumer, much more for those on welfare.

Key Takeaways

• An Australian woman shared screenshots of her $100 shopping list to show the little food she’s able to afford with her Centrelink payments.
• Pantry staples like milk, bread, cereal and a few fresh vegetables were among the items she purchased.
• People shared similar struggles in response, with many pointing out the shrinking amount of groceries they can afford.
• Food items like milk and bread saw the most significant annual price increases last year.

Still, there are silver linings on the horizon.

For one, Woolworths CEO Brad Banducci stated that while red meat and dairy prices remain high, chicken prices are beginning to stabilise.

Similar schemes such as ‘Dropped & Locked’ from Coles are also seen to encourage more healthy competition among supermarkets through incentivising continued patronage by offering better discount deals.

Hopefully, in the coming weeks, we will see great offers to save from other supermarkets like Woolworths, ALDI, and IGA.

Experts from CHOICE and Finder recommend various tips to save more on grocery shopping, such as taking advantage of discount deals and shopping at night. Image Credit: Seniors Discount Club

In the meantime, you might want to check out ways to shop smarter amid these trying times from CHOICE, a consumer advocacy group.

What are your thoughts on this? If you’re on the Age Pension, Jobseeker, or other forms of welfare, is what you’re receiving enough to live on, in your opinion?

Tell us in the comments below.


Note: We’re also aware that these times can be very distressing for some of us who are struggling. A directory of mental health services can be found here. Please consider reaching services like Lifeline Australia at 13 11 14 as well.

 

[Bikkie mum]

Groceries have gotten more expensive these days. No matter how carefully you shop, the cost of essentials, especially food items, can eat away at your budget.

So, when it comes to the regular grocery shop, it can be overwhelming, especially for those barely managing to keep afloat.

Recently, a Centrelink recipient shared her $100 fortnightly grocery haul on the social networking site Twitter to show the food you can get on a tight budget.

‘I thought I'd share what my shopping looks like,’ she said. ‘This is for a fortnight. People who believe Jobseekers are out here living the high life are wrong.’

The woman’s 39-item shopping list at Coles consisted mostly of store-brand items such as milk, vegetables, bread, coffee, cereal, and canned goods. She also bought some pasta, pasta sauce, a pack of beef sausages, and some instant noodles.

Of course, she also made sure to buy some toiletries and home cleaning products like laundry detergent.

In total, her shop cost her $94.62.

View attachment 14807

The woman’s fortnightly grocery shop had a fair mix of veggies. Image Credit: Twitter

So where’s the remaining $6, you ask? Well, it’s at Woolies, she said: ‘This also doesn't include dog food. They are out of the dog rolls except for the expensive ones, so I’ll have to ask my brother to pick one up from Woolworths, which will bring the total to $100.’

It didn't take long before many Twitter users sang the same tune, with pangs of understanding and shared experience running through their responses.

‘What I'm finding absolutely insane is, at the moment, it's cheaper for my mum and me to get pizza (lasts three nights of dinner) than to buy ingredients to make a healthy dinner (to last three nights, depending on what we make),’ one user said.

Another found the woman’s shop all too familiar: ‘(This) literally mimics my own two-week shopping list. (It’s) only getting worse as prices go up too.’

‘(I) can remember when $100 used to feed my family of five, it would fill a trolley, now (it) hardly covers the counter,’ a third, who is a mum, added.

And another added, perhaps most relatably: ‘I often think when I go shopping how would anyone shop on the pittance that is welfare payments. Everything absolutely everything is going up. Every week I see some new item I buy increase in price — some even double from a few years back. The bill at the checkout is always a worry.’

As so many others resort to in these tough times, they criticised the woman’s shop in jest too.

‘Coffee? Coffee! Such a luxury item. Why, in my day, we'd have a giant tin of International Roast topped up with sweepings of dust from the factory floor and be happy for it!’ one user said.

‘Two different milks! Outrageous,’ added a second.

Others even jokingly said her buying meat and vegetables in one shop was already in the range of showing off: ‘Basically flaunting wealth, this is.’

And then there’s the response you’d hear uttered now and then whenever someone complains of high grocery prices: ‘You can buy most of those things (probably not all) from ALDI at much better prices.’

View attachment 14808

The woman’s shop, accounting for dog food unavailable from Coles, cost her around $100. Image Credit: Twitter

Sadly, this latest story is part of a long-running saga of rising grocery prices, and the issue doesn't seem to be going away any time soon.

According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS), the Consumer Price Index rose by 7.8 per cent in the 12 months to December 2022. Dairy, bread and cereal, other products, and non-food household products all saw annual increases of at least ten per cent.

What’s more, with the fate of supermarkets’ discount deals uncertain beyond stated deadlines — which would be mid-April for Coles’ ‘Dropped & Locked’ — the picture isn’t entirely rosy for the average Aussie consumer, much more for those on welfare.

Key Takeaways

• An Australian woman shared screenshots of her $100 shopping list to show the little food she’s able to afford with her Centrelink payments.
• Pantry staples like milk, bread, cereal and a few fresh vegetables were among the items she purchased.
• People shared similar struggles in response, with many pointing out the shrinking amount of groceries they can afford.
• Food items like milk and bread saw the most significant annual price increases last year.

Still, there are silver linings on the horizon.

For one, Woolworths CEO Brad Banducci stated that while red meat and dairy prices remain high, chicken prices are beginning to stabilise.

Similar schemes such as ‘Dropped & Locked’ from Coles are also seen to encourage more healthy competition among supermarkets through incentivising continued patronage by offering better discount deals.

Hopefully, in the coming weeks, we will see great offers to save from other supermarkets like Woolworths, ALDI, and IGA.

View attachment 14821

Experts from CHOICE and Finder recommend various tips to save more on grocery shopping, such as taking advantage of discount deals and shopping at night. Image Credit: Seniors Discount Club

In the meantime, you might want to check out ways to shop smarter amid these trying times from CHOICE, a consumer advocacy group.

What are your thoughts on this? If you’re on the Age Pension, Jobseeker, or other forms of welfare, is what you’re receiving enough to live on, in your opinion?

Tell us in the comments below.


Note: We’re also aware that these times can be very distressing for some of us who are struggling. A directory of mental health services can be found here. Please consider reaching services like Lifeline Australia at 13 11 14 as well.

My grocery’s cost around $130 per fortnight ,I only bet chicken drumsticks, n Mince can make a lot with it no fresh veggies I buy frozen foods ,potato bake from TopTen ,milk ,bread twice a week ,plus I buy. Cat food for my cat ,every so often I will spend more with washing powder ,detergent ,spray for my home to smell fresh ,my daughter in law will cook me a meal usually when they have a baked dinner to ,after paying my bills I don’t have much left over for other things

 

[Isis]

Groceries have gotten more expensive these days. No matter how carefully you shop, the cost of essentials, especially food items, can eat away at your budget.

So, when it comes to the regular grocery shop, it can be overwhelming, especially for those barely managing to keep afloat.

Recently, a Centrelink recipient shared her $100 fortnightly grocery haul on the social networking site Twitter to show the food you can get on a tight budget.

‘I thought I'd share what my shopping looks like,’ she said. ‘This is for a fortnight. People who believe Jobseekers are out here living the high life are wrong.’

The woman’s 39-item shopping list at Coles consisted mostly of store-brand items such as milk, vegetables, bread, coffee, cereal, and canned goods. She also bought some pasta, pasta sauce, a pack of beef sausages, and some instant noodles.

Of course, she also made sure to buy some toiletries and home cleaning products like laundry detergent.

In total, her shop cost her $94.62.

View attachment 14807

The woman’s fortnightly grocery shop had a fair mix of veggies. Image Credit: Twitter

So where’s the remaining $6, you ask? Well, it’s at Woolies, she said: ‘This also doesn't include dog food. They are out of the dog rolls except for the expensive ones, so I’ll have to ask my brother to pick one up from Woolworths, which will bring the total to $100.’

It didn't take long before many Twitter users sang the same tune, with pangs of understanding and shared experience running through their responses.

‘What I'm finding absolutely insane is, at the moment, it's cheaper for my mum and me to get pizza (lasts three nights of dinner) than to buy ingredients to make a healthy dinner (to last three nights, depending on what we make),’ one user said.

Another found the woman’s shop all too familiar: ‘(This) literally mimics my own two-week shopping list. (It’s) only getting worse as prices go up too.’

‘(I) can remember when $100 used to feed my family of five, it would fill a trolley, now (it) hardly covers the counter,’ a third, who is a mum, added.

And another added, perhaps most relatably: ‘I often think when I go shopping how would anyone shop on the pittance that is welfare payments. Everything absolutely everything is going up. Every week I see some new item I buy increase in price — some even double from a few years back. The bill at the checkout is always a worry.’

As so many others resort to in these tough times, they criticised the woman’s shop in jest too.

‘Coffee? Coffee! Such a luxury item. Why, in my day, we'd have a giant tin of International Roast topped up with sweepings of dust from the factory floor and be happy for it!’ one user said.

‘Two different milks! Outrageous,’ added a second.

Others even jokingly said her buying meat and vegetables in one shop was already in the range of showing off: ‘Basically flaunting wealth, this is.’

And then there’s the response you’d hear uttered now and then whenever someone complains of high grocery prices: ‘You can buy most of those things (probably not all) from ALDI at much better prices.’

View attachment 14808

The woman’s shop, accounting for dog food unavailable from Coles, cost her around $100. Image Credit: Twitter

Sadly, this latest story is part of a long-running saga of rising grocery prices, and the issue doesn't seem to be going away any time soon.

According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS), the Consumer Price Index rose by 7.8 per cent in the 12 months to December 2022. Dairy, bread and cereal, other products, and non-food household products all saw annual increases of at least ten per cent.

What’s more, with the fate of supermarkets’ discount deals uncertain beyond stated deadlines — which would be mid-April for Coles’ ‘Dropped & Locked’ — the picture isn’t entirely rosy for the average Aussie consumer, much more for those on welfare.

Key Takeaways

• An Australian woman shared screenshots of her $100 shopping list to show the little food she’s able to afford with her Centrelink payments.
• Pantry staples like milk, bread, cereal and a few fresh vegetables were among the items she purchased.
• People shared similar struggles in response, with many pointing out the shrinking amount of groceries they can afford.
• Food items like milk and bread saw the most significant annual price increases last year.

Still, there are silver linings on the horizon.

For one, Woolworths CEO Brad Banducci stated that while red meat and dairy prices remain high, chicken prices are beginning to stabilise.

Similar schemes such as ‘Dropped & Locked’ from Coles are also seen to encourage more healthy competition among supermarkets through incentivising continued patronage by offering better discount deals.

Hopefully, in the coming weeks, we will see great offers to save from other supermarkets like Woolworths, ALDI, and IGA.

View attachment 14821

Experts from CHOICE and Finder recommend various tips to save more on grocery shopping, such as taking advantage of discount deals and shopping at night. Image Credit: Seniors Discount Club

In the meantime, you might want to check out ways to shop smarter amid these trying times from CHOICE, a consumer advocacy group.

What are your thoughts on this? If you’re on the Age Pension, Jobseeker, or other forms of welfare, is what you’re receiving enough to live on, in your opinion?

Tell us in the comments below.


Note: We’re also aware that these times can be very distressing for some of us who are struggling. A directory of mental health services can be found here. Please consider reaching services like Lifeline Australia at 13 11 14 as well.

Pensioners not much better , buy in bulk they say, very sensible but it takes extra money to buy in bulk. A cupboard full of toilet rolls are no use when the fridge is empty.
Yesterday I looked in my cupboard and was greeted with heaps of cleaning products. They will be used but after they have been used back to the way mum did it, a spray bottle containing vinigar and lemon juice bottled when the lemon season was on.

 

[Petra]

I get more for my $ at Aldi.

 

[kiwidi29]

Groceries have gotten more expensive these days. No matter how carefully you shop, the cost of essentials, especially food items, can eat away at your budget.

So, when it comes to the regular grocery shop, it can be overwhelming, especially for those barely managing to keep afloat.

Recently, a Centrelink recipient shared her $100 fortnightly grocery haul on the social networking site Twitter to show the food you can get on a tight budget.

‘I thought I'd share what my shopping looks like,’ she said. ‘This is for a fortnight. People who believe Jobseekers are out here living the high life are wrong.’

The woman’s 39-item shopping list at Coles consisted mostly of store-brand items such as milk, vegetables, bread, coffee, cereal, and canned goods. She also bought some pasta, pasta sauce, a pack of beef sausages, and some instant noodles.

Of course, she also made sure to buy some toiletries and home cleaning products like laundry detergent.

In total, her shop cost her $94.62.

View attachment 14807

The woman’s fortnightly grocery shop had a fair mix of veggies. Image Credit: Twitter

So where’s the remaining $6, you ask? Well, it’s at Woolies, she said: ‘This also doesn't include dog food. They are out of the dog rolls except for the expensive ones, so I’ll have to ask my brother to pick one up from Woolworths, which will bring the total to $100.’

It didn't take long before many Twitter users sang the same tune, with pangs of understanding and shared experience running through their responses.

‘What I'm finding absolutely insane is, at the moment, it's cheaper for my mum and me to get pizza (lasts three nights of dinner) than to buy ingredients to make a healthy dinner (to last three nights, depending on what we make),’ one user said.

Another found the woman’s shop all too familiar: ‘(This) literally mimics my own two-week shopping list. (It’s) only getting worse as prices go up too.’

‘(I) can remember when $100 used to feed my family of five, it would fill a trolley, now (it) hardly covers the counter,’ a third, who is a mum, added.

And another added, perhaps most relatably: ‘I often think when I go shopping how would anyone shop on the pittance that is welfare payments. Everything absolutely everything is going up. Every week I see some new item I buy increase in price — some even double from a few years back. The bill at the checkout is always a worry.’

As so many others resort to in these tough times, they criticised the woman’s shop in jest too.

‘Coffee? Coffee! Such a luxury item. Why, in my day, we'd have a giant tin of International Roast topped up with sweepings of dust from the factory floor and be happy for it!’ one user said.

‘Two different milks! Outrageous,’ added a second.

Others even jokingly said her buying meat and vegetables in one shop was already in the range of showing off: ‘Basically flaunting wealth, this is.’

And then there’s the response you’d hear uttered now and then whenever someone complains of high grocery prices: ‘You can buy most of those things (probably not all) from ALDI at much better prices.’

View attachment 14808

The woman’s shop, accounting for dog food unavailable from Coles, cost her around $100. Image Credit: Twitter

Sadly, this latest story is part of a long-running saga of rising grocery prices, and the issue doesn't seem to be going away any time soon.

According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS), the Consumer Price Index rose by 7.8 per cent in the 12 months to December 2022. Dairy, bread and cereal, other products, and non-food household products all saw annual increases of at least ten per cent.

What’s more, with the fate of supermarkets’ discount deals uncertain beyond stated deadlines — which would be mid-April for Coles’ ‘Dropped & Locked’ — the picture isn’t entirely rosy for the average Aussie consumer, much more for those on welfare.

Key Takeaways

• An Australian woman shared screenshots of her $100 shopping list to show the little food she’s able to afford with her Centrelink payments.
• Pantry staples like milk, bread, cereal and a few fresh vegetables were among the items she purchased.
• People shared similar struggles in response, with many pointing out the shrinking amount of groceries they can afford.
• Food items like milk and bread saw the most significant annual price increases last year.

Still, there are silver linings on the horizon.

For one, Woolworths CEO Brad Banducci stated that while red meat and dairy prices remain high, chicken prices are beginning to stabilise.

Similar schemes such as ‘Dropped & Locked’ from Coles are also seen to encourage more healthy competition among supermarkets through incentivising continued patronage by offering better discount deals.

Hopefully, in the coming weeks, we will see great offers to save from other supermarkets like Woolworths, ALDI, and IGA.

View attachment 14821

Experts from CHOICE and Finder recommend various tips to save more on grocery shopping, such as taking advantage of discount deals and shopping at night. Image Credit: Seniors Discount Club

In the meantime, you might want to check out ways to shop smarter amid these trying times from CHOICE, a consumer advocacy group.

What are your thoughts on this? If you’re on the Age Pension, Jobseeker, or other forms of welfare, is what you’re receiving enough to live on, in your opinion?

Tell us in the comments below.


Note: We’re also aware that these times can be very distressing for some of us who are struggling. A directory of mental health services can be found here. Please consider reaching services like Lifeline Australia at 13 11 14 as well.

 

[kiwidi29]

Groceries have gotten more expensive these days. No matter how carefully you shop, the cost of essentials, especially food items, can eat away at your budget.

So, when it comes to the regular grocery shop, it can be overwhelming, especially for those barely managing to keep afloat.

Recently, a Centrelink recipient shared her $100 fortnightly grocery haul on the social networking site Twitter to show the food you can get on a tight budget.

‘I thought I'd share what my shopping looks like,’ she said. ‘This is for a fortnight. People who believe Jobseekers are out here living the high life are wrong.’

The woman’s 39-item shopping list at Coles consisted mostly of store-brand items such as milk, vegetables, bread, coffee, cereal, and canned goods. She also bought some pasta, pasta sauce, a pack of beef sausages, and some instant noodles.

Of course, she also made sure to buy some toiletries and home cleaning products like laundry detergent.

In total, her shop cost her $94.62.

View attachment 14807

The woman’s fortnightly grocery shop had a fair mix of veggies. Image Credit: Twitter

So where’s the remaining $6, you ask? Well, it’s at Woolies, she said: ‘This also doesn't include dog food. They are out of the dog rolls except for the expensive ones, so I’ll have to ask my brother to pick one up from Woolworths, which will bring the total to $100.’

It didn't take long before many Twitter users sang the same tune, with pangs of understanding and shared experience running through their responses.

‘What I'm finding absolutely insane is, at the moment, it's cheaper for my mum and me to get pizza (lasts three nights of dinner) than to buy ingredients to make a healthy dinner (to last three nights, depending on what we make),’ one user said.

Another found the woman’s shop all too familiar: ‘(This) literally mimics my own two-week shopping list. (It’s) only getting worse as prices go up too.’

‘(I) can remember when $100 used to feed my family of five, it would fill a trolley, now (it) hardly covers the counter,’ a third, who is a mum, added.

And another added, perhaps most relatably: ‘I often think when I go shopping how would anyone shop on the pittance that is welfare payments. Everything absolutely everything is going up. Every week I see some new item I buy increase in price — some even double from a few years back. The bill at the checkout is always a worry.’

As so many others resort to in these tough times, they criticised the woman’s shop in jest too.

‘Coffee? Coffee! Such a luxury item. Why, in my day, we'd have a giant tin of International Roast topped up with sweepings of dust from the factory floor and be happy for it!’ one user said.

‘Two different milks! Outrageous,’ added a second.

Others even jokingly said her buying meat and vegetables in one shop was already in the range of showing off: ‘Basically flaunting wealth, this is.’

And then there’s the response you’d hear uttered now and then whenever someone complains of high grocery prices: ‘You can buy most of those things (probably not all) from ALDI at much better prices.’

View attachment 14808

The woman’s shop, accounting for dog food unavailable from Coles, cost her around $100. Image Credit: Twitter

Sadly, this latest story is part of a long-running saga of rising grocery prices, and the issue doesn't seem to be going away any time soon.

According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS), the Consumer Price Index rose by 7.8 per cent in the 12 months to December 2022. Dairy, bread and cereal, other products, and non-food household products all saw annual increases of at least ten per cent.

What’s more, with the fate of supermarkets’ discount deals uncertain beyond stated deadlines — which would be mid-April for Coles’ ‘Dropped & Locked’ — the picture isn’t entirely rosy for the average Aussie consumer, much more for those on welfare.

Key Takeaways

• An Australian woman shared screenshots of her $100 shopping list to show the little food she’s able to afford with her Centrelink payments.
• Pantry staples like milk, bread, cereal and a few fresh vegetables were among the items she purchased.
• People shared similar struggles in response, with many pointing out the shrinking amount of groceries they can afford.
• Food items like milk and bread saw the most significant annual price increases last year.

Still, there are silver linings on the horizon.

For one, Woolworths CEO Brad Banducci stated that while red meat and dairy prices remain high, chicken prices are beginning to stabilise.

Similar schemes such as ‘Dropped & Locked’ from Coles are also seen to encourage more healthy competition among supermarkets through incentivising continued patronage by offering better discount deals.

Hopefully, in the coming weeks, we will see great offers to save from other supermarkets like Woolworths, ALDI, and IGA.

View attachment 14821

Experts from CHOICE and Finder recommend various tips to save more on grocery shopping, such as taking advantage of discount deals and shopping at night. Image Credit: Seniors Discount Club

In the meantime, you might want to check out ways to shop smarter amid these trying times from CHOICE, a consumer advocacy group.

What are your thoughts on this? If you’re on the Age Pension, Jobseeker, or other forms of welfare, is what you’re receiving enough to live on, in your opinion?

Tell us in the comments below.


Note: We’re also aware that these times can be very distressing for some of us who are struggling. A directory of mental health services can be found here. Please consider reaching services like Lifeline Australia at 13 11 14 as well.

 

[kiwidi29]

It is impossible to live on the pension if you own a house! By the time you buy basics there is not enough left for council rates and utilities. I do have a small car and have insurance for house and contents and car.
I’d like to see a politician live on a pension!!
I don’t have any Superannuation as my husband stopped working quite a while before the usual retirement age due to ill health, and we needed the Super to live.
There is no money left for entertainment or luxuries or holidays.

 

[Liz]

It is getting harder and harder to live on the Aged Pension. I shop between Aldi and Woolies now and look at the specials at Woolies. I have, I hope, enough cleaning products at the moment but when you replace that the price goes up. I spend on average for my cat and I about $120 max per fortnight. By the time you pay for other expenses such as electricity and phone charges and squirrel a little away for vet fees and pet insurance, it doesn't leave much at all.

 

[Silvaleef]

Ok, I know I am going to cop some flack here with my reply. I think the pension needs to be increased for our current aged pensioners who didn’t have foresight or opportunity or understanding that through advances in medicine that they would live much beyond retirement years, but the up and coming pensioners ( anyone that is now in the workforce, at any age) need to learn the art of budgeting and obtain solid financial advice and understand that our lifespan will be longer but not necessarily healthier than our predecessors. There is much solid advice on the internet, and from people who have done it all ( maybe your parents etc) to assist in teaching you this art. Go without a cafe meal or takeaway coffee. For entertainment have your friends over for a board games night. Learn new skills. Make yourself employable. Brush up on your maths and English comprehension skills. I read about all of you who are on JobStart or Newstart, why? As the payment name says, this money is meant to provide you with the opportunity of upskilling, it was never meant to provide you with a lifestyle. Grow veggies, while you are between jobs. Grow a better attitude. I had a grade 10 education, never went to uni, and there are plenty of people in my situation. I’ve never had a ‘corporate’ high paying job, I am one of the many ‘ labourers’ who was never afraid to take on ‘menial’ tasks that the majority of employment is. I did however learn the skill of budgeting early, by making mistakes after which I started reading about and listening to people who know how to make money work for you, no matter how much you earn. People I speak with including my own employer are screaming out for quality employees, who turn up for work, do the work, have a great attitude and a smile. Stop blaming government or family or society for your demise. Break the chain, the mould, the poverty thinking, stop watching and listening to negativity (the news), there was and always will be war, atrocities, disasters ( natural or man made). Be the ray of light, be happy YOU have money every fortnight TO buy some groceries, stop whinging and blaze a happy trail. Rant over. Let the flack begin.

 

[StephenNikita]

Groceries have gotten more expensive these days. No matter how carefully you shop, the cost of essentials, especially food items, can eat away at your budget.

So, when it comes to the regular grocery shop, it can be overwhelming, especially for those barely managing to keep afloat.

Recently, a Centrelink recipient shared her $100 fortnightly grocery haul on the social networking site Twitter to show the food you can get on a tight budget.

‘I thought I'd share what my shopping looks like,’ she said. ‘This is for a fortnight. People who believe Jobseekers are out here living the high life are wrong.’

The woman’s 39-item shopping list at Coles consisted mostly of store-brand items such as milk, vegetables, bread, coffee, cereal, and canned goods. She also bought some pasta, pasta sauce, a pack of beef sausages, and some instant noodles.

Of course, she also made sure to buy some toiletries and home cleaning products like laundry detergent.

In total, her shop cost her $94.62.

View attachment 14807

The woman’s fortnightly grocery shop had a fair mix of veggies. Image Credit: Twitter

So where’s the remaining $6, you ask? Well, it’s at Woolies, she said: ‘This also doesn't include dog food. They are out of the dog rolls except for the expensive ones, so I’ll have to ask my brother to pick one up from Woolworths, which will bring the total to $100.’

It didn't take long before many Twitter users sang the same tune, with pangs of understanding and shared experience running through their responses.

‘What I'm finding absolutely insane is, at the moment, it's cheaper for my mum and me to get pizza (lasts three nights of dinner) than to buy ingredients to make a healthy dinner (to last three nights, depending on what we make),’ one user said.

Another found the woman’s shop all too familiar: ‘(This) literally mimics my own two-week shopping list. (It’s) only getting worse as prices go up too.’

‘(I) can remember when $100 used to feed my family of five, it would fill a trolley, now (it) hardly covers the counter,’ a third, who is a mum, added.

And another added, perhaps most relatably: ‘I often think when I go shopping how would anyone shop on the pittance that is welfare payments. Everything absolutely everything is going up. Every week I see some new item I buy increase in price — some even double from a few years back. The bill at the checkout is always a worry.’

As so many others resort to in these tough times, they criticised the woman’s shop in jest too.

‘Coffee? Coffee! Such a luxury item. Why, in my day, we'd have a giant tin of International Roast topped up with sweepings of dust from the factory floor and be happy for it!’ one user said.

‘Two different milks! Outrageous,’ added a second.

Others even jokingly said her buying meat and vegetables in one shop was already in the range of showing off: ‘Basically flaunting wealth, this is.’

And then there’s the response you’d hear uttered now and then whenever someone complains of high grocery prices: ‘You can buy most of those things (probably not all) from ALDI at much better prices.’

View attachment 14808

The woman’s shop, accounting for dog food unavailable from Coles, cost her around $100. Image Credit: Twitter

Sadly, this latest story is part of a long-running saga of rising grocery prices, and the issue doesn't seem to be going away any time soon.

According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS), the Consumer Price Index rose by 7.8 per cent in the 12 months to December 2022. Dairy, bread and cereal, other products, and non-food household products all saw annual increases of at least ten per cent.

What’s more, with the fate of supermarkets’ discount deals uncertain beyond stated deadlines — which would be mid-April for Coles’ ‘Dropped & Locked’ — the picture isn’t entirely rosy for the average Aussie consumer, much more for those on welfare.

Key Takeaways

• An Australian woman shared screenshots of her $100 shopping list to show the little food she’s able to afford with her Centrelink payments.
• Pantry staples like milk, bread, cereal and a few fresh vegetables were among the items she purchased.
• People shared similar struggles in response, with many pointing out the shrinking amount of groceries they can afford.
• Food items like milk and bread saw the most significant annual price increases last year.

Still, there are silver linings on the horizon.

For one, Woolworths CEO Brad Banducci stated that while red meat and dairy prices remain high, chicken prices are beginning to stabilise.

Similar schemes such as ‘Dropped & Locked’ from Coles are also seen to encourage more healthy competition among supermarkets through incentivising continued patronage by offering better discount deals.

Hopefully, in the coming weeks, we will see great offers to save from other supermarkets like Woolworths, ALDI, and IGA.

View attachment 14821

Experts from CHOICE and Finder recommend various tips to save more on grocery shopping, such as taking advantage of discount deals and shopping at night. Image Credit: Seniors Discount Club

In the meantime, you might want to check out ways to shop smarter amid these trying times from CHOICE, a consumer advocacy group.

What are your thoughts on this? If you’re on the Age Pension, Jobseeker, or other forms of welfare, is what you’re receiving enough to live on, in your opinion?

Tell us in the comments below.


Note: We’re also aware that these times can be very distressing for some of us who are struggling. A directory of mental health services can be found here. Please consider reaching services like Lifeline Australia at 13 11 14 as well.

Coles woolies and Aldi are all price gouging. There profits are going through the roof. In the billions and not paying a cent in tax. Except for ALDI. I refuse to buy there home brand items. They undercut the opposition,send them broke then will double the price of home brand poor quality food.

 

[paulamc52]

Ok, I know I am going to cop some flack here with my reply. I think the pension needs to be increased for our current aged pensioners who didn’t have foresight or opportunity or understanding that through advances in medicine that they would live much beyond retirement years, but the up and coming pensioners ( anyone that is now in the workforce, at any age) need to learn the art of budgeting and obtain solid financial advice and understand that our lifespan will be longer but not necessarily healthier than our predecessors. There is much solid advice on the internet, and from people who have done it all ( maybe your parents etc) to assist in teaching you this art. Go without a cafe meal or takeaway coffee. For entertainment have your friends over for a board games night. Learn new skills. Make yourself employable. Brush up on your maths and English comprehension skills. I read about all of you who are on JobStart or Newstart, why? As the payment name says, this money is meant to provide you with the opportunity of upskilling, it was never meant to provide you with a lifestyle. Grow veggies, while you are between jobs. Grow a better attitude. I had a grade 10 education, never went to uni, and there are plenty of people in my situation. I’ve never had a ‘corporate’ high paying job, I am one of the many ‘ labourers’ who was never afraid to take on ‘menial’ tasks that the majority of employment is. I did however learn the skill of budgeting early, by making mistakes after which I started reading about and listening to people who know how to make money work for you, no matter how much you earn. People I speak with including my own employer are screaming out for quality employees, who turn up for work, do the work, have a great attitude and a smile. Stop blaming government or family or society for your demise. Break the chain, the mould, the poverty thinking, stop watching and listening to negativity (the news), there was and always will be war, atrocities, disasters ( natural or man made). Be the ray of light, be happy YOU have money every fortnight TO buy some groceries, stop whinging and blaze a happy trail. Rant over. Let the flack begin.

Hi Silvaleaf,It's. Paula from Gippsland Victoria.I really liked your post.Cheers from Paula.

 

[Jen77au]

Groceries have gotten more expensive these days. No matter how carefully you shop, the cost of essentials, especially food items, can eat away at your budget.

So, when it comes to the regular grocery shop, it can be overwhelming, especially for those barely managing to keep afloat.

Recently, a Centrelink recipient shared her $100 fortnightly grocery haul on the social networking site Twitter to show the food you can get on a tight budget.

‘I thought I'd share what my shopping looks like,’ she said. ‘This is for a fortnight. People who believe Jobseekers are out here living the high life are wrong.’

The woman’s 39-item shopping list at Coles consisted mostly of store-brand items such as milk, vegetables, bread, coffee, cereal, and canned goods. She also bought some pasta, pasta sauce, a pack of beef sausages, and some instant noodles.

Of course, she also made sure to buy some toiletries and home cleaning products like laundry detergent.

In total, her shop cost her $94.62.

View attachment 14807

The woman’s fortnightly grocery shop had a fair mix of veggies. Image Credit: Twitter

So where’s the remaining $6, you ask? Well, it’s at Woolies, she said: ‘This also doesn't include dog food. They are out of the dog rolls except for the expensive ones, so I’ll have to ask my brother to pick one up from Woolworths, which will bring the total to $100.’

It didn't take long before many Twitter users sang the same tune, with pangs of understanding and shared experience running through their responses.

‘What I'm finding absolutely insane is, at the moment, it's cheaper for my mum and me to get pizza (lasts three nights of dinner) than to buy ingredients to make a healthy dinner (to last three nights, depending on what we make),’ one user said.

Another found the woman’s shop all too familiar: ‘(This) literally mimics my own two-week shopping list. (It’s) only getting worse as prices go up too.’

‘(I) can remember when $100 used to feed my family of five, it would fill a trolley, now (it) hardly covers the counter,’ a third, who is a mum, added.

And another added, perhaps most relatably: ‘I often think when I go shopping how would anyone shop on the pittance that is welfare payments. Everything absolutely everything is going up. Every week I see some new item I buy increase in price — some even double from a few years back. The bill at the checkout is always a worry.’

As so many others resort to in these tough times, they criticised the woman’s shop in jest too.

‘Coffee? Coffee! Such a luxury item. Why, in my day, we'd have a giant tin of International Roast topped up with sweepings of dust from the factory floor and be happy for it!’ one user said.

‘Two different milks! Outrageous,’ added a second.

Others even jokingly said her buying meat and vegetables in one shop was already in the range of showing off: ‘Basically flaunting wealth, this is.’

And then there’s the response you’d hear uttered now and then whenever someone complains of high grocery prices: ‘You can buy most of those things (probably not all) from ALDI at much better prices.’

View attachment 14808

The woman’s shop, accounting for dog food unavailable from Coles, cost her around $100. Image Credit: Twitter

Sadly, this latest story is part of a long-running saga of rising grocery prices, and the issue doesn't seem to be going away any time soon.

According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS), the Consumer Price Index rose by 7.8 per cent in the 12 months to December 2022. Dairy, bread and cereal, other products, and non-food household products all saw annual increases of at least ten per cent.

What’s more, with the fate of supermarkets’ discount deals uncertain beyond stated deadlines — which would be mid-April for Coles’ ‘Dropped & Locked’ — the picture isn’t entirely rosy for the average Aussie consumer, much more for those on welfare.

Key Takeaways

• An Australian woman shared screenshots of her $100 shopping list to show the little food she’s able to afford with her Centrelink payments.
• Pantry staples like milk, bread, cereal and a few fresh vegetables were among the items she purchased.
• People shared similar struggles in response, with many pointing out the shrinking amount of groceries they can afford.
• Food items like milk and bread saw the most significant annual price increases last year.

Still, there are silver linings on the horizon.

For one, Woolworths CEO Brad Banducci stated that while red meat and dairy prices remain high, chicken prices are beginning to stabilise.

Similar schemes such as ‘Dropped & Locked’ from Coles are also seen to encourage more healthy competition among supermarkets through incentivising continued patronage by offering better discount deals.

Hopefully, in the coming weeks, we will see great offers to save from other supermarkets like Woolworths, ALDI, and IGA.

View attachment 14821

Experts from CHOICE and Finder recommend various tips to save more on grocery shopping, such as taking advantage of discount deals and shopping at night. Image Credit: Seniors Discount Club

In the meantime, you might want to check out ways to shop smarter amid these trying times from CHOICE, a consumer advocacy group.

What are your thoughts on this? If you’re on the Age Pension, Jobseeker, or other forms of welfare, is what you’re receiving enough to live on, in your opinion?

Tell us in the comments below.


Note: We’re also aware that these times can be very distressing for some of us who are struggling. A directory of mental health services can be found here. Please consider reaching services like Lifeline Australia at 13 11 14 as well.

The fact one person mentioned that it’s cheaper to eat fast food hits home. My partner and I were actually talking about this the other day. It’s ridiculous. We both need to live healthy lifestyles but it’s a massive strain on the budget. We live separately, he works full time and I’m on a pension but we both struggle respectively in our own ways. We also live 4 hours apart so the fact of us helping each other with this is difficult.

 

[Whendee]

It is impossible to live on the pension if you own a house! By the time you buy basics there is not enough left for council rates and utilities. I do have a small car and have insurance for house and contents and car.
I’d like to see a politician live on a pension!!
I don’t have any Superannuation as my husband stopped working quite a while before the usual retirement age due to ill health, and we needed the Super to live.
There is no money left for entertainment or luxuries or holidays.

Same goes for single aged pensioner who rents. My rent has just increased by $55 a week and in 6 months will increase another $30. I have no alternative than to suck it up… there are no houses available. There is no heating or cooling, not even fans in this house. That leaves me with about $250 a fortnight for food rego insurance electric and gas and water, and medication.

 

[Rob44]

Groceries have gotten more expensive these days. No matter how carefully you shop, the cost of essentials, especially food items, can eat away at your budget.

So, when it comes to the regular grocery shop, it can be overwhelming, especially for those barely managing to keep afloat.

Recently, a Centrelink recipient shared her $100 fortnightly grocery haul on the social networking site Twitter to show the food you can get on a tight budget.

‘I thought I'd share what my shopping looks like,’ she said. ‘This is for a fortnight. People who believe Jobseekers are out here living the high life are wrong.’

The woman’s 39-item shopping list at Coles consisted mostly of store-brand items such as milk, vegetables, bread, coffee, cereal, and canned goods. She also bought some pasta, pasta sauce, a pack of beef sausages, and some instant noodles.

Of course, she also made sure to buy some toiletries and home cleaning products like laundry detergent.

In total, her shop cost her $94.62.

View attachment 14807

The woman’s fortnightly grocery shop had a fair mix of veggies. Image Credit: Twitter

So where’s the remaining $6, you ask? Well, it’s at Woolies, she said: ‘This also doesn't include dog food. They are out of the dog rolls except for the expensive ones, so I’ll have to ask my brother to pick one up from Woolworths, which will bring the total to $100.’

It didn't take long before many Twitter users sang the same tune, with pangs of understanding and shared experience running through their responses.

‘What I'm finding absolutely insane is, at the moment, it's cheaper for my mum and me to get pizza (lasts three nights of dinner) than to buy ingredients to make a healthy dinner (to last three nights, depending on what we make),’ one user said.

Another found the woman’s shop all too familiar: ‘(This) literally mimics my own two-week shopping list. (It’s) only getting worse as prices go up too.’

‘(I) can remember when $100 used to feed my family of five, it would fill a trolley, now (it) hardly covers the counter,’ a third, who is a mum, added.

And another added, perhaps most relatably: ‘I often think when I go shopping how would anyone shop on the pittance that is welfare payments. Everything absolutely everything is going up. Every week I see some new item I buy increase in price — some even double from a few years back. The bill at the checkout is always a worry.’

As so many others resort to in these tough times, they criticised the woman’s shop in jest too.

‘Coffee? Coffee! Such a luxury item. Why, in my day, we'd have a giant tin of International Roast topped up with sweepings of dust from the factory floor and be happy for it!’ one user said.

‘Two different milks! Outrageous,’ added a second.

Others even jokingly said her buying meat and vegetables in one shop was already in the range of showing off: ‘Basically flaunting wealth, this is.’

And then there’s the response you’d hear uttered now and then whenever someone complains of high grocery prices: ‘You can buy most of those things (probably not all) from ALDI at much better prices.’

View attachment 14808

The woman’s shop, accounting for dog food unavailable from Coles, cost her around $100. Image Credit: Twitter

Sadly, this latest story is part of a long-running saga of rising grocery prices, and the issue doesn't seem to be going away any time soon.

According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS), the Consumer Price Index rose by 7.8 per cent in the 12 months to December 2022. Dairy, bread and cereal, other products, and non-food household products all saw annual increases of at least ten per cent.

What’s more, with the fate of supermarkets’ discount deals uncertain beyond stated deadlines — which would be mid-April for Coles’ ‘Dropped & Locked’ — the picture isn’t entirely rosy for the average Aussie consumer, much more for those on welfare.

Key Takeaways

• An Australian woman shared screenshots of her $100 shopping list to show the little food she’s able to afford with her Centrelink payments.
• Pantry staples like milk, bread, cereal and a few fresh vegetables were among the items she purchased.
• People shared similar struggles in response, with many pointing out the shrinking amount of groceries they can afford.
• Food items like milk and bread saw the most significant annual price increases last year.

Still, there are silver linings on the horizon.

For one, Woolworths CEO Brad Banducci stated that while red meat and dairy prices remain high, chicken prices are beginning to stabilise.

Similar schemes such as ‘Dropped & Locked’ from Coles are also seen to encourage more healthy competition among supermarkets through incentivising continued patronage by offering better discount deals.

Hopefully, in the coming weeks, we will see great offers to save from other supermarkets like Woolworths, ALDI, and IGA.

View attachment 14821

Experts from CHOICE and Finder recommend various tips to save more on grocery shopping, such as taking advantage of discount deals and shopping at night. Image Credit: Seniors Discount Club

In the meantime, you might want to check out ways to shop smarter amid these trying times from CHOICE, a consumer advocacy group.

What are your thoughts on this? If you’re on the Age Pension, Jobseeker, or other forms of welfare, is what you’re receiving enough to live on, in your opinion?

Tell us in the comments below.


Note: We’re also aware that these times can be very distressing for some of us who are struggling. A directory of mental health services can be found here. Please consider reaching services like Lifeline Australia at 13 11 14 as well.

Yes, the old aged pension is inadequate. It is why every single one of politicians won't accept the old aged pension for themselves but prefer to get better payouts after 9 years in Parliament. As for Centrelink; what a sick joke, bring back the CES.

 

[Rob44]

It is impossible to live on the pension if you own a house! By the time you buy basics there is not enough left for council rates and utilities. I do have a small car and have insurance for house and contents and car.
I’d like to see a politician live on a pension!!
I don’t have any Superannuation as my husband stopped working quite a while before the usual retirement age due to ill health, and we needed the Super to live.
There is no money left for entertainment or luxuries or holidays.

Welcome to the miserable grudging bastard of a country called Australia. If you have not got the cash to survive old age and die in modest comfort, it's your fault. Some cultures actually have respect for the elderly. Once a jolly swagman, sat by a billabong.......Our informal national anthem says it all about this country. The poor hungry swaggie had to steal a sheep to survive and then up came the Centrelink one, two three.......

Still, we are not locked up in an Australian refugee concentration camp on a island, although I suppose those people do get fed. Not sure why my dad thought it a decent place to emigrate to, back in the old days, but then it might have seemed a good idea at the time.

 

[Disie]

Groceries have gotten more expensive these days. No matter how carefully you shop, the cost of essentials, especially food items, can eat away at your budget.

So, when it comes to the regular grocery shop, it can be overwhelming, especially for those barely managing to keep afloat.

Recently, a Centrelink recipient shared her $100 fortnightly grocery haul on the social networking site Twitter to show the food you can get on a tight budget.

‘I thought I'd share what my shopping looks like,’ she said. ‘This is for a fortnight. People who believe Jobseekers are out here living the high life are wrong.’

The woman’s 39-item shopping list at Coles consisted mostly of store-brand items such as milk, vegetables, bread, coffee, cereal, and canned goods. She also bought some pasta, pasta sauce, a pack of beef sausages, and some instant noodles.

Of course, she also made sure to buy some toiletries and home cleaning products like laundry detergent.

In total, her shop cost her $94.62.

View attachment 14807

The woman’s fortnightly grocery shop had a fair mix of veggies. Image Credit: Twitter

So where’s the remaining $6, you ask? Well, it’s at Woolies, she said: ‘This also doesn't include dog food. They are out of the dog rolls except for the expensive ones, so I’ll have to ask my brother to pick one up from Woolworths, which will bring the total to $100.’

It didn't take long before many Twitter users sang the same tune, with pangs of understanding and shared experience running through their responses.

‘What I'm finding absolutely insane is, at the moment, it's cheaper for my mum and me to get pizza (lasts three nights of dinner) than to buy ingredients to make a healthy dinner (to last three nights, depending on what we make),’ one user said.

Another found the woman’s shop all too familiar: ‘(This) literally mimics my own two-week shopping list. (It’s) only getting worse as prices go up too.’

‘(I) can remember when $100 used to feed my family of five, it would fill a trolley, now (it) hardly covers the counter,’ a third, who is a mum, added.

And another added, perhaps most relatably: ‘I often think when I go shopping how would anyone shop on the pittance that is welfare payments. Everything absolutely everything is going up. Every week I see some new item I buy increase in price — some even double from a few years back. The bill at the checkout is always a worry.’

As so many others resort to in these tough times, they criticised the woman’s shop in jest too.

‘Coffee? Coffee! Such a luxury item. Why, in my day, we'd have a giant tin of International Roast topped up with sweepings of dust from the factory floor and be happy for it!’ one user said.

‘Two different milks! Outrageous,’ added a second.

Others even jokingly said her buying meat and vegetables in one shop was already in the range of showing off: ‘Basically flaunting wealth, this is.’

And then there’s the response you’d hear uttered now and then whenever someone complains of high grocery prices: ‘You can buy most of those things (probably not all) from ALDI at much better prices.’

View attachment 14808

The woman’s shop, accounting for dog food unavailable from Coles, cost her around $100. Image Credit: Twitter

Sadly, this latest story is part of a long-running saga of rising grocery prices, and the issue doesn't seem to be going away any time soon.

According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS), the Consumer Price Index rose by 7.8 per cent in the 12 months to December 2022. Dairy, bread and cereal, other products, and non-food household products all saw annual increases of at least ten per cent.

What’s more, with the fate of supermarkets’ discount deals uncertain beyond stated deadlines — which would be mid-April for Coles’ ‘Dropped & Locked’ — the picture isn’t entirely rosy for the average Aussie consumer, much more for those on welfare.

Key Takeaways

• An Australian woman shared screenshots of her $100 shopping list to show the little food she’s able to afford with her Centrelink payments.
• Pantry staples like milk, bread, cereal and a few fresh vegetables were among the items she purchased.
• People shared similar struggles in response, with many pointing out the shrinking amount of groceries they can afford.
• Food items like milk and bread saw the most significant annual price increases last year.

Still, there are silver linings on the horizon.

For one, Woolworths CEO Brad Banducci stated that while red meat and dairy prices remain high, chicken prices are beginning to stabilise.

Similar schemes such as ‘Dropped & Locked’ from Coles are also seen to encourage more healthy competition among supermarkets through incentivising continued patronage by offering better discount deals.

Hopefully, in the coming weeks, we will see great offers to save from other supermarkets like Woolworths, ALDI, and IGA.

View attachment 14821

Experts from CHOICE and Finder recommend various tips to save more on grocery shopping, such as taking advantage of discount deals and shopping at night. Image Credit: Seniors Discount Club

In the meantime, you might want to check out ways to shop smarter amid these trying times from CHOICE, a consumer advocacy group.

What are your thoughts on this? If you’re on the Age Pension, Jobseeker, or other forms of welfare, is what you’re receiving enough to live on, in your opinion?

Tell us in the comments below.


Note: We’re also aware that these times can be very distressing for some of us who are struggling. A directory of mental health services can be found here. Please consider reaching services like Lifeline Australia at 13 11 14 as well.

Oh how I would love, love, love to see how I could live on the pension. It was taken off me totally a few years ago when they changed the asset limit. When my father passed away I bought a unit with his money and my single mother daughter moved into the family home with her three children when the house she was renting was sold. Even though she was working it was a struggle so we agreed on $100 a week which only covers expenses such as rates, insurance and repairs so nothing left for me. Because I was “asset rich ??” I lost my entire pension and have to live on my super which is dwindling fast. Even if I sold the house which I would never throw my family out I would still never get 1 cent of pension I have paid tax all my working life and now that I need it I can’t get any help. I firmly believe every person should be assessed on an individual basis and not an overall basis. Yes I am assert rich but that doesn’t pay the bills. Yes I could charge my daughter the going rate for rent but she is trying to save a small amount each week so she can eventually own her own home and I could never evict them just so I could get more money.
Believe me I feel for people who are really struggling with everything (I have been there too) but would love just a little bit of what I think should be a right with the age pension

 

[Rob44]

Hi Silvaleaf,It's. Paula from Gippsland Victoria.I really liked your post.Cheers from Paula.

And I am tired of hearing self-righteous garbage about how one didn't prepare for old age etcetera and should therefore be punished for living in stress and pain as a result. If this country were a decent community we would have accepted the need to have worked together to form a decent public health service, provide decent government housing, pay university students' tuition fees, pay a fair unemployment benefit etcetera, but we are all greedy, selfish and self-righteous instead.

All it would take is a decent government-run National Insurance Scheme into which each of us contribute regularly according to our means, as operated effectively in the UK from 1945 to the late 1970s. No, it wasn't a "socialist paradise" but it operated to considerable benefit of those less fortunate than others and that benefit flowed through to the betterment of society.

Life is not a morality play where only the righteous should be rewarded. Life is an accident waiting to happen to cause suffering and that is a burden that we, as a community, need to minimise.

 

[Aussie all the Way]

Ok, I know I am going to cop some flack here with my reply. I think the pension needs to be increased for our current aged pensioners who didn’t have foresight or opportunity or understanding that through advances in medicine that they would live much beyond retirement years, but the up and coming pensioners ( anyone that is now in the workforce, at any age) need to learn the art of budgeting and obtain solid financial advice and understand that our lifespan will be longer but not necessarily healthier than our predecessors. There is much solid advice on the internet, and from people who have done it all ( maybe your parents etc) to assist in teaching you this art. Go without a cafe meal or takeaway coffee. For entertainment have your friends over for a board games night. Learn new skills. Make yourself employable. Brush up on your maths and English comprehension skills. I read about all of you who are on JobStart or Newstart, why? As the payment name says, this money is meant to provide you with the opportunity of upskilling, it was never meant to provide you with a lifestyle. Grow veggies, while you are between jobs. Grow a better attitude. I had a grade 10 education, never went to uni, and there are plenty of people in my situation. I’ve never had a ‘corporate’ high paying job, I am one of the many ‘ labourers’ who was never afraid to take on ‘menial’ tasks that the majority of employment is. I did however learn the skill of budgeting early, by making mistakes after which I started reading about and listening to people who know how to make money work for you, no matter how much you earn. People I speak with including my own employer are screaming out for quality employees, who turn up for work, do the work, have a great attitude and a smile. Stop blaming government or family or society for your demise. Break the chain, the mould, the poverty thinking, stop watching and listening to negativity (the news), there was and always will be war, atrocities, disasters ( natural or man made). Be the ray of light, be happy YOU have money every fortnight TO buy some groceries, stop whinging and blaze a happy trail. Rant over. Let the flack begin.

I like your thinking, I too am sick of listening to these people whinge about everything possible, how about getting a job and getting more money in your pocket instead of relying on taking money you have not worked for, the fruit growers are screaming for workers, there are jobs everywhere. I have worked in all sorts of factories have put in the hard yards and am getting the benefits now, didn't have enough working time to get a lot of Super but we live a good life. People today expect to be paid a fortune for doing any job. As soon as something goes wrong you fall in a heap, where are your back bones suck it up and get on with it for goodness sakes. Newstart and Jobseeker are almost as much as the Pension which is a disgrace. I've finished my rant as well so go ahead and slam both of us, DON'T CARE.

 

[Franko]

Groceries have gotten more expensive these days. No matter how carefully you shop, the cost of essentials, especially food items, can eat away at your budget.

So, when it comes to the regular grocery shop, it can be overwhelming, especially for those barely managing to keep afloat.

Recently, a Centrelink recipient shared her $100 fortnightly grocery haul on the social networking site Twitter to show the food you can get on a tight budget.

‘I thought I'd share what my shopping looks like,’ she said. ‘This is for a fortnight. People who believe Jobseekers are out here living the high life are wrong.’

The woman’s 39-item shopping list at Coles consisted mostly of store-brand items such as milk, vegetables, bread, coffee, cereal, and canned goods. She also bought some pasta, pasta sauce, a pack of beef sausages, and some instant noodles.

Of course, she also made sure to buy some toiletries and home cleaning products like laundry detergent.

In total, her shop cost her $94.62.

View attachment 14807

The woman’s fortnightly grocery shop had a fair mix of veggies. Image Credit: Twitter

So where’s the remaining $6, you ask? Well, it’s at Woolies, she said: ‘This also doesn't include dog food. They are out of the dog rolls except for the expensive ones, so I’ll have to ask my brother to pick one up from Woolworths, which will bring the total to $100.’

It didn't take long before many Twitter users sang the same tune, with pangs of understanding and shared experience running through their responses.

‘What I'm finding absolutely insane is, at the moment, it's cheaper for my mum and me to get pizza (lasts three nights of dinner) than to buy ingredients to make a healthy dinner (to last three nights, depending on what we make),’ one user said.

Another found the woman’s shop all too familiar: ‘(This) literally mimics my own two-week shopping list. (It’s) only getting worse as prices go up too.’

‘(I) can remember when $100 used to feed my family of five, it would fill a trolley, now (it) hardly covers the counter,’ a third, who is a mum, added.

And another added, perhaps most relatably: ‘I often think when I go shopping how would anyone shop on the pittance that is welfare payments. Everything absolutely everything is going up. Every week I see some new item I buy increase in price — some even double from a few years back. The bill at the checkout is always a worry.’

As so many others resort to in these tough times, they criticised the woman’s shop in jest too.

‘Coffee? Coffee! Such a luxury item. Why, in my day, we'd have a giant tin of International Roast topped up with sweepings of dust from the factory floor and be happy for it!’ one user said.

‘Two different milks! Outrageous,’ added a second.

Others even jokingly said her buying meat and vegetables in one shop was already in the range of showing off: ‘Basically flaunting wealth, this is.’

And then there’s the response you’d hear uttered now and then whenever someone complains of high grocery prices: ‘You can buy most of those things (probably not all) from ALDI at much better prices.’

View attachment 14808

The woman’s shop, accounting for dog food unavailable from Coles, cost her around $100. Image Credit: Twitter

Sadly, this latest story is part of a long-running saga of rising grocery prices, and the issue doesn't seem to be going away any time soon.

According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS), the Consumer Price Index rose by 7.8 per cent in the 12 months to December 2022. Dairy, bread and cereal, other products, and non-food household products all saw annual increases of at least ten per cent.

What’s more, with the fate of supermarkets’ discount deals uncertain beyond stated deadlines — which would be mid-April for Coles’ ‘Dropped & Locked’ — the picture isn’t entirely rosy for the average Aussie consumer, much more for those on welfare.

Key Takeaways

• An Australian woman shared screenshots of her $100 shopping list to show the little food she’s able to afford with her Centrelink payments.
• Pantry staples like milk, bread, cereal and a few fresh vegetables were among the items she purchased.
• People shared similar struggles in response, with many pointing out the shrinking amount of groceries they can afford.
• Food items like milk and bread saw the most significant annual price increases last year.

Still, there are silver linings on the horizon.

For one, Woolworths CEO Brad Banducci stated that while red meat and dairy prices remain high, chicken prices are beginning to stabilise.

Similar schemes such as ‘Dropped & Locked’ from Coles are also seen to encourage more healthy competition among supermarkets through incentivising continued patronage by offering better discount deals.

Hopefully, in the coming weeks, we will see great offers to save from other supermarkets like Woolworths, ALDI, and IGA.

View attachment 14821

Experts from CHOICE and Finder recommend various tips to save more on grocery shopping, such as taking advantage of discount deals and shopping at night. Image Credit: Seniors Discount Club

In the meantime, you might want to check out ways to shop smarter amid these trying times from CHOICE, a consumer advocacy group.

What are your thoughts on this? If you’re on the Age Pension, Jobseeker, or other forms of welfare, is what you’re receiving enough to live on, in your opinion?

Tell us in the comments below.


Note: We’re also aware that these times can be very distressing for some of us who are struggling. A directory of mental health services can be found here. Please consider reaching services like Lifeline Australia at 13 11 14 as well.

Groceries have gotten more expensive these days. No matter how carefully you shop, the cost of essentials, especially food items, can eat away at your budget.

So, when it comes to the regular grocery shop, it can be overwhelming, especially for those barely managing to keep afloat.

Recently, a Centrelink recipient shared her $100 fortnightly grocery haul on the social networking site Twitter to show the food you can get on a tight budget.

‘I thought I'd share what my shopping looks like,’ she said. ‘This is for a fortnight. People who believe Jobseekers are out here living the high life are wrong.’

The woman’s 39-item shopping list at Coles consisted mostly of store-brand items such as milk, vegetables, bread, coffee, cereal, and canned goods. She also bought some pasta, pasta sauce, a pack of beef sausages, and some instant noodles.

Of course, she also made sure to buy some toiletries and home cleaning products like laundry detergent.

In total, her shop cost her $94.62.

View attachment 14807

The woman’s fortnightly grocery shop had a fair mix of veggies. Image Credit: Twitter

So where’s the remaining $6, you ask? Well, it’s at Woolies, she said: ‘This also doesn't include dog food. They are out of the dog rolls except for the expensive ones, so I’ll have to ask my brother to pick one up from Woolworths, which will bring the total to $100.’

It didn't take long before many Twitter users sang the same tune, with pangs of understanding and shared experience running through their responses.

‘What I'm finding absolutely insane is, at the moment, it's cheaper for my mum and me to get pizza (lasts three nights of dinner) than to buy ingredients to make a healthy dinner (to last three nights, depending on what we make),’ one user said.

Another found the woman’s shop all too familiar: ‘(This) literally mimics my own two-week shopping list. (It’s) only getting worse as prices go up too.’

‘(I) can remember when $100 used to feed my family of five, it would fill a trolley, now (it) hardly covers the counter,’ a third, who is a mum, added.

And another added, perhaps most relatably: ‘I often think when I go shopping how would anyone shop on the pittance that is welfare payments. Everything absolutely everything is going up. Every week I see some new item I buy increase in price — some even double from a few years back. The bill at the checkout is always a worry.’

As so many others resort to in these tough times, they criticised the woman’s shop in jest too.

‘Coffee? Coffee! Such a luxury item. Why, in my day, we'd have a giant tin of International Roast topped up with sweepings of dust from the factory floor and be happy for it!’ one user said.

‘Two different milks! Outrageous,’ added a second.

Others even jokingly said her buying meat and vegetables in one shop was already in the range of showing off: ‘Basically flaunting wealth, this is.’

And then there’s the response you’d hear uttered now and then whenever someone complains of high grocery prices: ‘You can buy most of those things (probably not all) from ALDI at much better prices.’

View attachment 14808

The woman’s shop, accounting for dog food unavailable from Coles, cost her around $100. Image Credit: Twitter

Sadly, this latest story is part of a long-running saga of rising grocery prices, and the issue doesn't seem to be going away any time soon.

According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS), the Consumer Price Index rose by 7.8 per cent in the 12 months to December 2022. Dairy, bread and cereal, other products, and non-food household products all saw annual increases of at least ten per cent.

What’s more, with the fate of supermarkets’ discount deals uncertain beyond stated deadlines — which would be mid-April for Coles’ ‘Dropped & Locked’ — the picture isn’t entirely rosy for the average Aussie consumer, much more for those on welfare.

Key Takeaways

• An Australian woman shared screenshots of her $100 shopping list to show the little food she’s able to afford with her Centrelink payments.
• Pantry staples like milk, bread, cereal and a few fresh vegetables were among the items she purchased.
• People shared similar struggles in response, with many pointing out the shrinking amount of groceries they can afford.
• Food items like milk and bread saw the most significant annual price increases last year.

Still, there are silver linings on the horizon.

For one, Woolworths CEO Brad Banducci stated that while red meat and dairy prices remain high, chicken prices are beginning to stabilise.

Similar schemes such as ‘Dropped & Locked’ from Coles are also seen to encourage more healthy competition among supermarkets through incentivising continued patronage by offering better discount deals.

Hopefully, in the coming weeks, we will see great offers to save from other supermarkets like Woolworths, ALDI, and IGA.

View attachment 14821

Experts from CHOICE and Finder recommend various tips to save more on grocery shopping, such as taking advantage of discount deals and shopping at night. Image Credit: Seniors Discount Club

In the meantime, you might want to check out ways to shop smarter amid these trying times from CHOICE, a consumer advocacy group.

What are your thoughts on this? If you’re on the Age Pension, Jobseeker, or other forms of welfare, is what you’re receiving enough to live on, in your opinion?

Tell us in the comments below.


Note: We’re also aware that these times can be very distressing for some of us who are struggling. A directory of mental health services can be found here. Please consider reaching services like Lifeline Australia at 13 11 14 as well.

I really resent it when you, and other people, refer to being on a pension as 'welfare.' It's not welfare. It's not a freebie. I have paid far more in tax over the last 60 years since I started work at the age of 16 than I will ever get back in the pension. My pension is the return on the investment I have made in this country over the 50+ years of my working life. The UK has a national scheme whereby people pay into it throughout their working life and reap the benefits in their pension when they retire. We have had no such scheme, and superannuation didn't come in until the Hawke government in the early '80s by which time I had already been working for 20 years.

 

[Annie Mac]

This is a little hint to save money when shopping.
During Covid lockdowns we shopped once a month, or sometimes once every 6 weeks.
Prior to that we had shopped weekly, putting $200 into kitty to cover all food and incidentals like petrol, lotto, etc.
We found that by shopping monthly, we only spent about $400 to $500 , a saving of 300 to 400 dollars.
We invested in a chest freezer from Aldis, which I think was about $300.
We own our own home and car outright, and find that we manage to pay rates, essentials ,insurances by using Direct Debit.
We don't have money for cinema outings, live theatre etc .Now rely on Netflix etc which one of our beautiful granddaughters put on the tv for us.
The documentaries we find on there are outstanding.
In all, we have a great family supporting us.
Christmas 2021, they asked what we would like for Christmas and we said MEAT, which we can't afford.
We ate meat for 12 months! Not every meal, but small amounts with veg every 2nd or 3rd evening.
We live in the country, which I think is a bonus.Grow our own veg.Bottle fruit, make enough tomato sauce to last a year, dehydrate, make our own jam.I wouldn't touch bought jam now.
Another hint...grow chokos on your fence.They are tasteless but can be used in so many ways...full of nutrition.Also, we steam the young leaves which are just like spinach and good to eat..Gradually we are becoming pretty self sufficient.