Shopper revives old Coles advertisement: Here’s what you can get for $10 today

Grocery shopping has become difficult for many Australians as prices are ever-increasing, and it can be overwhelming to try to keep up with the costs.

Recent reminders of an old advertisement from Coles expose just how much of a price jump we've experienced in a few short years–a stark contrast to what we were dealing with not too long ago.


It was 2017 when the ‘Feed Your Family’ campaign was launched, accompanied by Curtis Stone and innovative $10 meals.

But now, a shopper has put a new perspective on the situation–showing what $10 will get you these days. They posted the items in a series of videos on social media.

In one video, the shopper got Helga’s Traditional Wholemeal bread for $4.90 and a jar of Nutella for $6.20, two items that total $11.10.


photo (15).jpg
The shopper showed what they could get for $10 at Coles. Credit: @apostolucky/TikTok


They also bought a $6.50 lettuce and a Saxa Table Salt Shaker for $4.50, which amounts to $11.


The shopper didn’t stop there. They also bought a $6 Red Rock Deli Potato Chips (priced $6.30 on the Coles website) and $3.80 MasterFoods Tomato Sauce, a pre-made sandwich for $9 with a $1.15 bottle of water, a $9.40 Milo Energy drink, and Vegemite for $9.40.


photo 1 (6).jpg
The shopper also bought a pre-made sandwich with a bottle of water (total of $10.15) and Milo Energy Drink, which cost $9.40. Credit: @apostolucky/TikTok


The videos garnered a lot of interest on social media, with some begging for the creator to do more.

‘All meals are struggle meals,’ one viewer commented.

‘Coles has been super quiet with their $10 feed your whole family deals,’ another person noted.

A third user said: ‘I’d love Coles to explain why my groceries have more than doubled in the last few years while their profits have been through the roof.’


The original poster even went further as to recreate one of Curtis Stone's $10 recipes.

They purchased 500g of Coles mince for $9, an onion, some garlic, two carrots and 300g of Coles brand sliced mushrooms for $6.50.

All that came to a shocking $20.80–double the original desired amount! Even if the pasta were switched out for a subsidised $1 Coles brand fettuccine, it would total $19.20–way off the original $10 budget.

You can watch the video here:



It has become quite clear that the cost of groceries has gone off the charts. According to the Consumer Price Index (CPI) report of June 2023, the highest annual inflation was experienced with dairy products (15.2 per cent) and bread and cereal products (11.6 per cent).


Even looking at the fresh aisle doesn't tell the full story, as the cost of meat and seafood rose 3.5 per cent, and fruit and veggies rose 1.6 per cent.

The cost of meals out and takeaway food also saw a 7.7 per cent increase, while non-alcoholic beverages experienced a hike of 8.6 per cent, and grocery prices overall shot up 7.5 per cent.

To put this into perspective, Finder’s Consumer Sentiment Tracker found that the average Aussie household spent $188/week on groceries in August 2023–a sharp increase from $170 per week 12 months prior. That’s almost $1,000 extra out of the pocket of the average household in a year!

According to the tracker, 40 per cent of Aussies have groceries in their top three most stressful expenses.


So, what can you do to keep your grocery bills low and still get the food you need?

First, stay true to your grocery list. It's all too easy to grab an 'end of the aisle discount buy' every now and again, but unless you actually need it, you're still losing money with each buy– regardless of its promotion status.

Second, make the most of loyalty programs and rewards. If you're already buying groceries, you might as well earn points from your spending if you can. Some retailers, like Woolworths, offer Members-only pricing, which gives shoppers a lower price on certain items.


Finally, it might be worthwhile to change your routine and shop around. Look for cheaper alternatives at farmers markets, fruit marts and discount stores like ALDI. While it's nice to have one-stop convenience, sometimes it's worth it to save a bit of cash.


Key Takeaways

  • An old advertisement from Coles has resurfaced, highlighting the significant increase in Australian grocery prices within just a few years.
  • A shopper has compared the cost of groceries now with that of the featured items in Coles’ 2017 ‘Feed Your Family’ campaign, where recipes feeding a family of four for under $10 were promoted.
  • Many Australians have commented they are struggling financially and have had to drastically alter their grocery shopping habits due to soaring food prices.
  • According to the Consumer Price Index (CPI) report of June 2023, the highest annual inflation was experienced with dairy products (15.2 per cent) and bread and cereal products (11.6 per cent).

What do you think of this story, members? Do you have other tips to save on grocery bills? Share them in the comments below!
 
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Grocery shopping has become difficult for many Australians as prices are ever-increasing, and it can be overwhelming to try to keep up with the costs.

Recent reminders of an old advertisement from Coles expose just how much of a price jump we've experienced in a few short years–a stark contrast to what we were dealing with not too long ago.


It was 2017 when the ‘Feed Your Family’ campaign was launched, accompanied by Curtis Stone and innovative $10 meals.

But now, a shopper has put a new perspective on the situation–showing what $10 will get you these days. They posted the items in a series of videos on social media.

In one video, the shopper got Helga’s Traditional Wholemeal bread for $4.90 and a jar of Nutella for $6.20, two items that total $11.10.


View attachment 29310
The shopper showed what they could get for $10 at Coles. Credit: @apostolucky/TikTok


They also bought a $6.50 lettuce and a Saxa Table Salt Shaker for $4.50, which amounts to $11.


The shopper didn’t stop there. They also bought a $6 Red Rock Deli Potato Chips (priced $6.30 on the Coles website) and $3.80 MasterFoods Tomato Sauce, a pre-made sandwich for $9 with a $1.15 bottle of water, a $9.40 Milo Energy drink, and a $9.40 bottle of Vegemite.


View attachment 29311
The shopper also bought a pre-made sandwich with a bottle of water (total of $10.15) and Milo Energy Drink, which cost $9.40. Credit: @apostolucky/TikTok


The videos garnered a lot of interest on social media, with some begging for the creator to do more.

‘All meals are struggle meals,’ one viewer commented.

‘Coles has been super quiet with their $10 feed your whole family deals,’ another person noted.

A third user said: ‘I’d love Coles to explain why my groceries have more than doubled in the last few years while their profits have been through the roof.’


The original poster even went further as to recreate one of Curtis Stone's $10 recipes.

They purchased 500g of Coles mince for $9, an onion, some garlic, two carrots and 300g of Coles brand sliced mushrooms for $6.50.

All that came to a shocking $20.80–double the original desired amount! Even if the pasta were switched out for a subsidised $1 Coles brand fettuccine, it would total $19.20–way off the original $10 budget.

You can watch the video here:



It has become quite clear that the cost of groceries has gone off the charts. According to the Consumer Price Index (CPI) report of June 2023, the highest annual inflation was experienced with dairy products (15.2 per cent) and bread and cereal products (11.6 per cent).


Even looking at the fresh aisle doesn't tell the full story, as the cost of meat and seafood rose 3.5 per cent, and fruit and veggies rose 1.6 per cent.

The cost of meals out and takeaway food also saw a 7.7 per cent increase, while non-alcoholic beverages experienced a hike of 8.6 per cent, and grocery prices overall shot up 7.5 per cent.

To put this into perspective, Finder’s Consumer Sentiment Tracker found that the average Aussie household spent $188/week on groceries in August 2023–a sharp increase from $170 per week 12 months prior. That’s almost $1,000 extra out of the pocket of the average household in a year!

According to the tracker, 40 per cent of Aussies have groceries in their top three most stressful expenses.


So, what can you do to keep your grocery bills low and still get the food you need?

First, stay true to your grocery list. It's all too easy to grab an 'end of the aisle discount buy' every now and again, but unless you actually need it, you're still losing money with each buy– regardless of its promotion status.

Second, make the most of loyalty programs and rewards. If you're already buying groceries, you might as well earn points from your spending if you can. Some retailers, like Woolworths, offer Members-only pricing, which gives shoppers a lower price on certain items.


Finally, it might be worthwhile to change your routine and shop around. Look for cheaper alternatives at farmers markets, fruit marts and discount stores like ALDI. While it's nice to have one-stop convenience, sometimes it's worth it to save a bit of cash.


Key Takeaways

  • An old advertisement from Coles has resurfaced, highlighting the significant increase in Australian grocery prices within just a few years.
  • A shopper has compared the cost of groceries now with that of the featured items in Coles’ 2017 ‘Feed Your Family’ campaign, where recipes feeding a family of four for under $10 were promoted.
  • Many Australians have commented they are struggling financially and have had to drastically alter their grocery shopping habits due to soaring food prices.
  • According to the Consumer Price Index (CPI) report of June 2023, the highest annual inflation was experienced with dairy products (15.2 per cent) and bread and cereal products (11.6 per cent).

What do you think of this story, members? Do you have other tips to save on grocery bills? Share them in the comments below!

Vegemite doesn’t come in a bottle as stated above🙀
 
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Reactions: Trudi
All these people trying to prove a point on social media are only proving their own stupidity!

Yes, life has moved forward and things are more expensive. This is nothing new, the only difference is than now we have idiots posting their stupidity on tiktok for all the world to see.

I have no problem cooking $10 meals for my partner and myself, with two meals getting packed into containers and frozen for another day.
 
All these people trying to prove a point on social media are only proving their own stupidity!

Yes, life has moved forward and things are more expensive. This is nothing new, the only difference is than now we have idiots posting their stupidity on tiktok for all the world to see.

I have no problem cooking $10 meals for my partner and myself, with two meals getting packed into containers and frozen for another day.
$10.00 a meal.... good grief what do you eat????
 
I try and come out on $2.50 a day I only eat once a day.
Without being too intrusive, IAN3005, is there a specific reason you only have one meal a day, which meal is that, and what do you eat at that meal? You don’t have to reply if it is very personal for you.
 
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Reactions: IAN3005
Without being too intrusive, IAN3005, is there a specific reason you only have one meal a day, which meal is that, and what do you eat at that meal? You don’t have to reply if it is very personal for you.
When it comes to $$$$$ nothing is personal. I keep track of every dollar spent on food (and other expenses) in an EXCEL spreadsheet (been doing this for 3 years) and it automatically calculates what I have spent and plots a graph. I use a digital scale so every meal is weighed out. I buy products (Aldi) that have past their expiry date and freeze them where applicable. Meat is cut in advance, weighed and then frozen in portions ready to defrost. Every meal is home-cooked with nothing bought in packets, I do all the cooking myself. I use spices and herbs to add to the flavour.
100gm carrot, 100gm zuchinni, 90gm beans, 100gm potato and 50gm chicken. Leftovers are either put in the fridge or frozen for the next day.
I don't go anywhere unless it is to the Dr or to do the grocery shopping.
Since the explosion in the cost of living I have cut all services to the marrow.
Those to are all regulated using EXCEL spread sheets.
I question everything and ask if something is going to "cost me" and I do without if it does cost me.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Littleboy8
Grocery shopping has become difficult for many Australians as prices are ever-increasing, and it can be overwhelming to try to keep up with the costs.

Recent reminders of an old advertisement from Coles expose just how much of a price jump we've experienced in a few short years–a stark contrast to what we were dealing with not too long ago.


It was 2017 when the ‘Feed Your Family’ campaign was launched, accompanied by Curtis Stone and innovative $10 meals.

But now, a shopper has put a new perspective on the situation–showing what $10 will get you these days. They posted the items in a series of videos on social media.

In one video, the shopper got Helga’s Traditional Wholemeal bread for $4.90 and a jar of Nutella for $6.20, two items that total $11.10.


View attachment 29310
The shopper showed what they could get for $10 at Coles. Credit: @apostolucky/TikTok


They also bought a $6.50 lettuce and a Saxa Table Salt Shaker for $4.50, which amounts to $11.


The shopper didn’t stop there. They also bought a $6 Red Rock Deli Potato Chips (priced $6.30 on the Coles website) and $3.80 MasterFoods Tomato Sauce, a pre-made sandwich for $9 with a $1.15 bottle of water, a $9.40 Milo Energy drink, and Vegemite for $9.40.


View attachment 29311
The shopper also bought a pre-made sandwich with a bottle of water (total of $10.15) and Milo Energy Drink, which cost $9.40. Credit: @apostolucky/TikTok


The videos garnered a lot of interest on social media, with some begging for the creator to do more.

‘All meals are struggle meals,’ one viewer commented.

‘Coles has been super quiet with their $10 feed your whole family deals,’ another person noted.

A third user said: ‘I’d love Coles to explain why my groceries have more than doubled in the last few years while their profits have been through the roof.’


The original poster even went further as to recreate one of Curtis Stone's $10 recipes.

They purchased 500g of Coles mince for $9, an onion, some garlic, two carrots and 300g of Coles brand sliced mushrooms for $6.50.

All that came to a shocking $20.80–double the original desired amount! Even if the pasta were switched out for a subsidised $1 Coles brand fettuccine, it would total $19.20–way off the original $10 budget.

You can watch the video here:



It has become quite clear that the cost of groceries has gone off the charts. According to the Consumer Price Index (CPI) report of June 2023, the highest annual inflation was experienced with dairy products (15.2 per cent) and bread and cereal products (11.6 per cent).


Even looking at the fresh aisle doesn't tell the full story, as the cost of meat and seafood rose 3.5 per cent, and fruit and veggies rose 1.6 per cent.

The cost of meals out and takeaway food also saw a 7.7 per cent increase, while non-alcoholic beverages experienced a hike of 8.6 per cent, and grocery prices overall shot up 7.5 per cent.

To put this into perspective, Finder’s Consumer Sentiment Tracker found that the average Aussie household spent $188/week on groceries in August 2023–a sharp increase from $170 per week 12 months prior. That’s almost $1,000 extra out of the pocket of the average household in a year!

According to the tracker, 40 per cent of Aussies have groceries in their top three most stressful expenses.


So, what can you do to keep your grocery bills low and still get the food you need?

First, stay true to your grocery list. It's all too easy to grab an 'end of the aisle discount buy' every now and again, but unless you actually need it, you're still losing money with each buy– regardless of its promotion status.

Second, make the most of loyalty programs and rewards. If you're already buying groceries, you might as well earn points from your spending if you can. Some retailers, like Woolworths, offer Members-only pricing, which gives shoppers a lower price on certain items.


Finally, it might be worthwhile to change your routine and shop around. Look for cheaper alternatives at farmers markets, fruit marts and discount stores like ALDI. While it's nice to have one-stop convenience, sometimes it's worth it to save a bit of cash.


Key Takeaways

  • An old advertisement from Coles has resurfaced, highlighting the significant increase in Australian grocery prices within just a few years.
  • A shopper has compared the cost of groceries now with that of the featured items in Coles’ 2017 ‘Feed Your Family’ campaign, where recipes feeding a family of four for under $10 were promoted.
  • Many Australians have commented they are struggling financially and have had to drastically alter their grocery shopping habits due to soaring food prices.
  • According to the Consumer Price Index (CPI) report of June 2023, the highest annual inflation was experienced with dairy products (15.2 per cent) and bread and cereal products (11.6 per cent).

What do you think of this story, members? Do you have other tips to save on grocery bills? Share them in the comments below!

I just paid $2.50 for a lettuce in woollies how olds her story $6.50 for a lettuce she got ripped off there🙀
 
When it comes to $$$$$ nothing is personal. I keep track of every dollar spent on food (and other expenses) in an EXCEL spreadsheet (been doing this for 3 years) and it automatically calculates what I have spent and plots a graph. I use a digital scale so every meal is weighed out. I buy products (Aldi) that have past their expiry date and freeze them where applicable. Meat is cut in advance, weighed and then frozen in portions ready to defrost. Every meal is home-cooked with nothing bought in packets, I do all the cooking myself. I use spices and herbs to add to the flavour.
100gm carrot, 100gm zuchinni, 90gm beans, 100gm potato and 50gm chicken. Leftovers are either put in the fridge or frozen for the next day.
I don't go anywhere unless it is to the Dr or to do the grocery shopping.
Since the explosion in the cost of living I have cut all services to the marrow.
Those to are all regulated using EXCEL spread sheets.
I question everything and ask if something is going to "cost me" and I do without if it does cost me.
Good on you, Ian3005. You seem to be on top of your expenses at least but do not go without the necessary food you need to stay healthy. We too have a spreadsheet of all our household expenses but not to the same extent as you and are fortunate enough not to have to skimp too much on food but also look for bargains in the food line.

We do try to get best value on food items where we can and shop a lot at Aldi although I find some of their fruit does not last as long. Spices & curries go a long way in meals. No steak & large pieces of meat as big steaks & meats cost a helluva lot more. Coles, Aldi in the same complex roughly 1km and Woolworths about the same distance away in another small complex.
 
Last edited:
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Reactions: IAN3005
Good on you, Ian3005. You seem to be on top of your expenses at least but do not go without the necessary food you need to stay healthy. We too have a spreadsheet of all our household expenses but not to the same extent as you and are fortunate enough not to have to skimp too much on food. We do try to get best value on food items where we can and shop a lot at Aldi although I find some of their fruit does not last as long. Coles, Aldi in the same complex roughly 1km and Woolworths about the same distance away - all
Never buy fruit and vegetables or Aussie canned/packaged goods.
The fruit and vegetables are sub-standard, small and cost a fortune. I go to the local greengrocer where the items are bigger/cheaper. Apples Pink Lady $1.99kg, banana $1.99 - $2.99kg.
The Aussie canned goods are sub-standard and cost more than the imported items.
 
Good on you, Ian3005. You seem to be on top of your expenses at least but do not go without the necessary food you need to stay healthy. We too have a spreadsheet of all our household expenses but not to the same extent as you and are fortunate enough not to have to skimp too much on food but also look for bargains in the food line.

We do try to get best value on food items where we can and shop a lot at Aldi although I find some of their fruit does not last as long. Spices & curries go a long way in meals. No steak & large pieces of meat as big steaks & meats cost a helluva lot more. Coles, Aldi in the same complex roughly 1km and Woolworths about the same distance away in another small complex.
I have to do this to contain costs....
Good on you, Ian3005. You seem to be on top of your expenses at least but do not go without the necessary food you need to stay healthy. We too have a spreadsheet of all our household expenses but not to the same extent as you and are fortunate enough not to have to skimp too much on food but also look for bargains in the food line.

We do try to get best value on food items where we can and shop a lot at Aldi although I find some of their fruit does not last as long. Spices & curries go a long way in meals. No steak & large pieces of meat as big steaks & meats cost a helluva lot more. Coles, Aldi in the same complex roughly 1km and Woolworths about the same distance away in another small complex.
I need to do this to contain expenses.
 

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