Real butter, toilet paper: The basic groceries now considered ‘indulgent’

As the cost-of-living crisis spirals, these every day grocery items are now considered indulgent by Queensland shoppers.

The cost-of-living crisis has reached an unfortunate new level for Queenslanders, with shoppers revealing some household products are now considered a luxe purchase.

It comes as Queensland Premier Steven Miles and LNP opposition leader David Crisafulli went head to head in a debate on the state’s issues on Tuesday.

During the debate moderated by The Courier-Mail, Mr Miles and Mr Crisafulli were asked how the cost-of-living pressures have impacted them.

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Queensland Premier Steven Miles and Leader of the LNP Opposition David Crisafulli pictured during the Courier Mail Leaders debate. Picture: David Clark.

While admitting his income meant he hadn’t been impacted to the levels many in the state have, Mr Miles lamented the experience of every parent or guardian with teenage boys – their ability to go through astronomical amounts of food.

“He can go through one of those boxes of NutriGrain in a day, and they’re $11 now,” he said.

Opposition Leader David Crisafulli said the cost of groceries was out of control, revealing that while he too was fortunate to have not been seriously impacted by he went to the supermarket the other day and managed to carry in his arms $256 worth of groceries – illustrating how little he was able to buy for how much he spent.

He said a packet of cheese was “north of $10”.

“It is out of control,” Mr Crisafulli said.

Garnier Fructis Hair Food is considered an indulgent item for Australian shoppers. Picture: Supplied

Some Australian shoppers said Bega cheese stringers were a “luxe” product. Picture: Supplied.

Much like what our leaders said, supermarket shoppers took to social media to talk about the food items they now consider indulgent because of their expensive price.

A Reddit post on the topic received up to 600 comments with shoppers mentioning anything from dishwashing tablets to bread as their “luxe” item.

“Broccoli, it’s like $9 a kg but I eat it almost everyday,” one Reddit user said.

Shoppers said real butter is considered an indulgent product. Picture: Supplied.

“For me it’s a bougie hair conditioner called Fructis hair food. It’s $14 for a small jar of conditioner, but it’s the only thing that gets the knots out of my toddler's hair,” another commented.

“I’m a grown adult; cheese stringers. They’re so expensive for what they are but the stringiness is vital to the experience/taste,” another Reddit user said.

Dishwashing tablets are another indulgent product for shoppers. Picture: Supplied.

Kleenex toilet paper has become an indulgent product for Australian shoppers. Picture: Supplied.

The products considered “indulgent” by Australian grocery shoppers:

– Garnier Fructis hair food conditioner

– Name-brand ice cream

– Bega cheese stringers

– Lurpak butter

– Kleenex toilet paper

– Dishwashing tablets

– Sparkling water

– Meridith Dairy marinated goats cheese

– Extra-creamy milk

– Bonsoy

– Oak milk

– Kewpie mayonnaise

– Barista oat milk

– Bread

– Yakult

– Whittakers chocolate

– Omo washing powder

– Prosciutto

– Berenberg chilli sauce

– Scotch fillet steaks

– Macadamia nuts

– Broccoli

WHAT YOU SAID

j

Baked Beans - nearly $3 a can

Christine

Even a can of soup is $4.50

Dodger

Coles and and Woolworths specials are 90% junk food and therefore a waste of time if you want real food.

Henry Root

any bottled water in australian cities is a gross indulgance

issy

The price gouging continues unabated. Drink more water and shop more often at your local fruit shop.

OverIt

I would have guessed name brand anything at this point Supermarkets must be ecstatic

Jill Fry

No lollies or chips and i don’t miss them.

Megan Heiniger

Cheese is the big one for us

Aimee Thomas

Taco kits and cheese

Cassie Greco

Kinda like pads they’ve gone up can’t believe it

Richard Davies

Breakfast

Kym Newman

Butter

Originally published as Real butter, toilet paper: The basic groceries now considered ‘indulgent’