Australian mum stunned by $91 supermarket shop after buying 10 items

An Aussie mum has shared her horror at the rising cost of living after racking up a costly supermarket bill after buying just 10 items.

An Aussie mum’s pricey recent trip to Woolies has shed light on the country’s growing cost of living nightmare.

TikTok user kittymo73 popped into the supermarket giant recently to pick up a handful of items – but was stunned when the final bill came to $91.65.

Kitty’s shop had included just 10 products, including staples like honey, Frosty Fruits ice blocks, kangaroo steak, tuna bake and some makeup items, and she branded the price a “rip off”.

An Aussie mum was shocked after racking up a $91 Woolies bill. Picture: TikTok/@kittymo73

“Wow got 10 things at Woolworths for $91. Good luck surviving people,” she captioned the footage in a TikTok uploaded on Thursday, accompanied by the hashtags #costofliving and #ripoff.

“I do 95 per cent of my shopping at Aldi and only get bits from Woolies. These were the bits. Makeup was half price and the only reason I bought it,” she explained in the clip.

Some of Kitty’s followers also shared their frustration at the cost of everyday items, with one claiming to be living off a diet of “noodles and beans”, while another wrote that Australians were “so stressed and sad” at the moment “because we can’t afford anything anymore”.

However, others argued that some of the items in Kitty’s haul were far from essential staples, such as make up and collagen smoothies, which would have helped to explain why this shop was so expensive.

Others also pointed out the TikTok did not reveal every single item Kitty had purchased, so it was impossible to know what was really behind the final price.

A Woolworths spokesman told news.com.au the company had “adjusted some of our retail prices following wholesale cost increases from our suppliers”.

“We understand value is important to our customers and work hard to ensure our prices remain competitive in the market,” the spokesman said.

“We’ll continue to work with our suppliers to sensitively manage the whole-of-market inflationary pressure on food and groceries.”

Woolworths CEO Brad Banducci also spoke about the impact of inflation in a recent interview.

“There are always some things that are going down and some things that are going up,” he said. “Right now I have to call out avocados and apples where we have a lot of deflation.

“We have a lot of avocados, there has been a very good growing season and a lot of extra supply coming out from WA. So we’ve been selling avocados around $1.20, which is fabulous because it’s such a super food.

“And apples are a real everyday item and there is great value on them right now. So there are some great deals to be had on the fresh side of the business.

“The most expensive thing that has happened to us is red meat. Both beef and lamb have become incredibly expensive and we all notice that.

“They become almost a bit of a luxury item.

“That said, pork prices have stopped going up and certainly chicken prices are holding, and it seems as if we might get pink salmon prices. So red meat is becoming more expensive, but there are opportunities for families to buy alternative forms of protein that are more affordable.”

The shopper had purchased just a handful of everyday items. Picture: TikTok/@kittymo73

Australia’s cost of living nightmare

The rising cost of living in Australia has dominated headlines for months now, with the price of petrol skyrocketing alongside other staples including groceries, power and housing.

The Australian Retailers Association recently warned the country was set to face a “tsunami” of factors that will force up costs with supply chain disruptions, transport costs and the war in Ukraine already impacting the nation.

And there’s likely to be more pain ahead, with EY Oceania senior economist Johnathan McMenamin telling news.com.au recently that rising inflation would affect the standards of living for countless Australian families.

“Be aware that costs may increase a few per cent over the next few months or year,” he said.

“Make sure you have the money to buy those essentials – just being aware of it is a pretty critical thing.”

Meanwhile, cost of living pressures are expected to be a central theme of next week’s federal budget, with Treasurer Josh Frydenberg promising this week that relief was on the way.

“Obviously, it’s been a very trying time for Australians with the pandemic of course and that’s put pressure on the budget,” he said.

“But this budget is all about easing the cost of living for families now.”

Treasurer Josh Frydenberg says relief is on the way. Picture: Gary Ramage/NCA NewsWire

A “long term economic plan for jobs”, funding for essential services and increased investment in national security and defence would also be included, he said, and the Treasurer is also considering a temporary cut to the 44-cent fuel excise that could deliver immediate relief to motorists.

Pensioners will also score a one-off cash bonus of $250 in the federal budget next week to help with cost of living pressures, with Services Australia putting in place systems to pay the money within weeks as Prime Minister Scott Morrison prepares to call an election.