‘Can’t even make a full meal’: Woman’s fury at $37 Coles bill backfires

A woman who lamented her “f**king expensive” grocery bill was met with an unexpected response, as Aussies continue to grapple with cost of living pressures.

A woman who took to social media to lament her “f**king expensive” grocery bill was met with an unexpected response, as Aussies continue to grapple with cost of living pressures.

In a video on TikTok that’s been viewed some 226,000 times, Perth-based Brooklyn declared she was “never owning a house at this rate” as she shared what she’d gotten for $37 at Coles.

“Groceries are so f**king expensive. Do you want to know what I got for $37?” she began.

“OK. Lettuce, because health. Gravy, because also health. Panko breadcrumbs. Some bread. Some more bread. Prosciutto. Chicken. And vegetable oil. $37!”

Text overlaying the clip read: “This can’t even make a full meal and it was $37.”

There was little sympathy for Brooklyn, however, among the more than 200 people who took to the video’s comments – the consensus being that she’d actually scored a “bloody good deal”.

A woman who lamented her 'f**king expensive' grocery bill has been met with an unlikely response. Picture: TikTok

‘Is it bad I think that’s pretty good,’ someone wrote in response to Brooklyn’s $37 haul. Picture: TikTok

“Is it bad I think that’s pretty good,” one person wrote, to which someone else responded, “Same, I was like ‘bargain’.”

“The economy might be messing with me but this seems like a steal to me,” another said.

While a third commented: “That’s a lot for $37 in this climate. I spent $60 on less the other day.”

“Seems right to me! $10 in bread, $7 in prosciutto, [plastic] wrapped lettuces and ready to pour gravy. [You’re] paying for convenience!” someone else agreed.

“Mate, that’s actually decent. You’ve got at least 4-6 meals in there,” another wrote.

“In all fairness, you didn’t buy the cheapest things,” one commented.

“Pretty good for 37 [dollars] actually.”

Shoppers are paying up to twice as much as they were three years ago for pantry staples, fresh analysis revealed last week. Picture: NCA NewsWire/Roy VanDerVegt

Fresh analysis by Compare the Market last week revealed that Australian shoppers are paying up to twice as much as they were three years ago for pantry staples such as olive oil, and a bag of mixed peas and corn.

No shopping aisle has avoided the impact of inflation since 2021, with prices of common items jumping 40 per cent.

Compare the Market’s Chris Ford said while an increase of a few dollars didn’t seem like much, it had a major impact on a household’s weekly budget.

“We know that the big supermarkets are trying to lure in customers by locking in or dropping prices, but our analysis shows that many of the essentials we shop for each week have actually increased since last year,” he said.

“In a time where we’re seeing energy bills skyrocket, feeling pain at the petrol bowser and seeing insurance premiums rise, the last thing we want is for Australians to be forking out more than they need to on everyday items they need.”

Mr Ford said recent extreme weather events and a potential increase to shipping costs would also contribute to higher checkout prices at the moment.

“Which is why it’s more important now than ever before for Aussies to take back control, wake up to waste and pay as little as possible for the groceries we need.”

Consumers have been urged to shop around before they head in-store to ensure they’re securing the best price.

Aussies are being urged to shop around before they head in-store to ensure they’re securing the best price. Picture NCA NewsWire/Gaye Gerard

Supermarket prices have become a political lightning rod in recent weeks, as the government scrambles to act in a bid to convince voters about their record on the cost of living.

A review into the food and grocery code, which governs the relationship between retailers, wholesalers and suppliers, is currently under way.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has expressed his concern at the prices Australians are paying at major supermarkets Coles and Woolworths.

The federal government has left the door open to ordering the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission to launch an inquiry – but Mr Albanese indicated the watchdog was “closely” considering legal action about deceptive prices.

“We want to make sure that people are paying the lowest possible prices when they get to a checkout,” the Prime Minister told reporters last Tuesday.

“That’s our priority along with other measures to assist people.”

– with NCA NewsWire