POLL: What's hard to save money on when grocery shopping?

MARIE and Leonard Mahon can still remember the days when there was a corner store in every suburb.

Rockhampton's Marie and Leonard Mahon shop around for the best bargains when they do their groceries each fortnight. Photo Michelle Gately / Morning Bulletin. Picture: Michelle Gately

MARIE and Leonard Mahon can still remember the days when there was a corner store in every suburb.

The couple, who have lived in Rockhampton for more than 60 years, said back then groceries were delivered to your door with a smile.

"We've seen some price changes over the years," Marie said.

Price comparison between three local chains

Readers thoughts on grocery prices in region

The Morning Bulletin spoke to the couple yesterday when we took to the shops to compare the prices of seven everyday items at Woolworths, IGA and Coles.

Alongside their power bill, Marie said the price of groceries took a big chunk out of their fortnightly pension.

The savvy shoppers said they were always on the hunt for a bargain.

Marie said they shopped fortnightly at Woolworths, Coles or IGA, depending on what was on special.

"You've got to when you're living on (a pension)," she said.

And it's not brand name products Marie and Leonard are filling their trolley with.

Marie said they bought mostly generic products, because they were cheaper.

"They're fairly good quality," she said.

"If we didn't like them we wouldn't buy them."

But Marie said the couple always made room in the budget for little luxuries like chocolate biscuits for Leonard and potato chips for her.

Picture: Allan Reinikka

Grocery price comparisons

Coles

• Tip Top white bread:  $4.29
• Tim Tams:   $2.50
• Flora margarine, 500g: $3
• Brushed potatoes: $2.98/kg
• Bananas: $2.50/kg
• Pauls full cream milk, 2L:   $2.99
• Beef mince, regular, 500g:   $3
• Prices current as of 3pm yesterday

Woolworths

• Tip Top white bread:  $4.29
• Tim Tams: $2.69
• Flora margarine, 500g:   $2.99
• Golden Delight potatoes: $2.98/kg
• Bananas: $1.88/kg 
• Pauls full cream milk, 2L:  $2.99
• Beef mince, regular, 572g: $5.71   

IGA

• Tip Top white bread:   $4.29
• Tim Tams: $2.69
• Flora margarine, 500g: $3.70
• Brushed potatoes:  $2.29/kg
• Cavendish bananas: $2.49/kg
• Pauls full cream milk, 2L: $3.39
• Beef mince, regular, 532g: $4.78
   

WE asked our readers on Facebook what they thought about the price of groceries in Rockhampton. Here's what they had to say:

Evelin Macaskill: Too high, bring on Aldi.

Cindy Batgirl McKenzie: Much cheaper than regional towns but you do need to pay attention to price comparison and sale items. We could definitely benefit from a farmer's market every now and then maybe even an Aldi.

Marcia Miller: Way too high, along with fuel.

Pene Harris: Not too bad compared to smaller country towns.

Miranda Broadbent: Unbelievably expensive, like the rest of Australia.

Trixie Dee: Way too high for gluten-free food especially when you have no choice but to buy it.

Andrew Hunter: Cheap depends on how you shop and avoid high-tax items.

Lesley Howard: Same as everywhere. People complain about cost of groceries, but go to the food courts and they are full.

Lorraine Schreiweis: More expensive each week. Making it hard to feed my family (gluten- free) on our present budget.

Read all comments here:

Post by The Morning Bulletin.

Originally published as POLL: What's hard to save money on when grocery shopping?