If you’ve ever found yourself grumbling in the supermarket aisle, squinting at the price of a humble tomato or a packet of bikkies, you’re not alone.
The cost of living is a hot topic across Australia, and nothing brings it home quite like a blast from the past—a 20-year-old Coles receipt that’s recently resurfaced and sent social media into a spin.
The receipt in question, dated 8 January 2005, hails from Wallsend in Newcastle, New South Wales. It details a $77 grocery shop for 33 items—yes, you read that right, 33 items for $77!
The list includes everything from a 4-pack of Drumstick ice creams for $4.50, Maggi two-minute noodles at a mere 50 cents, to a packet of Scotch Finger biscuits for just 79 cents.
But what really got people talking was the price of fresh produce. Baby carrots for 98 cents, over half a kilo of bananas for $1.94, 330 grams of tomatoes for $1.34, and nearly a kilo of green grapes for $3.78.
One commenter summed up the mood perfectly: ‘I paid $1.30 for a tomato yesterday.’ Another lamented, ‘I miss doing my groceries for this much. Can’t imagine what my kids are going to pay.’
It’s not just nostalgia at play here—there’s a real sense of sticker shock. ‘Wow, the most expensive thing on this receipt is $4.50 and now the cheapest thing on the bill will be maybe more than that,’ another person remarked.
Curious to see just how much things have changed, the original poster decided to recreate the shop as closely as possible, matching products where available and substituting brands where necessary.
The result? The same basket of goods now costs $125, and that’s with specials and discounts. Without those, the total would have soared to $140—a staggering $62 more than in 2005.
Some tried to put things in perspective, pointing out that a 62 per cent increase over 20 years works out to about 2.4 per cent per year, which is roughly in line with inflation.
But for many, the reality is still hard to swallow. ‘That is almost double. That’s beyond bad. No wonder people cannot afford food,’ one person wrote.
Why are groceries so much more expensive?
There’s no single answer, but a few key factors are at play. Global supply chain disruptions, extreme weather events, rising fuel and transport costs, and increased demand have all contributed to higher prices at the checkout.
Add to that the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, which saw panic buying and supply shortages, and it’s no wonder our wallets are feeling lighter.
It’s also worth noting that while some items have skyrocketed in price, others—particularly fresh produce—have remained relatively stable, depending on the season and region.
And, as the original poster noted, some products are actually bigger in size today, which can make direct comparisons tricky.
How are Australians coping?
Many Australians are getting creative to stretch their grocery dollars further. Bulk buying, shopping the specials, switching to home brands, and even growing their own fruit and veg are all strategies being used to combat rising costs.
Some are turning to local farmers’ markets or community co-ops for better deals and fresher produce.
Others are simply buying less, cutting back on treats, or swapping out expensive items for cheaper alternatives. It’s a tough adjustment, especially for those on fixed incomes or with growing families.
A look back—and a look forward
It’s easy to get nostalgic for the days when a trolley full of groceries didn’t require a second mortgage. But it’s also a reminder of how much has changed in two decades—not just in terms of prices, but in the way we shop, eat, and live.
So, what can we do? Keep an eye on specials, plan meals around what’s in season, and don’t be afraid to try new brands or products. And if you stumble across an old receipt, hang onto it—it might just become a piece of history!
We’d love to hear from you: Do you remember what your weekly shop used to cost? Have you noticed certain items going up more than others?
What are your best tips for saving at the supermarket these days? Share your stories and strategies in the comments below—let’s help each other make every dollar count!
Also read: This $3 Coles find is sparking a wave of nostalgia among shoppers
“some products are actually bigger in size today”, but there are lot that are smaller due to “Shrinkflation” !!
If people voted for climate change alarmism and the closing down of reliable and cheap fossil fuel sources, what do they expect?
They want manufacturing closed down that rely heavily on these, knowing that third world countries not self sabotaging can sell us goods at extreme prices from glass to cement to fertiliser to food.
They voted in large numbers for this including the lie of power prices coming down by $275.