I needed fresh vegetables, a sauce, cheese and other odds and ends I had run out of. And I found that all the reports are true – if you looked carefully, just about everything has increased in price in the last few months.
Mushrooms were a good 30
p more than at the beginning of the year, as were peppers and much of the fruit. Fruit juice was a good 20p more and I nearly had heart failure when I realised how easy it is to spend more than £1 on a family sized loaf of bread.
By being careful I managed to keep my bill to a reasonable amount, but I could see how easy it is to do a big household shop, maybe indulge in a few treats, then get to the checkout and have a shock when presented with the receipt.
One of the friends I saw for the pasta evening is married with two young children. She said that £100 gets her nowhere in a supermarket shop these days – a sentiment which was almost echoed word for word by a colleague a day later.
Factor in rising utilities bills, the credit crunch and inflated mortgage rates and it equals hard times for many of us.
I realise I am very lucky – manageable mortgage for a few more years, stable job, no dependents – so tightening my belt is more of an uncomfortable experience than painful.
But from now on I will be taking my mother's advice when something catches my eye in the shops by asking myself these questions: Do I want it? Yes. Do I need it? No. Can I afford it? No.
If this is the case, I won't be reaching for my wallet.
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