Pleased to meet you 2011, don’t you forget my name *woo woo* *woo woo*

Happy New Year! Mazel tov!

I was planning on catching up the dockets I didn’t get an opportunity to document last year, but have decided not to: two reasons (1) it’s a New Year; and (2) the floods in Queensland.

What do the floods have to do with it you may ask – well those flood affected areas are the source of lots of Australian fruit and vegetables. Fruits such as pineapples, mandarins, watermelons and grapes. Vegetables such as zucchini, tomatoes, corn and sweet potato. Check out the Bureau of Agriculture and Resource Economics’ website. I am however documenting the prices per kilo fruit and veg were selling at according to the pile of receipts I have from November and December 2010.

The Sydney Morning Herald (06/01/2011 – link to come) reports that “grocery prices are not expected to rise until autumn when Queensland crops planted now would usually come onto the market”. Autumn in Australia begins March 1, 2011.

Banana prices should not be affected as the flooding is not in Banana growing areas (to my knowledge, it’s North Queensland & Coff Harbour, NSW). We stayed in Coffs Harbour 23 December and 30 December 2010, on our annual pilgrimage to Brisbane, and while it was raining in Coffs on the 23rd, it certainly wasn’t flooded. The Northern NSW flooding was far more inland, Kyogle way, which is roughly 300 kms from Coffs. The devastating effects of the rain and flooding are in Queensland. So it will be interesting to see if we are gouged by supermarkets, because I’ll bet my car that it won’t be the primary producers getting more money for their produce.

Woolies online 16 November 2010

Watermelon $2.00 / kg

Coles Surry Hills 15 November 2010

Strawberries 250g $2.98
Blueberries 125g $3.98
White seedless grapes $12.98 / kg
Bananas $3.48 / kg

Woolworths Eastgardens 24 October 2010

Sliced mushrooms 375g $4.98

Woolworths Town Hall 13 November 2010

Blueberries 125g $3.98

SPAR Alexandria 20 November 2010

Broccoli $5.99 / kg

Coles Surry Hills 26 November 2010

R2E2 Mangoes $2.98 / kg
Strawberries 250g $3.98
Blueberries 125g $3.98
Raspberries 125g $7.98

Coles Surry Hills 19 November 2010

Sliced Mushrooms 200g $2.50

Coles Surry Hills 14 December 2010

sliced mushrooms 375g $4.78
Bananas $2.48 / kg
Continental Cucumber $1.28 each

Coles Surry Hills 15 December 2010

Carrots $2.48 / kg
Potatoes washed nadi $3.48 / kg
Sliced brown mushrooms brown 200g $4.28
Broccoli $3.98 / kg
Garlic (Australian) $14.98 / kg

IGA Waterloo 7 December 2010

Nectarines $9.99 / kg
Pink Lady Apples $8.99 / kg
Bananas $3.49 / kg
Peaches $9.99 / kg

Coles Surry Hills 30 November 2010

Lebanese cucumber $1.68 / kg

Bornhoffen Acidof Yogurt 1 kg Index

I’ve noticed the price jump in my favourite yogurt, no idea why.

Woolies Online 16 November 2011

$5.36

IGA Waterloo7 December 2010

$5.79

Coles Surry Hills 14 December 2010

$5.39

Woolworths Townhall 13 November 2010

$5.29

Please add your fruit and/or vegetable prices per kilo, and Bornhoffen Acidoff yogurt prices. You may have made a mental note of prices. I’ll be hassling my Mother and Sister-in-Law in Brisvegas for fruit and veg prices. My Sis-in-law mentioned over Christmas potatoes were around $9.00/kg…

Thanx 🙂
Fab

Woolies online 7 October, Coles Surry Hills 12 October & David Jones Market St Foodhall 13 October 2010

I think Woolies online read this blog. Why else would I get 3 x 100g packs of Lurpak as freebies in my order. I placed another order with Woolies last night and I hope I get more Lurpak freebies ;). No, the real reason is the $4.29 credit I had because they couldn’t supply Oceanspray Cranberry juice. No way is this stingy babe allowing that dollar amount be forgotten and absorbed into the Woolies ether.

Have you voted in my egg poll? You really should. It’s an egg-ceptional poll.

I’m trying to include the place of origin in my lists. My personal opinion here, but I feel that the Murray Darling plan would push food prices through the roof, and the consequences of that would be diabolical for Australia. I try to espouse what I term be ethically stingy, that is think about what you are buying & where it came from. Is saving a few cents on an import worth it in the end? And how about those food miles? Be realistic about how you shop and your budget.

< Clambers down from soapbox and gets into the lists >

Woolies Online 7 October 2010

Wondersoft toilet paper 24 pack made in Australia $9.98
Finish Dishwasher Rinse Aid Regular 500ml (no place of origin on packaging – Finish dishwasher cleaner made in Poland, tabs in Germany) $8.92
Omo Laundry Powder 2x concentrate front loader 5kg made in New Zealand **special** $29.99
Omo Laundry Powder 2x concentrate front loader 5kg Sensitive made in New Zealand **special** $29.99
Woolworths Select Baby wipes scented 480 pack made in USA $22.56
Pop tops Apple drink 6 x 250ml 100% Australian Owned made in Australia with local & imported ingredients $3.86
Pop tops Apple Blackcurrant drink 6 x 250ml 100% Australian Owned made in Australia with local & imported ingredients $3.86
Ocean Spray Raspberry Cranberry Juice 1.5L made with N American Cranberries and Australian and imported ingredients, packed in Australia **special** $4.29
Nescafe Blend 43 coffee 500g packed in Australia from imported ingredients **special** $14.99
Three threes Mightymite 290g made in Australia $2.49
Carmans Bars breakfast Original 6 pack 270g 100% Australian made & owned $5.15
Woolworths Selec Cheese Tasty Lite slices 500g product of Australia Tasmanian cheese $8.05
Woolworths sizzle steak product of Australia $12.95/kg
Woolworths lite milk 3L $3.59

Coles Surry Hills 13 October 2010

The thing about having a teenage boy in particular in the house is that they eat. And eat. And eat. 13. Same height as me. So you have to return to the shops and stock up. We go through at least 16 litres of milk a week. When I buy milk, I buy either 3 or 4 three litre bottles. I’ve given some thought to moving into a supermarket. We could bed down in the shampoo aisle as that section always smells so lovely. Unlike teen boys 😉

Wonder White bread 700g **2 for $6.00** regular $3.99 each
Coles lite milk savings brand 3L $3.59
Ski peach mango yog 1kg $4.99
Kelloggs Sustain cereal 575g $5.29
Coles bran 350g $3.29
Kelloggs Sultana Bran Buds 600g $7.99
Arnotts Milk Arrowroot biscuits 250g $1.90
Arnotts Sao 250g $2.49
Real foods Corn Thins 150g $1.96
Nutella 750g $5.50
Devondale UHT Milk 2L semi skim **special** $2.00
Nescafe Blend 43 coffee 400g **special $13.00**
Omo small & mighty 1 kg **special** $5.00
Sunny queen 18 eggs 1.06 kg $6.29 (they have smiley faces printed on the eggs)
Bananas $1.98 / kg
Murcott mandarins $3.98/kg
Seedless watermelon $1.48/kg

David Jones Foodhall Market St Sydney 13 October 2010

Broccoli $9.90/kg
Cauliflower halk $3.50

Coles Online 6 October 2010

Woo hoo, got my goodies. I feel so bourgeoisie when I accept these deliveries. I’ve placed an order with Woolies online – they have MightyMite – the delicious Australian made & owned alternative to Vegemite. Also, true to the half Scot I am, have managed FREE delivery (as opposed to the $9.00 charged by Coles). Mind you, Coles gave me 2 decent freebies – Masterfoods Garlic & Herb Marinade 375g and Masterfoods Tuscan Meatballs Receipe Base 600g. Both are “Made in Australia” with local and imported ingredients. Both are items I would never buy personally.

The Woolies delivery person won’t like me, have purchased laundry detergent (a really good special on my favourite bulk 5kg buy), and other heavy items. I have the storage, the stinginess to buy up big when items are really on special/discounted. Saves time and $$$ in the long run. I’ll get into this receipt now, I’m reliving my uni days via YouTube and tweeting about the songs! Green Day, The Offspring, Blink 182, Nirvana, Foo Fighters…still enjoy them!

coles.com.au

Bananas (loose each approx 180g) $2.28/kg (same price per kilo as bananas purchased by Mr Fab at Coles Surry Hills day before)
Coles SB reduced Fat Milk 3L $3.59 (same as the B&M Coles)
Devondale Extra Soft Blend 500g produce of Australia $4.44 (trying to find an alternative to my Danish butter addiction)
Dairyfarmers Thick & Creamy Field Strawberry Yog 550g Made in Australia $3.00 **special**
Sorbent extra thick white toilet paper 16 pack made in Australia $9.00 **special**
Sunrice Pour & Store Long Grain Rice 1.5kg 100% Australian rice and Made in Australia $5.00
You’ll Love Coles Greek Style Yog 500g Made in Australia $3.26 (Bornhoffen was $5.44!!)
You’ll Love Coles Ultra Shine Dishwasher Rinse Aid 250ml Made in Australia from local & imported ingredients $3.26

I’ll be shopping at Eveleigh Farmers’ Market this Sat (8am – 1pm) 243 Wilson St, Darlington, NSW (Adjacent to Carriageworks). Me and my trusty red notebook, noting prices & buying fruit, veg & meat. And of course, my fabulous nana trolley 😉

Coles Online + Mr Fab’s Excellent Adventure Coles Surry Hills 5 October 2010

Mr Fabulous – f a b u l o u s by name and by nature. And if I squint, he looks just like George Clooney*. Mr Fab stopped at Coles Surry Hills tonight and bought milk. Three 3 litre bottles. I ordered three 3 litre bottles through Coles Online. The children are interstate until Sunday. I would be bathing in the stuff. We’ve doubled up on fruit as well, however that’s not a big deal, I’ve been making huge fresh fruit salads every other night. Thank goodness Coles has an option to modify the online order – which I did, with 30 minutes to spare! The site warns you the order will be cancelled and replaced into a new ‘trolley’ for you to make your modifications. The initial credit card payments are cancelled/refunded on the next business day according to the site’s FAQs, there was no message during or after the modified order that specifically addresses this issue. However, I won’t take their word for it – will check my statement online on Friday.

Online order problems – NO MIGHTYMITE . I couldn’t get everything on my list, but this is an essential. I didn’t want vegemite, promite or marmite.

Coles Surry Hills

Cadbury block Chocolate 200g **special 2 for $7.00** regular $4.29 each
Smart Buy Juice 3L $2.79
Smart Buy Coles Lite Milk 3L $3.59
Ioli Natural Spring Water 1L $1.59
Doritos Corn Chips 175g $1.30
Smiths Potato Chips 175g $1.49
Kelloggs Crunchy Nut cereal 710g $6.99
Tip Top Sunblest bread 650g $3.79
Pane Toscano pagnota 450g $3.99
Blueberries 125g $3.60
Strawberries 250g $2.98
Red Delicious Apples $3.98 / kg
Bananas $2.28 / kg

*NOT Mr Fabulous

I’m back … Woolworths Marrickville 9 September 2010 & Coles Surry Hills 19 September 2010

I’ve been sticking to my ethos of “less time in the supermarket”. Last shop was a two trolley affair. We have a 2 door car, so you can imagine the fun we had packing boot. At least it wasn’t like a visit to Bunnings, where Mini-Me & I have to cradle items in the backseat. We took delivery of our new upright freezer (yay) and filled it with food (son took the opportunity to throw in meat pies, which I personally find awful unless I have made it – hence careme pastry and a truckload of mince/veges). We bought a truck load of ice cream as well, we don’t normally but, we have a big freezer to fill…let’s call it ice cream research (mind you, we have forgotten about the ice cream a little). Plus life has been busy with visitors and school holidays, so I’ve had to use Coles Online for this week’s hunting/gathering (no mega packs of loo paper – must remember my Woolworth’s Online password. Prefer them, they have free delivery options at anti-social hours). We’ve also had to run to the local convenience store for milk – $5.50 for a 2L bottle of Dairy Farmers Lite milk is insane; and we’ve done it more than once in the past week. Could’ve bought a cow…

This month is Buy Nothing New. I broke it on the 2nd of October – bought my son a new pair of shorts and my daughter a new swimsuit. Son is growing and daughter has school swimming lessons next term. I go with her for her after school lessons and assist her getting into her fastskin (kidding she’s 5, it’s a normal butterfly back). Sadly both articles are not made here in Australia. I really have to get cracking with a list of Australian Made clothing. There’s a fab shop on King St Newtown (!!!) near the Alice St intersection that makes lovely and competitively priced women’s business attire. Name escapes me at the moment. As well, I did found some fabulous Australian Made men’s underwear at Paddington Markets 2 weeks ago – Mr Fab wasn’t keen on the prints. Sadly we, as a community, are accustomed to buying undies cheaply – $40 for a pair of bespoke men’s undies, albeit made in Australia, is excessive. Perhaps they could be the ‘good underwear” Mothers entreated us to wear for the occasion the bus ran us over… However, our house is full of items, that realistically we don’t use/need. I constantly have a bag of clothes for donation to the Salvos (I take it direct to the Salvos at Redfern). Seriously, as soon as I deliver it, another one gets started. Clothes outgrown but not outworn go to the Salvos, others get placed in my cleaning basket for dusting cloths. I did think I had reigned myself in when it comes to my children’s clothes, but it appears the reality may be different. I promise to tweet how I am travelling in that regard!

Anyhow I have 2 dockets to record, one is almost a metre long (there were sidelong glances at Coles Surry Hills that day).

Woolworths Marrickville

WW lite milk 3L $3.59
Pop Tops 250ml 6 pack $2.99
Hercules sandwich sealable bags 120 pack $5.61
Lipton Ice Tea 500ml $2.29
Bulla cream 600ml $3.73
Lychees 565g tin $2.88
Moove milk 600ml $2.94
Boccocini 220g $5.99
CSR sugar cubes 450g $3.58
Arnotts Saos 250g $2.49
Arnotts Marie biscuits 250g $1.90
WW floor kitchen bathroom wipes 100 pack $4.24
WW Pavlova meringue 500g $9.78
Nescafe Gold 200g **special** $9.99
Edgell Super Sweet corn tin 420g $1.82 (this is the only type that is Made in Australia with local ingredients, other Edgell tinned corn are a combo of local & imported)
Seedless Watermelon $2.63/kg
Pink Lady Apples $3.14/kg
Bananas $1.98/kg
Cucumber Lebanese $6.98/kg
Kiwifruit green large $2.98/kg (never seen kiwifruit sold this way before, bought over a kilo!)
Broccoli $3.98/kg

Coles Surry Hills

Sargents Meat Pies 4 pack **special 2 for $8.00** regular $5.99 each
Lipton Ice Tea 1.5L ** special 2 for $5.80** regular $3.39 each
Cadbury block Chocolate **special 2 for $7.00** regular $4.29 each
Wonderwhite 700g bread **special 2 for $6.00** regular $3.99 each
Hamburger Rolls 6 pack **special 2 for $3.50** regular @.40 each
Nestle Connoisseur Ice cream 1 L $8.99
Coles Finest Icecream 500ml $6.99
Weis Ice cream 1 L $7.99
Bornhoffen Natural yog 1kg $4.99
Herbert Adams Vege pasties 700g 4 pack $6.48
Fantastic Hokkien thin noodles 450g $2.25
Wedgewood sausage rolls 40 pack $4.00
La Famiglia garlic bread 450g $3.00
Aunty Kath’s Cookie dough 450g $4.11
Ski Wild Strawberry yog 1kg $4.99
Coles floor wipes 30 pack $4.99
Pantene Shampoo 750ml $15.69
Pantene Conditioner 750ml $15.69
Coles Toilet bleach gel 500ml $2.29
Real Foods corn thins 165g $2.39
Carmens Muesli bars 540g 12 pack $8.99
Coles lite milk 3L $3.96
Sanitarium Up and Go 6 pack $7.66
Devondale UHT 2L lite milk $3.05
Sunrice thin rice cakes 195g $2.38
Arnotts 9 grain vita wheat biscuits 250g $2.99
Kelloggs Sustain cereal 575g $5.29
Arnotts Milk Arrowroot biscuits 250g $1.90
Arnotts Marie biscuits 250g $1.90
Fountain tomato sauce 600ml $2.09
Fountain Smokey BBQ squeeze sauce 500ml $1.80
Golden Circle beetroot sliced 450g $1.60
washed potatoes $1.78/kg
bunch Organic celery $3.98 (stays crispy, even after cooked in soup)
Mandarins $3.98/kg
zucchini $7.98/kg
blueberries 125g $4.48
Watermelon seedless $2.25/kg
quarter cabbage 0.78 cents
half rockmelon $1.59
half cauliflower $1.59

Remember to share prices in your area! The comment area is for you. I can only do so much of the Sydney Metropolitan area alone!

It’s Spring – – – tweeting, petrol and bananas

I’ve taken to tweeting the petrol prices I see on my daily travels (that’s why most are the E10 prices, all I can see). I memorise them, then tweet via my phone when I get a chance. Do add your petrol prices, the hashtag is #stingypetrol #guerillagrocerychoice.

Bananas 99cents/kg at Kozma’s Convenience Store George St Redfern
$3.48/kg at Woolies Bondi Junction

I’m working on an “Australian Made” post, Choice Australia has beaten me to it, however I’ll carry on.

Woolworths, Coles, Supa IGA, Aldi Brisbane & Sydney… lots of receipts, lots of catching up + banana & mandarin price comparison

Wow has life been busy. Between the children and their sport, work and it’s related sport ;), keeping the house clean and tidy-ish…And my Mummy has posted me a sheaf of receipts.

I was going to write something profound about tomorrow’s general election, but right now, all I can think is at least this blog is a record of grocery prices. So whichever party leads the country from Sunday, with their warnings that the other party will effectively raise grocery prices to pay for campaign promises, we’ll know dear reader.

I found a couple of notes in a bag which I took last year and must have decided against. Prices of LCD TVs from Big W Eastgardens. I think Mr Fab and I were going to get a teev for our room. We haven’t and I think we decided it was unnecessary unless I got Foxtel to my, I mean our room. Foxtel IQ is wonderful. I am in no way affiliated with Foxtel (I wish, free Foxtel is one of my many dreams). Getting to ‘series link’ and record shows like Tabatha’s Salon Takeover is great. Anyhow a 26″ or 66cm Sanyo LCD26XR9DA LCD TV was $898. A Bush 22″ or 56cm LCD TV IDLCD2204HD was $448. Mr Fabulous says they’re cheaper now. We have a 46″ in the lounge, I want that size for my, sorry, our room…

I have been physically to the supermarket since, miss the tactile experience (am I never happy). And the fruit shop at George St Redfern (opposite Telstra and the Fire Station) has fab mandarins as well as great bananas. Same price or cheaper than Woolies/Coles and much better quality. I wonder what Woolies/Coles wholesale prices are when a little shop in Redfern matches or beats their fruit prices.

I’ll start with a banana price index:

14/8/2010 Redfern Fruit Shop $1.99/kg
03/03/2010 Woolies online red tip 0.42 cents each
27/07/2010 Coles online red tip 0.80 cents each
17/08/2010 Woolies Eastgardens $2.58/kg
08/08/2010 Woolies Marrickville metro $1.98/kg
08/07/2010 Supa IGA Stafford Qld $1.39/kg
03/08/2010 Aldi Lutwyche Qld $1.29/kg
06/08/2010 Aldi Chermside Qld 0.99 cents/kg
05/08/2010 Coles Mooloolaba Qld $6.99/kg

Mandarin price index

14/8/2010 Redfern Fruit Shop $2.48/kg
05/08/2010 Coles Mooloolaba $4.99/kg
13/08/2010 Aldi Toombul Qld $1.49/kg
08/08/2010 Woolworths Marrickville Metro $2.54/kg
08/07/2010 Supa IGA Stafford Qld $3.99/kg

Exhausting. Best get into it.

Metro Master Meats Marrickville Gourmet mince $7.00/kg

Woolworths Marrickville Metro 08/08/2010

I’ve noted on the receipt that only Edgell Super Sweet Corn is Australian produce, and all tinned asparagus is either from Peru or China.

Woolies brand lite milk 3L $3.59
Latina beef ravioli 625g $6.99
Analisa tinned lentils 400g prod italy 0.79 cents
Edgell Super Sweet corn 420g $1.82
Real Foods corn thins 150g $1.96
Arnotts Sao crackers 250g $2.49
Homebrand bread crumbs 1kg $1.78
Nerada tea prod Australia 100 bags $3.88
Nescafe blend 43 500g **special** $13.99
lipton chai latte 8 pack $5.99
Arnotts pizza shapes 12 pack $3.99
Jarrah chocolatte white delight 140g $3.99
Homebrand plain flour 1kg 0.95 cents
Naturally good chocolate mudcake mix $4.90 (gluten free, nut free, basically everything free haven’t made it yet, hope it tastes good)
Melinda’s gluten free chocolate fudge mix 415g (tastes fabulous, we aren’t a gluten intolerant family, not that we are aware of)
K-time twists 6 pack 222g $3.59
SPC fruit salad 695g $3.89
Carman’s natural muesli bars 270g $4.79
Roma tomatoes $3.98/kg
Cherry tomatoes 250g $1.98
pink lady apples $2.91/kg
calciyum 250ml **special 3 for $4.50** normally $1.69 each
Arnotts milk arrowroot biscuits 250g **special 2 for $3.00** normally $1.90 each

Woolworths Stafford Qld 08/07/2010

Aroona Water 1L $1.15
Gourmet medium tomatoes $3.98/kg

Coles Lutwyche Qld 05/07/2010

Coles brand frozen calamari 400g $2.74
Ingham Chicken strips 400g $4.00
Savings brand cream 600ml $2.25
Savings brand butter 250g $1.29
Singletons cheddar 200g $4.00
Snowy River Sausage 100g 0.86 cents
latina lasagna sheets 375g $4.15
McVities Digestice biscuits 400g $3.89
Savings brand eggs 700g 12 pack $2.29

Supa IGA Stafford Qld 08/07/2010

Wondersoft 18 pack toilet rolls $13.58
Handee towels tuff mate 3s $3.29
Cadbury Chocolate dairy milk duo 220g $2.99

Coles Rode Road Stafford Heights Qld 08/07/2010

Savings brand White bread 700g $1.09

Coles Chermside 11/07/2010

Nescafe Blend 43 500g $14.00
Baby love bulk nappies 32 pack $14.99
Baby love bulk nappies 36 pack $14.99

Coles Lutwyche 12/07/2010

Savings brand bird seed 5kg $8.68
Comfy bots unisex nappies 50 pack $15.99
brown onions 0.48 cents / kg
Field grown tomatoes $1.98 / kg
Savings brand eggs 12 pack 700g $2.29
Coles full cream milk 2 L $2.99
Savings brand raw sugar 1kg 0.89 cents

Woolworths Brookside 15/07/2010

pampas pastry 1kg $4.99

Woolworths Stafford 20/07/2010

Woolworths full cream milk 2L $2.47
Smiths BBQ chips 175g $2.99

Woolworths Stafford Qld 21/07/2010

Pop top 6 x 250ml $2.99
Homebrand juice 2L $1.89

Coles Rode Road Stafford Heights Qld 22/07/2010

Savings brand full cream milk 3L $3.09
maple Pancake shake 350g $2.29

Woolworths Chermside West Qld 23/07/2010

Pop tops 6 x 250 ml $2.99
Homebrand eggs 12 pack $2.29
Doritos chips 200g **special 2 for $3.50 ** regular $2.99 each

Coles Chermside Qld 24/07/2010

sliced mushroom 375g pack $5.28
coles sour cream carton 300g $1.29

Supa IGA Stafford Qld 27/07/2010

Leggos alfredo sauce 565g 0.99 cents
Leggos bolognese sauce 575g 0.99 cents
Leggos carbonara sauce 565g 0.99 cents
Latina kids pasta ravioli beef/veg 200g $1.40

Aldi Lutwyche Qld 03/08/2010

Milk full cream 2L $2.09
Multigrain bread 700g $1.79
Roma tomatoes $2.49/kg
Sliced mushrooms 250g $1.49
Zucchini $2.49 / kg
Rice/corn cakes 150g $1.59
floor cleaner 750ml $2.09

Supa IGA Brookside Qld 29/07/2010

Leggos sauce napolitana 575g 0.99 cents
Leggos sauce bolognese 575g 0.99 cents
Allens Fantales 340g $2.99
Purex toilet rolls 12 pack $3.79
Kellogs Special K 600g $4.49
Maggie beer Fig/fnl fruit paste 100g $5.49

Woolworths Stafford Qld 31/07/2010

Woolworths full cream milk 2L $2.47
Snakes Alive 200g $1.34

Coles Lutwyche Qld 03/08/2010

Greens maple pancake shake 325g $2.40
savings brand eggs 12 pack 700g $2.29
Cherry tomatoes 250g 0.98 cents
snowy river sausage 100g 0.86 cents
Leek $2.99 bunch

Woolworths Eastgardens 17/08/2010

Tamar valley 6 pack yog $7.99
Tamar valley greek style yog 6 pack $7.99
Kellogg Mini Wheats 765g $5.99 (woolies online 03/08/2010 same price)
Butter nut pumpkin $2.98 / kg
Zucchini $5.98 / kg
Broccoli $1.47 / kg
gold sweet potatoe $5.98 / kg

Aldi Toombul Qld 13/08/2010

sliced mushrooms 250g $1.99
Arrowroots 250g $1.09 (hhmmm must tell sis-in-law these are the trans fat bikkies, cough up the extra 81 cents for Arnotts – no trans fats)
Strawberries 250g 0.99 cents
Broccoli $1.19 / kg

Aldi Chermside Qld 06/08/2010

Nappies large 50 pack $15.99
Milk Full cream 2L $2.09
Apple Blackcurrant juice 2L $1.89
baby wipes 80 pack $2.69
Bread toast sliced 700g $1.09

SUPA IGA Stafford Qld 11/08/2010

Carrots 0.99 cents / kg

Coles Everton Park Qld 05/08/2010

Savings Brand milk 3L $3.09
Palmolive ultra dishwashing liquid 375 ml $1.60

Supa IGA Stafford Qld 12/08/2010

Brushed potatoes 4kg $3.99

Supa IGA Stafford Qld 11/08/2010

Palmolive 500ml dry skin/aloe $2.69
Palmolive Antibac/lemon 500 ml $2.69

Coles Toombul QLD 13/08/2010

Golden Circle cordial 2L $4.17
Pura tub cream 300ml $2.42
Savings brand bread white 700g $1.09
Savings brand lite milk 2L $2.49
McVities Digestive biscuits 400g $3.49
Savings brand butter 250g $1.29

Coles Ascot Qld 09/08/2010

Sorbent extra thick 16 pack $13.85
Trill bird seed budgie 2kg $12.58
Pauls Physical milk 2L $3.72
Spinach $1.98 bunch
Pumpkin Kent $2.49 / kg
Pink lady Apples $4.99 / kg

Coles Mooloolaba Qld 05/08/2010

Mainland butter 375g $5.24
Daily Orange Juice 2L $5.79
Savings brand cream 600ml $2.25
Pauls Milk 2 L $3.27
Pauls Physical milk 2L $3.72
Cauliflower each $1.99
Pink lady apples $4.99 /kg
brown onions $2.49 / kg
field grown tomatoes $3.98 / kg
pawpaw yellow $1.98 / kg
Cadbury dairy milk chocolate 350g $4.50

St Leonards – lower North Shore – The Forum Coles Central 10 July 2010

We ended up at St Leonards today. Mr Fab has been trying to get me to steer the family chariot across the big bridge, but I refuse to. Everything I need is here in my neck of the woods.

He managed to get me to drive over it once, about 10 years ago, by telling me he had some shortcuts in the CBD. Frightened the bejaysus (he’s oirish) out of him when I tried to perform a U-turn near the Observatory. We got over the bridge, I pulled over and he has driven over it since. I don’t mind the tunnel. And I have no idea why I don’t like driving, as in me being in charge of the vehicle, over the bridge.

If you think that’s extreme weirdness, try this. We lived in Melbourne for 2 years (had to go there with Mr Fab’s employment). I never once did a hook turn. Drove happily through the Melbourne CBD, trams didn’t bother me. But if I wanted to go right, I would turn left, then go down side streets until I was on the street and going in the direction I wanted to go in. Quite proud of that. Hook turns are just too bizarre for me.

Anyhow I am hoping today’s venture means someone from Coles is reading this ramble! Because. I. bought. lite. milk. for. $3.59. That’s right, 3 litres of light milk for $3.59, same price as Woolworths. Albeit the Coles Savings brand, but I have not seen this particular line elsewhere. So I will be investigating as many Coles supermarkets as I can this week. However the elusive 49 cent / kg bananas, haven’t seen.

It’s school holidays, and we have acquired an extra teenage boy for the night. So we had to buy teenage boy fuel, apparently so we would appear normal. I baulked at softdrink. Eat your cheetos & cheezels boys, but no coca cola.

Coles St Leonards 10/7/2010

Cheetos cheese and bacon balls 150g $1.99
Original Kettle chips 200g $3.89
Cheezels 125g $3.50
Kelloggs cereal variety pack 275g $5.50
Arnotts tim tams double 200g $2.89
Savings brand Coles lite milk 3L $3.59
bananas $2.48 / kg
field grown tomatoes $3.98 / kg

Edgecliff (NSW) Coles, Aldi, Deli Cucina, Peter’s Meats & Harris Farm 4 July 2010

I’ll begin by recounting my latest masterchef recipe adventure. Char Sui Salmon. I began my Sunday morning prepping the Char Sui sauce, with the assistance of master whisker Mini-me Fabette. The salmon needs to marinate for a minimum of 2 hours and a maximum of 12 hours. I didn’t have the red bean sauce or garlic powder. And I wasn’t keen on food colouring. I had relied on memory for the ingredients, although I did intend on crushing fresh garlic. But intentions and Sunday mornings don’t mix well in my house. Salmon in marinade, plastic wrap on container & into the fridge. Which was looking bare. So Mr Fab & I discussed where we would venture out to on our grocery shopping adventure. We pondered over Miranda Fair or Southgate Shopping Centre at Sylvania, but decided we didn’t feel like venturing afield, so Edgecliff was the go. Haven’t been Aldi shopping in ages. Mr Fab couldn’t find our BYO bags, I wasn’t going to show him (long story), so he promised he’d find boxes in Aldi.

When we Aldi shop, we get what we can & then get what we can’t elsewhere. I try to shop at smaller places like butchers, delis, fruit shops…but the reality is, if it’s quicker in one shop, I’ll do it. I don’t like grocery shopping on a weekend day, as the children shouldn’t have that inflicted on them (nor I have them inflicted on me). However it’s been so cold in Sydney recently that the last thing I have wanted to do is go out grocery shopping.

We went shopping, came home, and by dinner time, the last thing I wanted to do was cook. I figured a few more hours in the marinade wouldn’t kill the salmon. Fast forward to Monday night. Mstr Fab was at a friend’s place (school holidays do that) but I knew that fish had to be cooked or ditched, so Char Sui Salmon was on the menu.

I’ve mentioned Mini-me Fabette is the fussiest eater of my 3 co-family members. However she was keen on “stir fry fish”. No mushrooms (Mr Fab), no winter melon (couldn’t find it), no garlic chives (forgot), no peanuts ( Mini-me Fabette goes to a peanut free school, so peanuts are but a thing of the past). And I chose to grill/bake the fish as the fun of cooking an elaborate meal + Monday evening headache = care factor nil.

It was a nice meal. Mini-me decided it was too sour-see (she makes up words). Mr Fab ate it and pronounced it delish. Mstr Fab came home & announced he had heard the salmon I had cooked was delish, so he had to have some, and he ate (the smallest) a piece of the remaining fish, and pronounced it yummy. I should have changed before I de-seeded the cucumber, cooking is so messy.

Note: the previous night during the Margaret Fulton masterchef challenge, I emphasised to my family how Ms Fulton was emphatic about cooking from the heart blah blah, home cooking is cooked with love. And that’s why I cook for them. I’m sure they recalled the GREAT HISSY FIT I had earlier this year, where I bought 14 frozen dinners for me & left MR Fab in charge of the cooking for himself and the children. Thinking back on it now, it still makes me laugh to think how I would whack my meal in the microwave, wait 7 minutes then eat, while Mr Fab shot me death stares. I don’t normally engage in histrionics, but main meal times were getting insane & stressful.

In a nutshell, their fussiness equalled me making 3 or 4 different meals every night. Or throwing out meals which weren’t touched. I offered to throw cash directly in the bin. One night I cooked a meal, put it on the plates then ditched each plateful into the bin, to save them doing it. But the GREAT HISSY FIT resolved all of that. I don’t like wasting food. I live in Sydney, I see homeless people everyday. I am very much aware people in my city, indeed my country are going hungry and I had to get the message through to the not very Fabs. And I don’t really enjoy cooking, although interestingly now, it’s not so much of a chore. I was so over being a short order cook.

How dreary!

Speaking of dreary, Edgecliff centre is not flash. Although the Eastpoint section (where Coles is) is nicer. So I will share my receipts.

Banana index:

Aldi $1.19 / kg
Coles $2.28 / kg
Harris Farm $2.99 / kg

I ended up buying the eco (red wax tip) bananas at Harris Farm, none of the regular bananas looked appetising. Mr & Mstr Fab pronounced them A+, although the brown box they come in now is a concern.

Pat & Stick Ice cream sandwiches >> $22.00 at Who’s Cooking (opposite Harris Farm)

Deli Cucina (Eastpoint Edgecliff)

Now there was a sign regarding their choice of supplier of pork, local produce. I can’t recall as Mini-me Fabette noticed the ladies’ bathroom sign, & had to chant about going to the bathroom. I will go back this week and note it so I can record it here. I have written about Australian Pork on this blog before, and it’s in the news again this week. Plus the roast beef I bought was the best roast beef I have ever bought in a deli.

Ham $39.95 / kg
Roast beef $39.90 / kg

Peters Meats (Eastpoint Edgecliff)

The cooking man was out, which momentarily distracted Mini-me Fabette from her bathroom chant. Cooking sausages. She pronounced them delicious. I’m not keen on sausages, but unusually tried a bit, and they were delicious. By the way, neither I or my extended family are affiliated with any of the stores mentioned in my blog. Tip: try to get Mike to serve you… 😉

Tasty sausages $9.99 / kg
Beef Strogonoff strips $16.99 / kg
Scotch Fillet Steak $39.99 / kg

Coles

Served by the loveliest checkout babe, I won’t mention her name but she was hysterical and so sweet.

Coles brand white dinner rolls 6 pack *** special 2 for $1.98** regular $1.98 each
Arnotts milk arrowroot biscuits 250g ** special 2 for $3.00 ** regular $1.90 each
Cussons pure kitchen hands handwash 750ml $5.79
Greens Spongebob cupcake mix 240g $3.64
Arnotts sesame wheat crackers 250g $2.96
coles brand sugar icing 500g $1.40
Arnotts sao crackers 250g $2.49
Tobias baked bagels 510g $4.29
Hedys Quiche Lorraine 1.1kg $12.49
Sunshine Instant milk 400g $5.46 (Mstr Fab wanted to try it?!)
Philips crab claw meat 140g $7.30

Harris Farm Markets

Navel oranges 3 kilos for $4.99
Eco bananas pre-pack of 8 $3.69
Stawberries punnet 250g $2.99
Blueberries punnet 200g $4.99
Santa rosa tomatoes punnet 250g $3.99
Belgian dark chocolate mousse 100g $4.65
Baby spinach pre-pack 200g $2.99
unsalted corn chips 500g $4.85
red capsicum $2.99 / kg
mint bunch $1.49
bean sprouts $1.99 / kg
limes $7.99 / kg
pink lady apples $4.99 / kg
ruby red grapefruit $3.99 / kg
flat mushrooms (the really big ones) $8.99 / kg (I like mushrooms & so does Mstr Fab – now – and I really like tinned champignons, but cannot find any made/grown/product of Australia, so the fresh ones it has to be).
cherries $12.99 / kg (USA) $14.99 / kg in Coles

ALDI – no need to record brands here

toilet paper 16 pack $4.99
Fresh Lasagna sheets 500g $3.99
Fresh Egg fettucine 625g $4.99
Frozen Peas 1kg $1.99
Fruit muffin 6 pack $2.29
Penne pasta 1kg $1.15
Instant noodles 5 pack $1.09
Tin Lentils 400g 0.99 cents
tin beetroot 450g 0.75 cents
calamari rings 400g $4.99
cherry tomatoes punnet 250g $1.99
boccocini 210g $4.29
Tomatoes whole peeled 400g 0.75 cents
asparagus spears 425g $1.99
Glad drawstring bags 2 pack $4.99
light fruit cake 800g $3.19
Snow Bakes biscuits 250g $2.49 (Aldi’s Iced Vovos)
Cranberry drink 1.5L $3.99

No boxes. No bags. Had to be put in the boot loose.

Woolworths PARRAMATTA 24 April 2010

I decided to venture out.  Westfield Parramatta is approximately 25 kilometres from home.  Woolworths here has those plastic lego-like trolleys that I haven’t seen since Ashgrove (Qld) Coles in the 1990s.  Bananas here were $1.98 / kilo.

We were going to go to the Eveleigh Farmer’s Markets at the Carriageworks    Eveleigh Market but last time we did, we ran into a former neighbour whom I’m sure had a thing for Mr Fabulous.  I used to tease him about it – he didn’t like it, said no she hasn’t got a thing for me, she’s just friendly.   She never acknowledged me when we were neighbours, only Mr Fab.  How does a friendly person speak to one person, and not even look at the other person?  I was invisible if we passed one another and I was without Mr Fab.

When we met her at these markets she spoke to me, basically said I’m here as my partner runs a stall.  Blah blah blah blah, my partner. Ad nauseum.  Mr Fab, as we scarpered away after promising to buy something from their stall next time (we avoid that end) said I was right.  Of course I’m right.  I’m always right.

I really wanted to go to the Markets because of the Masterchef challenge this week.   The contestants had to go and collect their ingredients from the farms, pick their produce from the plant, collect the eggs from under the hens…I’m not sure if I want to go as far as that!

Anyhow I did my foraging in the supermarket.  I needed non Farmers Market items, and I wasn’t in the mood to go double shopping.  In fact by the time I got to Woolworths after exploring this shopping centre, I wasn’t in the mood for food shopping FULL STOP!

Kleenex tissues 250 $2.68

Pearl Drops 100g toothpaste $4.99

Nerada Tea 100 pack $3.19 (GROwn and packed in Australia)

Woolthworths Own Peas tin 400g 0.99c (product of Belgium.   Golden Circle’s are from New Zealand, Edgell are packed in Au but made from local and imported ingredients)

Lurpack butter 250g $4.69          (Danish. I love it.)

Sunny Queen Eggs 800g dozen $4.59

Brown onions $2.24 / kg

Truss tomatoes $5.98 / kg

Broccoli $4.98 / kilo