Grocery Expense

Posted August 10th, 2011 in Perth WA 8 Comments »

I started to record how much I spend on grocery each month, because I thought I might be spending too much for just 2 (& a half) people. When I look at the bank statement I sometimes wonder what I spent so much on, and so often (EFTPOS). I realized I go to Coles, WoolWorth and IGA few times a week… To think about it, we (just 2people) don’t need so much food in a week, and going grocery shopping few times a week is just too much!

I don’t know how much people normally spend for food each month, but I set a limit of $100 for August to see.  Now, it’s 10th of August and I already spent $180… :_(   ….  Maybe $100 for 2 people in a month was bit too tight, but it made me be more sensitive about spending money!  Since I’m not employed anymore I’ve gotta save as much as I can on everyday expenses…

Spud Shed isn’t really a place where you can buy “fresh” food, but things are very cheap. I just had to buy vegetables (because I can’t live without them), so I headed there to stock up my fridge. Some of the products weren’t something I wanted to buy (e.g. pre-packed vegetables : gone very soft, mandarins : obviously had been frozen) but some were ok. One whole Chinese cabbage for 99cents, a net of garlic for 99cents, iceberg lettuce for 99cents, a head of cauliflower for 29cents etc.  You’ve just gotta dig out the better quality one from the box (if there’s any).

We bought quite a lot, so I believe I won’t need to go grocery shopping for vegetables for awhile… The cart-full of food for $63!

By the way…..  About Japanese grocery shops in Perth.  What happened??   Nippon Food in Fremantle has closed, Super Fuji in Victoria Park has closed, and now Maruyu in Perth has closed for good. 🙁  Hmmmm, there is only one shop left (Nippon Food in Subiaco) which mainly sells Japanese goods and owned by a Japanese company in Perth.

I guess importing foods and goods from Japan is too expensive, and is not a good business?  There are so many similar products at Chinese or Korean shops anyway, and they are much cheaper.  They don’t have everything though, of course…    But I’m surprised to hear 3 shops closed all together around the same time.

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8 Comments on “Grocery Expense”

  1. 1 Mark said at 9:19 am on August 10th, 2011:

    As a couple we try to budget our weekly shop to $100, we have a fully stocked pantry of food and a freezer full, l try to buy things when they come on special, say tinned Italian diced tomatoes at 79 cents down from $1.49 l buy dozen time or Hinze Baked Beans $1 tin down from $1.69 buy a dozen, Chicken pieces at $2.49 buy couple trays break the tray into portions and freeze, buy bulk piece of steak for $24 and then cut into individual steaks buy shoulder of pork 2 kilos @$ or $4 kilo and then cut into half and so on. We find IGA to cheaper than Coles and Woolworth’s but will shop for specials at Coles and Woolworth’s from their catalogues, we used to spend $200 week but ave managed to cut back without reducing pour quality of eating

  2. 2 umepontarou said at 5:39 am on August 11th, 2011:

    Hi Mark,

    I check supermarket’s catalogs and go buy any specials too ; like you said, I keep things in my freezer and pantry 🙂
    You cut down your grocery expenses to half, it’s amazing. Good job -☆ 🙂

  3. 3 Bishonencam said at 10:10 am on August 10th, 2011:

    I would think that Nippon and Maruyu closed as the rents would probably be WAY too high for them to support themselves. I never thought Super Fuji had a very large range, so I’m not surprized they closed either.
    I buy my Japanese products from either Loi’s on Barrack St or Lion Mart on Roe St in Northbridge.
    They stock a lot of the things the other stores did except for all the sort of Daiso type stuff Maruyu used to stock.

  4. 4 umepontarou said at 5:42 am on August 11th, 2011:

    Hi Bishonencam,

    I guess so… Lion and Loi’s sell Japanese items including liquor, so I go there sometimes too :_)
    The place Super Fuji used to be will be some kind of cafe, called “Urara”. I will check it out when it opens 😀

  5. 5 JamJam said at 2:55 pm on August 10th, 2011:

    Hi Ume,
    I know what you mean about prices, Perth is terrible! Have you tried shopping at the farmer’s market in Manning? The produce is the freshest you can get here, and cheaper too. The produce is locally grown, and sold by the people who grow it, there are even three organic food stalls. These days I buy all my fruit and veg from there, and most of our other food as well (sourdough bread, jersey milk, sausages, eggs, french pastry, honey, jam, etc.) It’s on Saturday mornings, 8-1, at Clontarf College on Manning Road. Besides the great food there is a wonderful happy atmosphere, with families strolling around.

  6. 6 umepontarou said at 5:45 am on August 11th, 2011:

    Hi Jamjam,

    I actually haven’t been there but I’ve heard their products are good 🙂
    I will go there to grab some fresh & cheap food! Thanks for the info -☆

  7. 7 JamJam said at 9:20 am on August 11th, 2011:

    Maybe we will see each other there…I will be the one with the french bulldog! I’ll recognise you when I see Hiro! 🙂

  8. 8 umepontarou said at 5:37 am on August 13th, 2011:

    Jamjam

    Haha! Ok I will keep an eye for a French bulldog 😀

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