As one of the “necessity” shoppers, the comparative price of groceries measured “trolley for trolley” at various supermarkets leaves me cold.
As is the case with many shoppers nowadays, we buy only what we need, otherwise known as “the bare necessities”. Who of us can remember when last we stood in line with a trolley brimming with goodies?
Or, if we have, when last have we stood there with a fully laden trolley without worrying about how we’re going to explain this expense to hubby or wife?
Even we, the basket cases, or hand-held brigade, stare silently as the teller racks up an amount that seems way too much for a few measly essentials.
Prices of commodities are, of course, determined and influenced by many factors and are based on sound business principles. No businessman sells his wares at a loss. With the profits he makes things like re-stocking, rental, utility bills, salaries, repairs, wastage, maintenance, transport and the Big Bad Wolf – the Taxman – plus a host of other expenses have to be paid.
All this passes over the heads of our old-age pensioners and families whose breadline has all but been replaced by the survival line.
The cost of living has also taken the fun out of socialising and, in many cases, life’s little treats.
I remember when in a previous occupation, I used to joke with the old ladies when they insisted on paying for some really minor services which we offered free of charge to everyone.
“This is free, but next time you bake, remember, I simply love fridge tart or lemon meringue tart,” I would tell them.
Even back then, this was a tall order for some of the old folk. Quite often they would take my banter seriously and come back a few days later with a delicious treat, and knowing what it cost them to make the goodies, I felt slightly guilty.
These days it’s out of the question. The ingredients for a tasty fridge tart can cost anything up to between R60 and R80. How many old-age pensioners can afford to slice that amount off their skimpy pensions?
Even the cost of visiting relatives or attending a funeral in another province has become problematic, especially for the pensioners. Filling up a car with fuel at a minimum cost of R600 or R700 places a heavy burden on those in the lower-income bracket.
All this means that our friends are becoming our family, as we are slowly being “confined” to our home towns.
So, let’s forget about life’s burdens
and give one another a great big
sympathetic smile when
next we stand in line at the
supermarket counter.
In one way or another,
we are all in the same boat.
