Fuel and electricity prices are on the rise which means that we all have to get really good at budgeting, especially when it comes to groceries.

The price of food seems to be off the charts these days, and watching that final figure climb at checkout isn’t good for the blood pressure.

According to BusinessTech, the latest data from BankservAfrica shows that, while the 1,5% increase in take-home pay in the country is beating inflation, in real terms South Africans are struggling.

The table below should give you an idea of how the average price of basic food items has increased between 2018 and 2019:

Out of the four main retailers in South Africa – Spar, Woolworths, Checkers, and Pick n Pay – Spar saw the smallest increase in the price of its basket from 2018 to 2019.

Pick n Pay is the only other store to see price reductions (also eggs and rice) – but Checkers saw the most price freezes, with four items not showing any increases, leading to its basket remaining the cheapest.

One of the most notable price jumps between 2018 and 2019 is the price of Coke across all stores – between R4 and R5 more expensive than a year ago.

Coke really isn’t good for you, so cutting that out is in your best interests. It’s one of the easiest ways to avoid the effects of that sugar tax on your shopping bill.

Fruit and veg, on the other hand, is necessary for survival, so that price hike is worrying.

You can see how basic products compare across all four stores here:

Woolworths is pretty pricey, but they do have that magic water.

Here’s how things have changed in terms of price since 2015 – click on the graph below for a larger image:

So it looks like we’re all doomed to panic attacks every time the shop assistant rings up our grocery totals.

Alternatively, you avoid heading to the shops, and have your dinners and meal plans delivered straight to your door.

You do you.

[source:businesstech]