A recent incident has highlighted the soaring cost of living as even a humble ham and cheese sandwich comes with a hefty price tag. Madeline, a woman based in Australia, couldn’t believe her eyes when she had to pay a whopping £12.98 ($24.80) for the ingredients to make a simple sandwich.

Madeline took to X (formerly known as Twitter) to vent her frustration. She shared a photo of a loaf of bread, a packet of ham, and a block of cheese, which she had bought from her local Woolworths supermarket. In her post, she itemized the prices, revealing that the bread alone cost $5.40, the cheese was $9, and the ham totaled $8.40. She also added a pack of mixed lettuce for $2.

Her post resonated with many people who agreed that food prices have reached alarming levels. One Twitter user expressed concern, saying, “I don’t think the farmers are seeing it either.” However, some criticized Madeline for opting for expensive brand products, suggesting that she could have shopped more wisely to save money.

In response, Madeline defended her choices, clarifying that she had purchased home brand cheese, and emphasizing that prices have significantly increased over the years. Others advised her to make smarter choices and take advantage of sales to reduce her grocery bill.

While the UK recently experienced a slight decrease in food prices, the overall trend remains worrisome. According to the British Retail Consortium (BRC)-NielsenIQ Shop Price Index, average food prices fell by 0.1% in September, and food inflation dropped to 9.9%. However, these numbers are still considerably high.

The incident serves as a reminder of the ongoing cost of living crisis, affecting people around the world. As prices continue to rise, it becomes increasingly important to find ways to stretch our budgets and make informed purchasing decisions.