How much does a daily essentials shop cost?

Earlier this month, Ofgem announced their price cap would be increasing in April meaning many will be forced to choose between heating and eating.

To go with that, food prices are increasing, making it increasingly difficult for people on low-incomes to afford to buy food and instead making use of community foodbanks.

Last week, Flintshire Foodbank Project Manager Sue Leake told the Leader 'things are only going to get worse' after she confirmed the foodbank had over 1,300 people use it in December.

So we headed to Tesco to find out how much a daily essential shop would cost.

There were plenty of varying options for each item purchased, depending on branding, quantities and qualities, but we aimed to purchase the most cost effective items, to reveal how expensive the basics are.

The items purchased

Two pints of milk - £0.89

There were plenty of options at differing prices, from four pints to one, skimmed to full fat.

We chose semi-skimmed milk which came 11p shy of £1.

More than enough to be used for cups of tea coffee, or in a bowl of cereal.

Kingsmill 50/50 loaf - £0.85

Again, lots of options in the bread aisle, but we went for a standard 50/50 loaf from Kingsmill.

It has 14 slices of bread - enough for toast or sandwiches for a couple of days.

Bigger loaves could obviously be chosen, but the prices went up to around nearer £1.50.

Six eggs - £0.79

Tesco's own brand class A eggs were the cheapest available.

Enough for a breakfast bite, a sandwich filler or a mid afternoon snack.

Six more than enough for just the essentials.

Butter - £0.85

Tesco's buttery spread came in just under a £1 for a 500g tub.

An essential in the kitchen

More expensive brands were priced over £3.

Cheese - £1.79

The most expensive item on the list and yet the cheapest on offer.

A 400g block of Creamfields cheese was the best value alongside brands like Cathedral City at over £4.

Good for sandwiches, snacks, or meals, cheese is a good fridge staple.

Baked Beans - £0.70

A cupboard essential.

Perfect for cosy meal of beans on toast.

We chose Tesco's branded beans, one tin of 420g.

While Heinz is perhaps the nation's favourite bean brand, Tesco's proved the more cost effective.

Penne pasta - £0.29

A 500g bag of penne from the 'Hearty Food Co.' proved the cheapest option in the pasta aisle at Tesco's.

A tea time essential, pasta had to be on the list and is the last food item.

Toilet roll - £1.29

The first non-food item on the list and the second most expensive.

Springforce's pack of four was by far the cheapest.

After the panic buying during the pandemic, is there any wonder to see prices increasing.

Washing up liquid - £0.38

The final item on our essential's list.

While it may not be bought every day, it is normally needed to clean up plates and pans in the kitchen.

Tesco's own original was the choice for us, a pound or so cheaper than the more well known brands.

Total - £7.83 (20p for a bag for life makes it £8.03)

The reciept

Those nine items came to a total just shy of £8. With plenty of other foods or household essentials not on the list, is it a worry that these are the costs people are having to pay?

The majorities of food bought for this would probably last a couple of days, so to need to buy those and a fair bit more twice a week is a big concern.

There was no meat, fruit, veg, cereals and a whole lot more that wasn't included in this shop, which would rapidly increase the price of any shop.

The size of this living crisis is yet to be fully understood, but if prices continue to increase then a lot of people are going to need support.