Butchers are charging like bulls too. Recently bought my dog a whole marrowbone. Not much meat on it but was charged $4. As you say, these used to be given away. You would think with the high prices charged for meat they could at least afford to give away the bones.

Margaret.

Dog bones are not always fresh as they just keep piling them on top until they get around to packing them for one thing. That is almost as bad as eating cat/dog food which is not for human consumption surely? Pensioners should know better. How can any person living in Australia and receiving the pension have to resort to this? I know it can get tough and can take ingenuity to keep well fed on the pension and healthy but it can be done.



I would be most offended if any person said what that Yugoslav man said calling Aussies. Kangaroos.............Unusual as I know many Yugoslav people and not found any to be so disrespectful. I know I would have had to show my annoyance as after all he is living here and has a job here and if it was just because he was speaking to someone with not a lot of money dosn't matter we are all equal.



Many cheaper cuts of meat go a long way and can make a casserole with just a small amount for a couple of days same with cheaper chops and also unlike the Supermarket a butcher can keep "fresh" bones if people want them for human consumption) but you have to ask. Not bones just for animal consumption which do not have to be all that fresh.

Phyl.

I think some of us here could ponder on the thought that "but for the grace of God go I.". we have no idea of other people,s circumstances ,so dont criticise what you dont understand I say

I agree dusty - until you have walked a mile in another man's shoes........................................I've been in situations, where I simply did not know where I was going to live, or how I was going to feed my children. I've always managed, somehow, but at times, it was extraordinarily hard.

I believe most of us have been through tough times Dusty and Bev. I had three children with the eldest 3 and just me to rear them for quite a few years at the age of 22 so do not need to walk in anyone else's shoes...........................



All I was saying was and yes I know an elderly man was in the news some time back saying he had to eat canned dog food because he could not live on the pension that there are better ways to live cheaply than eating "for animal consumption food"

People do manage on the pension as most here know albeit it certainly could be a bit more as some people do struggle.



If a person wants to eat dog food and has no dependents go for it...........................if said person gets sick well that person's choice.

I would live on no brand tinned food for people not dogs if I had to, that is all I have to say on the matter. I don't care what anyone does as long as no kids involved.

As long as people are happy it's none of my business what they eat lol.

Phyl.

I think the real problem is rent - private rental has become so expensive. A single pensioner simply cannot afford to pay for rent, even with the subsidy, it leaves precious little for , electricity and water, let alone food. You simply have to keep the roof over your head. So you bathe every second day - cuts down on the water cost and just that little bit of electricity. You pay your rent, put that bit aside for the other essentials, and what is left, you just have to live on. For a great many people, it just becomes too much, so they leave the roof that has sheltered their head, and live as well as they can. I can understand those who become homeless - it has just become too much. It is either food - or shelter. Not only that, If you boil something for long enough, it kills all the "baddies" and renders it fit for human consumption. Doesn't matter what it is - labelled dog bone, human eating bone or what.

What are you going to do next?



Just returned from Woolies where I used to get a bag of dog bones for a $1.00 which regularly contained big beef marrow bones.



I used these for a stock and casseroles in winter. Now the bastards are charging $5.50 for exactly the same bag.



I asked the bloke who does the packaging and boning in the meat section why the price increase (he is a Yugoslav) he told me that the "Kangaroos" have woken up to to the fact that marrow bones are good for their health and nutrition, hence the price increase.



My response was, I suppose the next thing they will realize is squid, octopus and eels isn't just bait food and not fit to feed a cat with.



With luv to all who haven't caught on yet :)

Sorry to be the one to tell you this, Club, but squid, octopus and eel were discovered by the trendies quite a while ago. Squid or calamari is still relatively cheap, but octopus and eel are in the delicacy sections of the supermarket.

Many years ago, my dad fished for flathead, and the Aussie fishermen laughed and said they were only good for bait!

Now????

$25.00 per kilo for fillets!

Just an update,



Coles and Woolies are now calling the 'dog bones containing marrow' Osso Bucco (which I always thought came from yearling vealers).



Anyway - the new charge is $11.00 per kilo in both chains. Bon Appetite to all.

I know that I questioned the price of "offal" - you know the bits and pieces that no-one ate. Seems now that "they" - the chefs have found a way to make it more to the liking of the general populace, so last time I bought kidney - I paid a premium price. Looks like I have to go back to wringing the neck of chooks and buying a pet rabbit or two - you know how they breed - and they're not too bad to bad to eat and don't take up too much room.

I know that I questioned the price of "offal" - you know the bits and pieces that no-one ate. Seems now that "they" - the chefs have found a way to make it more to the liking of the general populace, so last time I bought kidney - I paid a premium price. Looks like I have to go back to wringing the neck of chooks and buying a pet rabbit or two - you know how they breed - and they're not too bad to bad to eat and don't take up too much room.



A brace of conies - this takes me back. Fresh rabbit and streaky bacon gently simmered in a large pot, along with plenty of veg. What could be better.



Real food ...........



Have you ever made pigeon and/or game pie (water crust pastry)?

When we were first married and lived in a very small country town life was really tough. We had three little ones, lived in a little old miners cottage with one cold tap over the bath (no such thing as a kitchen sink.) Money was also short and my husband used to go rabbiting to supplement our food. There is nothing better than a lovely braised bunny. My mouth is drooling just thinking about it.

Needless to say, that was over 40 years ago and things have improved for us since then. I never regret those early days though and appreciate all we have now.

Once you learn how to budget and can make meals out of nutritious cheap ingredients, it never leaves you.

There are lots of ways to cut down on the cost of living.

Margaret.

Cheap did you say !!!!!!





The one butcher here that will order in a rabbit charges $15.00 a head.



I remember picking up two for $1.00 - !!!



Rabbit pie, not likely

I agree rabbit is very expensive now and I would never buy it. But we used to get them FREE 40 years ago. I was referring to shopping for other ingredients. I call into the supermarket two nights a week on the way home from bingo and meat is sometimes marked down to half price. Great to grab a bargain and put it in the freezer. Also bread is half price too. Also when I shop on a Wednesday I scan the meat department for mark down bargains. There is nothing wrong with the quality, just making room for the new lot.

And it is amazing how far 500gr of mince made up with veges and sauces etc. can go. Very nourishing meal.

Margaret.