“It Was Ridiculous”: Mother Shares R10k Grocery Haul for Family of 3 From Woolies

• A woman shared her monthly Woolworths shopping trip, revealing that her usual grocery haul for her family of three now costs over R10,000
• The viral video shows a wide variety of items, including chicken, fish, vegetables, baby formula and household essentials
• South Africans flooded the comments expressing shock at grocery prices, with many relating to the struggle of feeding families as costs continue to climb

A mother has left South Africans speechless after sharing her monthly grocery haul that cost over R10,000 for her family of three.

TikTok user @themulaudzis posted the viral video on 29 July 2025a, showing the reality of month-end shopping that many families are facing across the country.

In the video, which has received over 8,000 reactions, the mother explains how her usual shopping trip to Woolworths ended up costing much more than expected. She mentions taking her daughter's nanny along because she insists on helping pick items for the little one, and they've started a new tradition of having lunch together after shopping.

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The extensive haul includes a variety of items that showcase the high cost of feeding a family. From chicken fillets and rainbow trout to vegetables, bread, milk, and cereals, the trolley was packed with both essentials and treats. The mother bought special lunch meals for her daughter, who loves Coke.

The shopping list reveals the true cost of modern family living. The haul included meat products, chicken, fish, vegetables, six-packs of juice, bread, milk, rice, peppers, margarine, detergent, toilet paper, paper towels, toiletries, and even a pot plant. The mother mentioned that her husband isn't currently eating much red meat, so they're buying more chicken and fish instead. Regardless of some items no longer being on her list, the cost of her usual grocery items has now gone up to over R10,000.

Mzansi reacts to costly shopping

The video sparked conversations about the rising cost of living across South Africa.

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@kedibonebloom expressed shock:

"Over 10k, oh the cost of living is killing us 😭😭"

@ms_p commented:

"We missed your cooking."

@lesego_r revealed:

"Lol, was I not scared to greet you while we were waiting for coffee at the Woolies at work🥲Love your content 💕"

@retsolicious shared:

"Iyooo, the way I crave red meat, mama ka Oriki…I lost my job years back, and I simply can't afford even lamb knuckles."

@mb_collections joked:

"To us who like and smile before watching... 😁😁 Where have you been???"

@nonog praised:

"Oh, you and Ori's nanny have such a beautiful relationship 🥺🥺🥰"

VAT increases affecting grocery bills

According to Food For Mzansi, South African families are feeling the pinch due to VAT increases. The VAT rate increased from 15% to 15.5% on 1 May 2025, meaning consumers now pay an extra 0.5 cents on every rand. Another increase to 16% is planned for 1 April 2026.

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VAT is an indirect tax on goods and services that everyone pays regardless of income, making it particularly harder on lower-income families. The government expects to collect nearly R500 billion from VAT this year, with the increase bringing in R13.5 billion in 2025/6 and R29.8 billion in 2026/7.

To cushion the impact, some items remain zero-rated, including brown bread, rice, vegetables, fruit, milk, and eggs. New additions to the zero-rated list include canned vegetables, dairy liquid blends, and organ meats.

Watch the TikTok clip below:

3 Other stories about grocery costs

• Briefly News recently reported on a woman's R7k grocery haul that had Mzansi questioning her store choices, but what she bought for that amount left people completely divided.
• A Cape Town woman with a Mercedes G63 stunned South Africa with her Woolworths shopping, but the final bill had everyone talking about luxury versus necessity.
• Meanwhile, a broke student shared his R400 grocery haul breakdown, but his clever shopping strategy had people praising his survival skills.

Source: Briefly News