With the price of petrol in South Africa going up by 25% and diesel by 50% in the next week everything we purchase is about to go to another level never seen before. No one quite knows what to expect so expect the worst as manufacturers and retailers will add their extras taking advantage of this situation. Like everyone else they will blame the war deflecting what is the obvious and that being greed. Next week in South Africa the facts are we will all be poorer affecting every household.
Tonight we were having some steak for dinner which is quite a regular meal in our household. Here the steak is resting letting the juice settle before serving. Mine is the T-Bone on the left which was roughly 600g or 21 ounces. This steak cost me around $15 at the butchers today and hopefully is the last butchery purchase.
I am seeing my close friend tomorrow who is up in Johannesburg this week and we should get an update on the cow and sheep I have purchased. I have not paid yet and only booked my allocation so we will find out when the proposed purchase will be arriving. The cost per kg on the beef will be somewhere between R50 and R60 kg ($3-$4) so far less than the R169 kg price I paid today.
Earlier this month we went to a steakhouse and I had a similar steak I had tonight which was slightly smaller and nearly 4x more expensive which is kind of crazy. I was a little bit stunned as steak houses were always an affordable option for a family outing. Prices have risen steadily way above the cost of living and now it is seen as a treat.
When we were overseas last year avoiding steak for two weeks was a struggle as the prices just don't compute that well in my brain when converting Pounds/Euros to Rands. A simple Nando's Chicken is £28.95 and that to me is insane when here we complain paying £10 for the same exact dish. We eventually gave in at a steakhouse in the Algarve because the lamb chops just looked too good to avoid. The opposite happens if you are a tourist coming to SA as everything is so cheap in comparison and have been there done that having worked in the UK coming back to SA for a family visit.
With the cost of living expecting to rise sharply next week purchasing meat from my buddy could not come at a better time. What we have come accustomed to eating was never seen as a treat and is part of my staple diet. If I miss a day without some type of meat which I include chicken or fish into that category then I feel cheated some how. Eating vegetables is great and healthy and all that, but not on their own because my head tells me there is something missing.
Next month families will have to change their eating habits if food prices rise the 25-30% which is expected. Most families will simply have to cut back and this is for myself like going on diet yet this is more of a lifestyle change that could become permanent.
When we entertain at home we supply everything and do not expect guests to arrive with anything, but themselves. Maybe a bottle of wine to share as a gift, but definitely no food as that would be seen as insulting. This is how it has always been and noticed last month my son buying food to take to a party so I guess things are changing. Supplying everyone with food and alcohol today would be costly and I suppose that way of life providing for everyone will change.