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Man discovers Tesco receipt from 1994 and leaves people in shock at the difference in prices
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Man discovers Tesco receipt from 1994 and leaves people in shock at the difference in prices

This man found an old Tesco receipt and it floored everyone

We all know that shopping is expensive nowadays.

But sometimes it takes a trip back to the past to appreciate how much prices have skyrocketed in recent years.

One man left Brits stunned when he discovered a Tesco receipt from 1994.

Shopping has become more and more expensive (Getty Stock Images)
Shopping has become more and more expensive (Getty Stock Images)

Bearing in mind that food price inflation recently hit 3.7 percent - the highest level since last March - it’s no wonder that these 1990s prices seem so low.

Luke shared a shot of the historic receipt to Reddit, writing: “A 1994 Tesco receipt found in a library book.

“Before my time and not much to go off but 30 years old and still looking fresh.”

According to the receipt, it came from a store in Coventry and contained 34 items - a healthy weekly shop.

All in all, the total came in at an astonishing £29.29.

This included minced beef at 55p, cooking oil for 65p and a sandwich for 89p.

A copy of The Guardian newspaper was only 50p, and a pack of beef burgers was a whopping £1.39.

This old Tesco receipt left people stunned (Reddit/u_lukestrim)
This old Tesco receipt left people stunned (Reddit/u_lukestrim)

How times have changed, indeed.

Reddit users were left gobsmacked by the low prices and let their feelings about it been known - while secretly trying to figure out time travel, I imagine.

One wrote: “Ahh…the good old days, when you could afford to eat.”

Another commented: “It is interesting. In a nerdy way. Quite a lot of variance.

“Bananas were 39p/Ib. They’re now 90p/kg or 41p/Ib. The Guardian has gone up from 50p to £2.80, but that’s a bit more complex than just inflation.

The Tesco receipt was eye-opening (Mike Kemp/In Pictures via Getty Images)
The Tesco receipt was eye-opening (Mike Kemp/In Pictures via Getty Images)

“The cheapest Tesco sandwich is now £1.50? 89p likely at least doubled, depending on the sandwich obvs. The very cheapest veg oil is £1.85 now, compared to 65p.”

A fellow Reddit user said: “I remember [1994] well. You could work out your shopping to an average out at £1/item over the whole shop.”

So basically how a standard trip to Poundland today would work.


“How crazy, the total price is LESS than the number of items,” one stunned Redditor said. “I can’t remember the last time I had a shop like that.”

However, there were some people who wanted to draw a direct comparison to a shopping trip in the modern day.

One user said: “£29.39 in 1994 is about £60 in today’s money. I currently have 35 items in my Tesco basket and the total is £48.54.

“Depends on the specific items you buy, and maybe Clubcard offers weren’t a thing back then. I wouldn’t say I shop particularly cheap nor particularly expensive.”

Whatever the case may be, always be prepared to take out a second mortgage if you want to treat yourself to a particularly nice pack of butter.

Featured Image Credit: Nathan Stirk/Getty Images/Reddit/u_lukestrim

Topics: Tesco, Money