Consumer NZ's latest research shows Pak'nSave is the cheapest place to grocery shop.
The 1st Tauranga Brownie Unit, our very own pink shirted consumer crusaders from 17th Avenue, have confirmed that with their own unofficial, unscientific research, especially if you are making shortbread and rum balls.
Consumer NZ tested 30 popular grocery items over seven weeks at Countdown, New World and Pak'nSave stores in Auckland, Hamilton, Wellington, Christchurch and Dunedin – food and drink as well as personal care and cleaning items.
No meat, fish or vegetables because then quality muddies the results.
Then armed with a shopping list 1st Tauranga Brownies hit the supermarket aisles one recent Tuesday evening.
'They were out Guiding,” says unit leader Sarah Gilchrist. 'And they needed to be seen so they were in their pink t-shirt unform.”
And the seven to nine-year-olds dropped by all the big boys, Pak'nSave, Countdown and New World in Cameron Road and another Countdown store in Fraser Cove. Butter, icing sugar, corn flour and plain flour, baking paper, wine or plain biscuits, coconut, cocoa, sweetened condensed milk, rum flavoring and a bottle of milk.
'They're the ingredients for shortbread and rum ball baking coming up.”
But, says Sarah, it's a lesson in the value of shopping around, not accepting the first price tag you come across, a lesson in the value of a dollar and saving money.
So when the Brownies got back to their den they collated their findings.
Pak'nSave was the cheapest at $24.49, closely followed by New World ($24.70), the Countdown in Fraser Cove ($33.11) and Countdown in Cameron Road ($35.33).
It's all part of the Brownie's specialized proficiency badge called Money, Money, Fun.
They've also organized a trip – ringing around the hot pools to see which was the best value and the cheapest to get to.
'Kids don't normally do this stuff, the adults organise it all. That's about taking responsibility – and we like to encourage leadership skills.”
And they chose a local pool that did have the offer of an ice cream in the price.
Brownies are part of a worldwide organization of 10 million girls in 145 countries. Brownies are aged between seven and nine and a half before they move onto Guide and then Rangers.
They mix with girls from different schools, cultures and backgrounds giving them a chance to make new and different friends in a girl-only environment.
But they do have a bit of a niggle, they need more Sarah Gilchrists, the movement needs new leaders. Just Girl Guiding NZ (07) 854 9031.