What does a retired widow with a high-needs dog spend at the supermarket?

A retired widow caring for a high-needs dog opens her supermarket receipt in a series looking at how New Zealanders actually spend on food.

Her weekly shop is built around a fixed income, with the dog's prescription diet a non-negotiable line item that shapes everything else.

She describes careful substitution, shopping specials and a freezer strategy that stretches meat across several meals.

The series is intended to put real numbers behind the national conversation about grocery prices.