Amber Johnson prides herself on being a savvy shopper.
The mother of two and her partner are both on a disability pension and, despite their best efforts, they have been feeling the pinch.
Ms Johnson's family is giving up meat, but this is no temporary Lenten sacrifice.
It is the only way to keep their weekly budget under control.
"Usually around Christmas you see things like pork go up and around Australia Day the price of lamb goes up, but it just seems like those prices are up constantly."
Every cent counts and with money so tight, Ms Johnson keeps a spreadsheet to keep track of their grocery bills.
"I remember being able to go to the shops with $50 and get three bags full of shopping.
"Yesterday we spent $208, and we got four bags and there was no meat. It's ridiculous.
Why are prices so high?
The Johnsons are not alone in feeling the pressure.
The consumer price index, which measures household inflation, increased by 3.5 per cent in the year to December 2021.
Regional economist Colin Dwyer said a 32 per cent increase in petrol prices in 12 months had become a huge factor in stretching household budgets to the limit.
"We've got some quite significant increases in the price of petrol, so when we have these increases internationally, nationally and regionally, they all filter through into food prices," Mr Dwyer said.
Any relief in sight?
With no reprieve in petrol prices expected until later this year, it could be just as long before households feel any relief.
Mr Dwyer said global factors, like the deteriorating situation in Ukraine, could also hurt people at the check-out half a world away in Australia.
"If there is some sort of invasion or conflict that goes on over there, then the price of fertiliser will go up and the price of food will go up consequently," he said
"It's quite complicated. Hopefully households are managing as best they can at the moment."
Marked increase in calls for support
Food relief NQ is supporting those doing it tough by providing food hampers with pantry staples to local charities on a weekly basis.
Lisa Waugh, who works at the non-profit organisation, said they had seen a sharp increase in calls from people desperate for a helping hand.
"We are finding that more people are struggling to make ends meet and just have enough food to put on the table really," she said.
"You can see that when you go to the grocery shop yourself, one bag can cost about $100."
Demand for their hampers had almost doubled in the past year.
"At the moment we are averaging about 300 hampers a week," Ms Waugh said.
As a newly converted vegetarian, Ms Johnson has a tip for people trying to make ends meet.
"We tend to try to stick to the list, we try not to go beyond that," she said.
