"By the time I pay a few bills, basically there's not much for the rest."
Mrs Paul said she noticed the increase in the price of basics such as bread, milk and butter over the years. Recently she had been keeping an eye on fruit and vegetable prices too, she said.
The cost of fresh fruit and vegetables was recorded as going up by 6 per cent overall last year, including kumara going up by 109 per cent and avocado up by 107 per cent.
"When I go in and see tomatoes for $2.99 a kilo, that's $3 kilo. I do find that frozen vegetables give you everything you need."
Mrs Paul said she no longer baked because using the oven was too expensive.
When she did cook, she made enough in batches to cover four dinners, she said.
Other nights were different.
"Some nights I have baked beans or spaghetti for tea."