As the cost of food continues to rise, many families are beginning to feel a distinct pinch in their wallets and have begun “tightening their belts”. They are finding it very difficult to “stretch their dollar” especially when it comes to buying groceries. The question must be asked; can you continue to buy the foods you enjoy without causing your purse to go into bankruptcy?
Everyone is looking for ways to get more for their ever shrinking dollar, including myself. It appears that every month the food items in the supermarket rise by a few cents and the contents in the packages get smaller. It left me to wonder if it is a case of quality vs quantity.
Gone are the days when families could do a “one-stop shop” at their favourite supermarket. They have resorted to “shopping around,” looking for sales and bargains. It is a case where people must now separate their needs from their wants in order to stretch their dollar.
Almost everyone in unison is saying “things tight”. There are some families who have to survive on $100 or less a week to make ends meet. They are finding it hard to provide a balanced daily meal.
I decided to take a trip to the supermarket with $100, to do some grocery shopping and “stretch” the dollar as far as it could go. I was shopping in mind for the average family of four persons.
My shopping cart (yes cart and not basket) had in a variety of items namely: 4 packages of biscuits, 1 dozen eggs, 1 whole wheat bread, 1 box of hamburgers, 4 plantains, a piece of cheese, 1 box crème of wheat, 2 small boxes of milk, 1 small butter and cooking oil, 2 macaroni, a small bag of flour, sugar and rice, 2 reams of toilet paper and 4 bath soaps. I did not have enough money to add fruits, vegetables, meat or a small bottle of vitamins to my cart.
I was in awe, for while standing in line at the cashier, two persons ahead of me were constantly checking their totals and had to return some items. I opined they went over their budget or the contents of their purses.
Well my items came to just under $100 minus a few cents and were carried graciously in two plastic shopping bags.
If you are willing to save some much needed money on groceries follow these tips.
Plant a small vegetable garden in your backyard.
Create a list. Go into the store using this list and stick with the items on the list alone.
Shop around for bargains.
Use local fruits that are in season. Forget the imported fruits. Make juices with local fruits.
Make some bakes/muffins for breakfast. Forget the hamburgers etc. They are high in sodium content and you are now buying reduced sizes for more money.
Shopping wisely can help you survive the rising food cost.
• Rhonda A. Blackman is an educator, a National Development Scholar and a former president of the Early Childhood Association of Barbados Inc. Email theopenhaversack@gmail.com