We’ve all been feeling the burn of inflation, looming over the horizon since the onset of the pandemic and the threat of global unrest. For many of us, keeping up with the high cost of living can be a source of anxiety for the average Singaporean.
With the cost of food increasing by a whopping 6.8% in May of 2023, there’s no doubt the average Singaporean salaryman is feeling the pinch in their wallet even while shopping for the necessities.
In a country that depends mainly on the import and export of produce, one might notice the cost of certain fresh produce items on the rise. While some prices might be remaining at a standstill, it’s important to take note of what might just be sneakily burning a hole in your wallet without you noticing.
For example, one might have noticed the prices of eggs rising over the past few months. A 30-piece pack of eggs, which once retailed at $4.65 in January 2021, now will set you back by at least $6.15 as of February 2022. While all of this can be attributed to the unrest in Russia and Ukraine. Ukraine being one of the top exports of chicken feed.
To bring these faraway problems into a more local context, our team here aims to provide you with some money-saving “tips” for your next grocery run, whether in person or online.
Here’s a tip for those of us grocery shopping in stores, something I’m sure you’ve all heard of before- buy house brands!
Big brands having a better reputation might be a thing of the past. These days, when it comes to taste and quality, new and improved house brands might just be giving household names a run for their money. One might be wondering how house brands manage to keep prices low while still maintaining quality. In fact, house brand retailers collaborate directly with manufacturers, sourcing directly from the suppliers to keep prices for consumers as low as possible.
Sure, you might not be able to flaunt well-known name brands with their glitzy packaging, but if the quality is all but guaranteed, why won’t you hop on the bandwagon to save a pretty penny?
For those of us who would prefer to eat out, Minister Ong Ye Kung has some helpful tips.
In a Tiktok video he posted at Bukit Canberra Hawker Centre, the minister presents his viewers with meal options amounting to $5 or less.
However, netizens in the comments section seem less than pleased with the so-called affordable food options presented at hawker centres. For many Singaporeans who have to work long hours, or cooking not being an option at home, they rely mostly on hawker food as a low-budget option to be able to have a hearty meal. While a $5 meal seems reasonable enough, these prices do add up.
Eating a $5 meal three times a day would amount to $15 a day, setting someone back at least $450 a month, just on food alone.
While Minister Ong highlights affordable food in the heartland region, it begs the question of affordable food options in central areas like the CBD, where rent is higher, and many Singaporeans work.
While we do applaud the minister’s efforts in finding somewhat reasonable food options for those in the Sembawang heartland area, perhaps we can all consider just why it seems that even once affordable hawker food is on the rise. Perhaps lowering prices can start at the source, keeping stall rental prices lower and easier for hawkers themselves to charge less for a meal.
