Brace For Very High Grocery Prices

[Soul Collector]

^^^^ I started doing that last year , 2 barrels and a box lasted 10 months

How that working out?

I interested in trying this

Groceries just getting too annoying to purchase recently

bought most of the stuff at bulk food stores/ food co-op, spent around $1600 TT, 2 jumbo barrels and 1 large box paid almost twice that in shipping/customs ( amerijet) so lets say 4500 TT total. For that I got about 9K worth of groceries if bought locally. Bear in mind I not only brought in groceries but some school supplies, food containers and small car parts so factor that into the shipping/duties. I'll be bringing a barrel of food stuff only soon so I'll update on true cost as that happens. IMO it's well worth it as I still have stuff 10 months later

Subscribed for update.

[Dizzy28]

Butter makes you aggressive
It may notbe too good for one's health
And who knows what is in moo milk
Anyhow there many ways to enjoy the benefits of being a vegetarian diet and I am always greatful for all god blessed us in trinidad with
What about hemp milk ??
Or almond milk ?

Yet to see udders on an almond

[zoom rader]

Don't see what's fust once you put PNM everything goes up and wages comes down

[shake d livin wake d dead]

Butter makes you aggressive
It may notbe too good for one's health
And who knows what is in moo milk
Anyhow there many ways to enjoy the benefits of being a vegetarian diet and I am always greatful for all god blessed us in trinidad with
What about hemp milk ??
Or almond milk ?

Yet to see udders on an almond

nestle full cream ftw

[skylinechild]

Massy isn't cheap and Massy has most butter and margarines cheaper than Xtra foods albeit by a dollar or two.

Another thing I have noticed is that for the past three weeks there has been an absence of imported veges like Brussel sprouts, bell peppers etc in Massy Pricemart and Xtra foods. When your not eating meat there is only so much baigan and bodi you can tolerate. But I had to tolerate it. B

if all you want to eat is baigan and bodi then thats your limited thinking.

there lots of meals can be made without meat or meat ingredients or simply substituted or just left out ....

oh and btw you dont hav to eat "muerican food" like brussel sprouts and such...string beans pumpkins peas carrots cabbage etc etc

just think differently.... ( <<< might be asking alot of you here )

imagine if you was strict vegan...what woulda happen to you..??

[88sins]

You eh realise that trinis like to feel accepted.

like you now observe that.
Trini's by nature are a VERY laid back & casual people, don't really care much about anything or anybody until it starts to affect them & even then still couldn't be bothered enough to take action. As a nation, our citizenry has been properly trained not to rock the boat.

But as far as I'm concerned, sometimes the boat needs more than rocking, & if the vessel is thoroughly infested with rats sometimes the best most surefire way to fix the problem is to sink it for a while, the aim being to drown the rats that don't abandon ship, & bring it back up.

[j.o.e]

Trinis like to play elistist and are afraid to look like sufferers. So this works in grocery favour. As prices go up we want to pile our trolleys higher at Christmas to show we reach.

[Drea]

^^^^ What he said.

I waiting for December, everybody does forget the struggles come Christmas and piling the shopping cart high! I look back at how my family used to shop for Christmas compared to now and wonder why we used to even bother to waste money. Here's a tip: Stop inviting people home by you... go by them

[toyolink]

Consumers are going to have to adjust doing these times, if you don't have the money as before and prices are up the options are reduced.
Grocers are going to face reduced margins and net profits.
What is going to result is many commercially weaker grocers would have to fold.
Presently in T&T the number of groceries/supermarkets that exist kinda defy logic especially since our population growth has been almost stagnant.
This recession we now find ourselves in, I do believe is probably going to be around for at least the next 6-7 years (time needed for new momentum, clearing of accured debt and starting to break surface.).

[skylinechild]

^^^^ What he said.

I waiting for December, everybody does forget the struggles come Christmas and piling the shopping cart high! I look back at how my family used to shop for Christmas compared to now and wonder why we used to even bother to waste money. Here's a tip: Stop inviting people home by you... go by them

@ part in red..... so everybody go be going by everybody else....just to meet ah lock up house wit nobody...

i cud imagine u and yuh padna....you goin by he and he goin by u....u meet he house lock up wit no one home and vice versa...

[zoom rader]

Trinis like to play elistist and are afraid to look like sufferers. So this works in grocery favour. As prices go up we want to pile our trolleys higher at Christmas to show we reach.

You can't trust this government so those that can afford it will stock pile.

[88sins]

Here's a tip: Stop inviting people home by you... go by them

sufferer suffering from cheapass louse syndrome spotted

But srsly
there's absolutely nothing wrong with having family & friends over for holidays or special occasions, or even on a Tuesday evening after surviving a long hard day of work. some of d most memorable occasions I've ever been privileged to be a part of were impromptu & unscripted. No trappings available or needed. Just good friends eating some good pelau & drinking beers/rum/juice & playin cards/domoinoes, watchin tv & talkin all kinda ting, some topics slightly serious, mostly extremely jokey.

The problem is when ppl who ketchin they rasclat & can't even afford to spend time want to splurge & buy one setta ting when they know they can't afford to in d long run. nobody needs a 30lb ham or turkey for a Christmas lime, regardless of who you know coming by you. The food & drinks play an important part in a celebration, but more important than the food & drink is the quality of people in attendance.
If yuh cyah appreciate a good beef pelau & drink mauby wit me & mine and have a good time on Christmas day, short story shorter, I full well intend to disregard your existence

[timelapse]

Hot pepper, a single hot pepper is $ 1.50 up from $ 1.00 earlier this year and $ 0.50 last year...and yeah that is part of the "buy local" basket.

Could just imagine what gonna happen to imported products...

Why would import prices increase? The only reason is due to price gouging...There is nothing on the international market that is affecting the price of food right now etc. Let's be smart here. We need to hold our local suppliers to account.

How else will they build their mansions and drive their Range?

Is the Consumer Affairs Division doing anything?

The same as ODPM, not on firetruck

[dogg]

$52 butter oui.

I was lucky to get some a recently on close to expiry date 2for1. That stock up in the freezer.

Yeah, I know expired butter go kill you.

It go kill you, not me.

[Chimera]

*packs barrel in walmart*

[*KRONIK*]

*packs barrel in walmart*

Pack a barrel fuh me too nah

[bluefete]

$52 butter oui.

I was lucky to get some a recently on close to expiry date 2for1. That stock up in the freezer.

Yeah, I know expired butter go kill you.

It go kill you, not me.

THAT is how I shop. I save real money too. Once it goes in the fridge, it good to go.

[Chimera]

*packs barrel in walmart*

Pack a barrel fuh me too nah

Wha yuh want in yours dey mamoo

[hong kong phooey]

i know one of the newspapers had done it before, but it would be nice again , do a comparison of the same items in various supermarkets .

I know i save over loads while shopping in pricesmart for items such as Oil , Alcohol, cheese, even a loaf of bread is 50 c cheaper than leading supermarkets.

[*KRONIK*]

*packs barrel in walmart*

Pack a barrel fuh me too nah

Wha yuh want in yours dey mamoo

https://youtu.be/qapmuJxUxEU

[shake d livin wake d dead]

i know one of the newspapers had done it before, but it would be nice again , do a comparison of the same items in various supermarkets .

I know i save over loads while shopping in pricesmart for items such as Oil , Alcohol, cheese, even a loaf of bread is 50 c cheaper than leading supermarkets.

agreed with pricesmart prices...told you all that the "luxury" supermarkets does buss man head...hawk and spit ftw...I remember spending at least $1600 at xtra foods one month...went to a normal supermarket in Grande the other month, bought the same items and the bill was $1300...

still had enough to go pricesmart after

[Dizzy28]

i know one of the newspapers had done it before, but it would be nice again , do a comparison of the same items in various supermarkets .

I know i save over loads while shopping in pricesmart for items such as Oil , Alcohol, cheese, even a loaf of bread is 50 c cheaper than leading supermarkets.

agreed with pricesmart prices...told you all that the "luxury" supermarkets does buss man head...hawk and spit ftw...I remember spending at least $1600 at xtra foods one month...went to a normal supermarket in Grande the other month, bought the same items and the bill was $1300...

still had enough to go pricesmart after

Pricemart has lost the edge they once held though with regard to buying a number of items. For this past year evaporated milk was cheaper in both Massy and Xtra Foods than buying in PM (and thats by buying 6 packs as opposed to 1/2 case as in PM). Same for aluminium foil, tp and a few other items. Even instant coffee at points in the year was cheaper in Tru Valu. The 18 pack eggs is slightly cheaper than the market however the market's eggs are much bigger.
PM still has use for harder to get imported items such as foreign detergents etc.

[skylinechild]

Pricemart has lost the edge they once held though with regard to buying a number of items. For this past year evaporated milk was cheaper in both Massy and Xtra Foods than buying in PM (and thats by buying 6 packs as opposed to 1/2 case as in PM). Same for aluminium foil, tp and a few other items. Even instant coffee at points in the year was cheaper in Tru Valu. The 18 pack eggs is slightly cheaper than the market however the market's eggs are much bigger.
PM still has use for harder to get imported items such as foreign detergents etc.

Agreed...PS has lost some of their edge but not alot . they tend to more cater to the persons who can afford to purchase alot of americanized foods.

PS is good for some stuff...basic necessities which can be bought in bulf and stored away. everything else you may need can get chear at different supermarkets

i remember a few yrs ago i went shopping at 2 different groceries and then PS. saved abt 500-600 just by shopping around what i didnt buy in one store due to price i got at another

PS has its uses... for those who want to live d muerican lifestyle....

[Dizzy28]

Pricemart has lost the edge they once held though with regard to buying a number of items. For this past year evaporated milk was cheaper in both Massy and Xtra Foods than buying in PM (and thats by buying 6 packs as opposed to 1/2 case as in PM). Same for aluminium foil, tp and a few other items. Even instant coffee at points in the year was cheaper in Tru Valu. The 18 pack eggs is slightly cheaper than the market however the market's eggs are much bigger.
PM still has use for harder to get imported items such as foreign detergents etc.

Agreed...PS has lost some of their edge but not alot . they tend to more cater to the persons who can afford to purchase alot of americanized foods.

PS is good for some stuff...basic necessities which can be bought in bulf and stored away. everything else you may need can get chear at different supermarkets

i remember a few yrs ago i went shopping at 2 different groceries and then PS. saved abt 500-600 just by shopping around what i didnt buy in one store due to price i got at another

PS has its uses... for those who want to live d muerican lifestyle....

As the parent to an infant they win on diapers and baby wipes. Pampers brand fits my son best and Pricemart has the best price on those (except the #2 size which I believed Pennywise had cheaper). For those that use Enfamil they also had the cheapest Enfamil pouch replacements however I used to buy these in Bryden by the case.

[skylinechild]

As the parent to an infant they win on diapers and baby wipes. Pampers brand fits my son best and Pricemart has the best price on those (except the #2 size which I believed Pennywise had cheaper). For those that use Enfamil they also had the cheapest Enfamil pouch replacements however I used to buy these in Bryden by the case.

congrants on the kid yo.... but srsly i cant afford kids on my crap salary.....
my sis has a kid & we go P.S for her....soo i know the drill.....

food wise....i tend not to try to live the muerican lifestyle.....but shop around...

[hong kong phooey]

i know one of the newspapers had done it before, but it would be nice again , do a comparison of the same items in various supermarkets .

I know i save over loads while shopping in pricesmart for items such as Oil , Alcohol, cheese, even a loaf of bread is 50 c cheaper than leading supermarkets.

agreed with pricesmart prices...told you all that the "luxury" supermarkets does buss man head...hawk and spit ftw...I remember spending at least $1600 at xtra foods one month...went to a normal supermarket in Grande the other month, bought the same items and the bill was $1300...

still had enough to go pricesmart after

Pricemart has lost the edge they once held though with regard to buying a number of items. For this past year evaporated milk was cheaper in both Massy and Xtra Foods than buying in PM (and thats by buying 6 packs as opposed to 1/2 case as in PM). Same for aluminium foil, tp and a few other items. Even instant coffee at points in the year was cheaper in Tru Valu. The 18 pack eggs is slightly cheaper than the market however the market's eggs are much bigger.
PM still has use for harder to get imported items such as foreign detergents etc.

thats true but loads of items are still cheaper. i shop around.
some useless info
eggs are graded by their weight so the physical size of the egg does not really matter . a physically smaller egg can be a ex large egg where the egg which is physically bigger can be a large egg.

[Chimera]

how much it does cost per month in expenses behind a baby?

[Miktay]

groceries can put their prices as they see fit , it simply is up to u as d consumer to buy by them or not or go to more than 1 business place to buy whatever cheaper at whichever place ....

Ammmmm no...That's not how life/economics/society works. A lot of you all have a misguided idea about how a mixed econmy work. We don't live in a free market economy we live in a mixed economy where Government is suppose to be a regulator and monitor and punish any activity that can be considered exploitative etc. They don't. We seem to believe that demand and supply solves everything....It can never.

In developed nations there are anti competitive rules and regulations that seek to eliminate consumer exploitation and abuse. That is how a rationale society works. A business doesn't operate in a vacuum. It can't just set whatever price if wants and the market will regulate it. In Trinidad we don't have an abundance of competitors to really regulate the market through supply and demand. Most businesses in Trinidad collude, banks, supermarkets etc. This is where gov't comes in and regulate accordingly. it's not just demand and supply.

Society is an ecosystem. Businesses receive tax breaks etc and other favourable state goods that allow for profit making. That goodwill is suppose to be passed on to the consumer. For too long we have been fooled with inefficiencies, exploitation and just say that the consumer has all the power when the reality is the prices not different among retailers. Most of our dairy products for instance are of the lowest quality yet we pay above premium price for them. That is exploitation. Plain and simple.

I sympathize with your pov but asking for more Gubbament regulation will IMHO only make matters worse.

Observe how many laws and regulations we already have that are not being enforced.

But that will not make coping with the current price increases any easier.

It iz my believe that free market enterprises s/b able to charge whatever they want.

[Dizzy28]

how much it does cost per month in expenses behind a baby?

The recurring expenses not that bad
Approximate 1 box diapers per month - $200
A seven pack box of wipes - $100
Formula - 2 boxes per month of the Enfamil pouches - $183/box (we don't use that anymore, I think its more expensive now)
Assorted smaller items like baby food and snacks

The "Capex" and one time costs are significant-
Crib
Baby Bottles/sterlizer/bottle warmer
Playpen
Car seat and stroller (Car seat by 2 within the 1st year to 2 if you buy a carry car seat then you need a bigger one)
Clothes
Medicines and Doctor Visits
Safety items - door gates, electrical plug caps, cupboard stops
(Some of the above items are optional)

I carried my son health centre for shots as I saw no need to pay a private doctor for something freely available in the public health facility. Some friends of mine only carried their kids SAPH for shots and paid like $1000/visit.

[shake d livin wake d dead]

how much it does cost per month in expenses behind a baby?

rough rider = $30 ah pack ...might be cheaper in some places