SG Complains

Singapore homes spend more on fresh food

According to SoShiok:

Singapore, May 25, 2009: Singapore homes are spending on fresh food, groceries and household items as they opt for home-cooked meals instead of dining out.

As consumers feel the pinch of rising costs with the economic recession in full swing, they are increasingly watchful of their spending habits.

According to the above article, there seems to be an economic crisis going on in Singapore and many are pinching their wallets a little tighter instead of contributing more to the economy.

For a general overview of the article

• the average monthly household expenditure has increased by 14 percent, in part driven by higher food prices and an increased incidence of home cooking in a bid to cut down on out of home dining expenses.
• Fresh food spend, in particular, registered an average growth of 15 percent across households in Singapore, with the biggest jump being reflected amongst the high income households (+27%).
• More opting for supermarket convenience
• House brands become more popular

There are more and more people trying to skim and save as much as possible and there seems to be a daunting task ahead finding out what is the best way to get cheaper food for survival these days, if you have good recommendation do put in the comments below.

Here’s some of my suggestion

• Learn how to cook at home (althrough I haven’t learnt much other than fry eggs, cook rice, chilli chicken cubes with instant noodles and some normal spagatti and some nice oven bake sugar coated egg bread)
• Research the most basic food of the past (Porridge, Mixed vegetable soup, left over rice to be cooked again as fried rice and etc.)
• Learn how to grow your own food (I had started an indoor aquaponic experiment and proven successful to grow food but the quantity is an issue)
• Find out where to get free food in Singapore (I did heard some temples in Singapore are giving away free food for the needy but kindly don’t exploit them if you are not really in need)
• Packet your own lunch from home, wake up earlier and cook your own lunch to be taken to office to reheat in microwave oven (although a good idea but not for those people who work way too early)
• Work from home to avoid expensive office lunch out (if possible)
• Find cheap healthy alternative to restaurants such as “food courts” and “coffee shops”  (applicable only in Singapore)
• Try to avoid spending excessively on unnecessary luxury items on installment (not really on food but does impact your ability to survive in crisis)
• Avoid credit card debts if all possible.
• Set up a rabbit farm at home (Hmmm not sure if it’s easy to farm quiet but meaty animals such as rabbits but there are countries that does that…but to me eeeeewww for now…until I am broke…it might be the only answer)
• Grow duck weeds in aquarium tank to feed the rabbits (they grow like no tomorrow if there are unlimited lights 55Watts but tax you on your utility bill)
• Fish some Tilapia (Japanese fish) commonly known to exist in Singapore canals in excess but lately seems to disappeared due to the heat?
• Go out to sea and fish for marine fish for food (Need some skills and time which a hungry man sometimes don’t really have, won’t want to turn cannibal in the middle of the sea)
• Eat grass (As last resort, even thou Singapore does have plenty of edible grass…some are poisonous and can be lethal…so be sure you research well before you cook your next meal with that mushrooms you picked up downstairs…it may be your last)
• Finally, don’t quit your day job…or you really have to follow this list……
• If you have no choice…don’t be picky on new jobs opening and try until you can get a job…don’t complaint on the job scope or pay scale…just feed your family.