Coping with higher costs of living

Singapore's standard of living has been drastically rising with time and the costs of consumer goods are much higher at present. There are so many different varieties of the same products being offered now.

Bread was used as an example in an article pertaining to this. Sunshine is a good brand in terms of price and quality. I don't think it loses out to BreadTalk. In fact, it is much cheaper. It can be found in supermarkets, since the writer frequents them. Such basic goods have risen in price though and this reminds me of the post-war period.

The different brands of a product are differently priced. When I shop at the supermarket, I go for the item with the lowest price. With an essential like cooking oil however, it's health versus price. Olive oil costs much more than normal vegetable oil but it is healthier. I usually buy a blend of canola and olive oils, which has an average price.

The suggestion of shopping at wet markets and provision shops instead of supermarkets, to cope with the increased prices, was also given. I should consider this option. I guess I've been so used to the clean and comfortable conditions(alliteration!) as well as the organized structure of the latter.

Now I've learnt that I can get the precise amount of ingredients that I need and pay for that amount at the former. I've always thought wet markets are dirty and smelly. Still, this fact doesn't overwhelm the cheaper prices and more exact proportions of ingredients I can get there. When I get my food from the supermarkets, they come in portions that exceed what I really need, especially when I'm cooking for just one person. I usually have to either throw or give the remainder away.

The writer mentioned how she doesn't mind paying the peak-hour surcharge when she takes a cab. I have to take cabs for the moment due to my arthritis and encounter this too. The other day, Frances suggested waiting for 20 minutes to avoid paying the surcharge. It is a long time and cumbersome but I get to save money, now that my funds aren't really as much as before.

A reader sent his view on this article to the New Paper. Elvis Ng mentioned considering the usefulness of something before buying it. That is a very good habit to cultivate. Yes, it requires self-control and a rational mind but it helps save money.

I try to enforce this habit when I shop. Even though I go to cheap places like This Fashion and Popular, where I can get further discounts with my membership cards, I still do this. I'm trying to use it to deal with my weakness for books though it is very successful with my purchasing of clothes.