By Assunta Ng
Northwest Asia Weekly
Recently, I asked the supermarket cashier if the lemon I bought was wrong.
“No, it’s 59 cents,” she said.
A few months ago, I bought three small lemons for $1. Now, a small lemon costs 59 cents. This is a 78% increase! When scanning or inputting items, I usually do not look at the cash register. However, at that time, I just happened to see it.
Last year, regular gasoline was more than US$2, now it is more than US$3. Oh my god, what’s going on? My relative said, “Since the Democratic Party is in power, everything is expensive.” You can say that my relative is a Republican. When there are any problems in this country, she will blame the Democratic Party. The fact is, this has nothing to do with the Democrats or Republicans.
So does this have anything to do with the epidemic? Is it because it stimulates inspections and people make money? Is it because the economy is recovering? Is it because of inflation?
The pandemic has a lot to do with it. During Covid, many supply chains were disrupted. For example, farmers lost income because they were unable to transport products or did not have enough workers during the harvest season. The price of wood has soared because many people who stay at home have enough time to start their own projects. The demand for housing has also triggered the demand for wood. The good news is that timber prices have stabilized recently.
The labor shortage has also increased wages in many economic sectors. Most grocery stores have increased their wages because their employees are essential frontline workers. As a result, food prices have risen sharply. In the post-epidemic era, the demand for various commodities is natural. When demand is low, prices will fall to encourage consumption and sales. Now, business owners have to raise prices to make up for the losses they suffered during the pandemic.
Save money
Even if the price rises, there are ways to save money. All you need is a better plan. To avoid spending money on gasoline, please work remotely. Because of the pandemic, it’s okay now. Schedule carpooling with your friends and colleagues. If you don’t drive, you can not only save on gas but also on parking. Finding a parking space is stressful and time-consuming.
Public transportation is an option. These days, I avoid Uber or Lyft. That’s also very expensive. If I need to go from Chinatown to the city center, I will walk. I save money while exercising. It’s even more fun if you walk with friends.
Save food costs
It’s not my style to go out for coffee or soda. In most cases, I drink hot water, even in restaurants. I would rather save money to tip the waiter. If you want to buy a healthy and economical drink, I recommend coconut water instead of coconut milk, which is not very healthy. Another option is sugar-free soy milk. A bottle of coconut water or soy milk contains many cups.
Before Covid, I had never looked at the price tag when I was shopping in the supermarket. Now that I do this I can write this blog better. Because I am a gourmet, I like to learn more about food costs to help my readers.
Eating well does not mean you have to buy expensive things. If you buy seasonal vegetables and fruits, you can save even more money. It tastes better, and if you are a good cook, it is even more important.
Go out to eat or not to eat
As the state reopened, many restaurants were crowded with diners. But if the budget is tight, it is better to cook at home. This is just simple math. Eating at home can save more money. However, if you are able, please eat out more and entertain family and friends. Restaurants now need your support more than ever.
When you shop, buy local ones. In the long run, it can save you money and support the local economy. Imported food is usually more expensive, but there are exceptions. The price of Hawaiian papaya is 5 to 9 US dollars, but the papaya from Thailand is three times larger and the price is much lower. You can buy one from Lam’s Seafood. A can of corned beef is more than $6 in Australia, but it is much cheaper in the United States. So read the label.
Grow your own food
My office cleaning lady grows vegetables in Danny Woo Garden and another part of the community garden in Chinatown International District (CID). She often gives her crops to us and her friends. This is why she has friends throughout the community. We also provided her with food and paid her for our cooking.
Imagine the joy when she collects all the fresh produce from East and West from her little garden, not to mention the money she can save by buying vegetables. The doctor recommends gardening as an effective way to fight depression. There are many benefits-go outdoors, enjoy the sun, breathe fresh air, and make new friends.
What do we eat at home?
Tuna and Celery Hawaiian Roll (Photo: Assunta Ng)
Tuna with celery and Miracle Whip sandwiches are nutritious, delicious and quick to make. Hawaiian rolls are my first choice, and the cost for 12 people is about $3 or more. Our tuna lunch for 2 persons and 5 Hawaiian rolls only cost $5.
Creativity plays an important role in your food selection and presentation and can enhance your appetite. One day, my husband asked me if I would eat corned beef sandwiches or frozen wonton noodles, we bought them.
“Why not corned beef wonton noodles?” I said. This is our original idea, it tastes great, and it’s not expensive.
It’s a good thing that I like bones. Fish bones are rich in omega-3 fats, phosphorus and calcium. And they are the cheapest in Asian supermarkets. It is misleading to label them as bones because these bones also contain fish. You can also use them to make broth. We steam them and turn them into one of the dishes.
Smoked pork knuckle with vegetable garden vegetables and steamed fish bones (Photo: Assunta Ng)
Smoked pork knuckle is another cheap but delicious food. We recently bought two for only 2 dollars. I like them because they also have meat in them.
Stir-fried sweet potatoes with crushed scallops (Photo: Assunta Ng)
Scallops are a good dinner food. You would say that scallops are expensive, and the price per pound may exceed $25. If you buy broken scallops (not one piece) in Uwashimaya, you will not. I prefer broken scallops because it saves cutting time. 10 yuan, three meals for my husband and I are enough. The first one, we fry with mushrooms; the second dish, we fry red pepper; the third meal is sweet potatoes. Because scallops are salty (from sea water), we use it to make broth after they are cooked.
Stir-fried shredded scallops with red pepper and mushroom (Photo: Assunta Ng)
Maximize your use in daily products
If your makeup or toothpaste comes from a plastic tube, you can cut it open and use every drop. No matter what is left, it can last more than a week for me.
For the bone soup we use at home, I usually rinse it with water to remove the last drop of my soup.
housing
Unless you live in a low-income housing, paying rent is expensive. But I heard that some low-income housing is also expensive. For example, a small room of 200 square feet in CID may cost $800.
It is best to have your own house. My mother works as a landlord in Hong Kong and lives on rent. She rented out three to four bedrooms in our apartment. If you own a house, this is a great way to reduce living expenses or help pay for your mortgage.
Or you can rent a house with friends and share the maintenance costs of the house. This also saves money.
Make your own drink
For those who like to drink expensive bubble tea, coffee and lattes, do you know that if you reduce it, you can save a lot of money a year? You can learn how to make these teas and even smoothies yourself. The ingredients for making tea are available in Asian grocery stores, such as the Yuehua Market. You can make them yourself and bring them to hang out with friends in the park.
It won’t cost you a lot. It’s fun to make your own drinks.
There are many things you can do to save money. You just need to think harder and pay attention. Share tips with friends and vice versa, you never know what you will find. This is a great way to connect with people.
Assunta can be reached assunta@nwasianweekly.com.
