My half-finished survey of mommies in the Metro are coping with the rising food and oil prices by buying more goodies at the wet market instead of at the grocery. They swear that they get hundreds off their market-day budget. My previous post on Wet market versus grocery showed that wet market won hands down among MoneySmart readers.
I go to both and compare prices when I have the time. However, I have also been known to be in so much frenzy that I can get seven bags of grocery items chosen and paid for in 30 minutes. Nope, no comparison shopping there! If I did, the last time, though, I would have missed this steal.
Freshly squeezed kalamansi juice is a staple in the Duplito household. I usually buy five kilos of the little green stuff every week. Its price at the wet market last Saturday: P80 per kilo. That would have been P400. In SM Supermarket: P60 per kilo. Total price: P300. Better quality, too.
Makes me wonder how many more bargains can be found in unlikely places. Lesson learned: always compare prices.
August 7th, 2008 at 1:31 pm
Agree Landmark is cheaper.
June 27th, 2008 at 8:45 am
@Peter, I love brown rice. The H and kids, though, hate it. So I force them, haha. If I remember correctly, though, the variety I bought is more expensive than white rice at the time. What’s the brand you bought?
@Paetechie, share naman your price comparison of gasoline
@Jared, I’m doing my grocery more these days in Landmark instead of SM. Much cheaper.
@Sonny, your comment inspired me to test the weighing scales in groceries and wet markets. Let’s see what happens! Exciting.
June 26th, 2008 at 9:27 am
this govt. is financially f****…..for eternity
June 25th, 2008 at 5:29 pm
Okay not really wet market vs grocery…
This week we tried brown rice over white long grain rice. It is cheaper by around P10/5 kilos. Guess what, it is healthier. The end-product tends to be a little “buhaghag”. But if you overlook this, you will have a thicker wallet.
To each his own.
June 25th, 2008 at 4:03 pm
i’m a regular orange buyer plus grapes and dalandan. cheaper for me to buy at Munoz market from my suki with about 20% discount. Can’t also get the same orange variety at SM Supermarket, not even at the new Waltermart.
i’m currently comparing prices of gasoline in various gas stations. Was in Cebu last weekend and noticed gas there is about a peso higher than pumps in Manila
June 25th, 2008 at 12:03 pm
I agree. You have to compare prices.
Two weeks ago bought some supplies in SM and upon comparing the brown sugar it is cheaper and better quality. Same with Calamansi too.
June 25th, 2008 at 8:13 am
cheaper at the wet market? Not always true.
For one thing 1 kilo is less than a kilo in most wet markets. Most of them has rigged weigh scales.
June 24th, 2008 at 8:00 pm
Hi
we just came from a month of vacation in Manila and the price of gasoline really killed our budget. Just kept on wondering why LTO take a a lot of time to process the E-jeepneys to lessen our dependency from oil. I read about a project of electronic trycicles in Palawan.Our govt. kept on telling us that they couldnt do anything about the price of gasoline . But they have the power to ease and make the e-cars run on our roads, that will will be lesser fare for the poor isnt it. I hope the Arroyo govt. will take a little of their swinging time to look on how to lessen our problem with oil
June 24th, 2008 at 7:53 pm
I agree, nothing beats price comparison. Usually it takes some initial legwork, but there are rarely any changes even a couple of months after your initial comparison (prices may raise, but when it comes to store-bought goods, the cheapest brand will often stay the cheapest despite price rises overall).
That’s funny about the kalamansi. I don’t usually buy fruits from the grocery store, but I’ve found that vegetables, fish, and meat are often cheaper in the wet market (fresher too!)
You mentioned before about having a sizeable garden. Ever thought of planting kalamansi, since it’s such a staple in your household?