Now before I give you this number, which will surely make your heart stop briefly as it did mine, let me preface it by saying that if you are at all familiar with relocation packages you will know that there are some expenses we just do not have anymore. And remember, we no longer have a mortgage or vehicles, both of which require insurance and upkeep. We do, however, have a credit card, thank the sweet Lord!
The grand total for groceries for our first month in Hong Kong is.....
$2,717.39 (US Dollars)!!!
I generally do not like to throw around numbers, but this is so darn outrageous I had to share. And, the cost of groceries is one of the most asked questions from friends and family back home. But I should also point out a few things.
First, these are "starter" groceries. Many of the things we bought this past month are items you stock in your cupboards, but don't replenish frequently, like spices, oils, baking ingredients.
Second, included in the bill were some household items that I probably could have gotten cheaper in some random stall in downtown Wan Chai, but not initially knowing where to go to find these items, we just bit the bullet and paid way more than we should. Things like power strips, a bucket, broom and dustpan.
Third, the tally does include beer, wine and "spirits". Duh!
And lastly, being very wet behind the ears, I made some really stupid purchases in those first few shopping trips. For example, I bought four fresh New Zealand chicken breasts out of the meat case on my first shopping trip. Those few pieces of meat alone cost no less than sixty-three U.S. dollars.
I do expect that the bill will go down a bit, but I also realize that it is what it is. There are no Sunday coupons. It's not easy to jump from store to store trying to find the cheapest price; you'll pay the difference in cab fare anyway. And am I really going to tell the kids that, no, you cannot have fresh raspberries because a small carton cost $7? Or should I start forcing my milk lovers to drink sugary soda just to bypass the $20 price tag on a gallon of milk?
And even though it's more out of our pockets, I will continue to try to buy the pricey American brands when I can because I trust those products and I know how they taste. Yes, I did indeed pay $10 for a 12-pack of Diet Coke, but it was REAL Diet Coke and not that crappy Coke Light they try to pass off here. It's not like the selection here is wonderfully vast. There are no Yoplait Frozen Smoothies. Artisan tortilla chips have yet to be introduced. So when I find an authentic American treat, yeah, I'm totally entitled to it, spoiled American that I am.
Once upon a time I shopped at super Wal Mart because I thought the prices at Harris Teeter were ridiculously high. What did I know? $2,717.39 later, Harris Teeter looks a bit like bargain shopping to me!
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