Grocery Shopping In The Philippines-The Adventure Begins

Shopping for groceries and other basic needs in the Philippines is an adventure in confusion and also overpricing for the newcomer. Often times, you will end up overpaying even after many years of living here if not careful.

At home in the States and most other countries, a grocery store is set up with every isle holding items classified by the type of products available including sub categories such as generic, diet, sale, and size etc.
If there is an item that you can not find just simply ask any store employee where to find the item you are looking for. Within seconds you have directions to that precious item and that’s that.

Ok, you just got off the plane in Manila a few days ago. And now you are a brand new expat in paradise. You have bought or rented a house or apartment and feel quite proud of yourself for all your efforts.
Now it’s time to head to the market to stock up on food and other needs.
After looking up and down a few streets you have managed to find what looks like a “real” grocery store. So far so good.

As you walk in the door you trip and almost fall over a cardboard box, a few small unattended kids, and a stray dog or two.

Now as you walk up and down the isles you notice a few things. Most all of the items for sale are unfamiliar in both type and brand name. Items are stacked on the shelf or possibly still in boxes. No particular order of items per isle as at home. You might find laundry soap pushed up against fresh fruits or catsup in between two different brands of diapers etc.

Unless you happen to be in a very large store you will also notice that no items for sale are marked with a price. There is no way to tell how much each item is! For the local shopper it’s no problem. They have committed to memory what should be the “right price” on every item in the store.
Not so for the brand new expat that just wants go get out of this nightmare of a store, get home and cook something to eat for what is by now going to be a late dinner.

So because of no prices on anything and the fact that you are a foreigner, at the check out stand (if you can find it) you will likely be grossly overcharged.

A P12.00 can of sandiness can cost you P30.00, P25.00 pack of smokes maybe P35.00 etc. etc. etc.

After a time or two of this shopping “adventure” we learn that it’s much better to sit at home enjoying a cold beer and let the wife, girlfriend, or housekeeper deal with shopping, paying the bills, and most other dealings until we learn the ropes and are more price and local culture savvy. That way, dinner will be on time and we don’t end up overdosing on blood pressure medication from all the needless stress.

But that’s okay; we’ve learned our first lesson in foreign living as well as cultural differences. This IS what we wanted isn’t it?

After all, we have a nice, very affordable place to live, a beautiful Asian wife or girlfriend; all under a warm tropical sun and endless beaches that we have waited years to enjoy. And it does get better and easier as time goes by---I promise…