'Namiss Ko 'Yung P1,000 Grocery Sa Isang Linggo' Inflation Is Real And Here's How Parents Deal With It

At 7.7% this October, inflation is real in the Philippines. This is a reality many parents are dealing with and they are reminded of it each time they go on a trip to the grocery or their local market. However, this is the same reality for most families around the world brought about by high gas prices in the world market as well as the ripple effect of the  ongoing conflict between Ukraine and Russia.

Additional Php 1,000-5,000 for food 

Members of our Smart Parenting Village are finding out they are adding between Php1000 to Php5,000 to their usual budget during grocery runs. And even while prices at local markets are significantly lower, they are still feeling the pinch of the high prices of fresh produce. Smart Parenting Village Mommies are revealing how inflation is putting a toll on their budget these days. 

“Yung 3K namin dati good for almost 1 month na. Ngayon, 4K per week na,” reveals Mommy Regine, who belongs to a family of five. 

“Dating 3k per month, ngayon eh nasa 4K to 5K na. If kasama milk ng mga bata, nasa 9K lahat per month,” laments Mommy Lara, who stretches her budget for a family of four. 

'Yung budget ko na P2,000 naging P4,000... if bibili ako ng 10 items lang na akala ko wala pang P1,000, P2,000 na siya. Nakakaiyak.'

Those whose grocery lists have not changed much share they paying as much as Php5,000 more. “Dati budget namin 15k/month pero last time na nag Walter Mart kami umabot ng 20k, to think na same lang naman yung binibili namin na items based sa usual lists namin like cold cuts, mga condiments, and spices, fresh milk, detergents and so on,” shares Mommy Huhtikuu.

She adds that she is thankful that she is able to save up on other staple items such as rice which her in-laws sends regularly from their province. 

“Yung budget ko na 2K naging 4K tapos if bibili lang ako ng 10 items lang akala ko wala pang 1k, [pero it would] end up mag 2k na siya. Nakakaiyak,” shares Miras adding a crying emoji to her comment.

RELATED: Hindi Tipid Ang 'Tingi-Tingi' Sa Pag-Gas, Here's Why

One mom of a family of four got nostalgic about the ‘good old days”, saying “Namimiss ko yung keri ko pagkasyahin 1K sa isang linggo.  Ngayon every cut off, almost 5K sa grocery pa lang yan. Wala pa yung sa palengke.”

Moms with small kids bear the brunt 

As much as some families want to make their budget work, it can be hard especially if they want to feed their families with the kind of quality food they are used to. 

Na Ja who budgets the food for five persons which includes three teenagers, says she spends as much as 12k for dry goods, fish, and meat. “Iba pa yung isda na di nabili sa grocery, gulay, egg and bigas. We consume mga 1k sa gulay for 2 weeks. Minsan umaabot ng 1,200 dahil bumili ng broccoli.”

Moms with infants and toddlers are some of the most affected sectors. One mom posted she spends Php5,000 just for diapers and milk alone.  Another says, her budget ‘blows up’ because of baby formula and toiletries. 

7 parent-approved tipid hacks for inflation

No doubt, inflation is real and every single home, no matter the collective income, is feeling its pinch, errr, make that punch. But Pinay Moms are known to be madiskarte and able to whip up tipid hacks that make their budget work, inflation or no inflation.

Our Smart Parenting Villagers have generously shared tips that’s working for them. They just might work for you, too.

1. Buy fresh produce at the market.

Any mom hands on with doing the groceries and the marketing knows this for a fact. Buying meats, vegetables, and fruits from the market is always more practical

2. Go for cheaper brands.

One mom says she has resorted to choosing brands that offer more affordable basic items like soap and toothpaste. Another says she has shifted to more affordable brands that offer the same quality as the ones she used to buy “para di maapektuhan yung lasa ng nakasanayan.”

RELATED: How Moms Save Money: 8 Tipid Hacks on Diapers, Clothes, Milk, and More

3. Buy cooked food.

One mom reveals her family allots Php1000 for cooked food. It saves them not only energy but money as well because they do not have to use cooking gas.

4. Find alternatives for your kids’ favorite food.

From chicken nuggets, a mom has opted to buy ground chicken instead and cook the nuggets herself. “Mas marami pa ang nagiging outcome,” she shares. Another says she is thankful she breastfeeds thus saving on formula milk. For diapers, she adds, she uses cloth diapers giving her significant savings on diapers.

5. Make a list and don’t go to the grocery hungry.

“Naka categorize ang mga nasa list ko and sinisigurado ko na masusunod lahat,” shares an SP Villager.  “Sinisigurado ko din na busog ako pag mag go-grocery kasi kapag gutom ka mamili, siguradong mas marami kang gustong bilhin.”

RELATED: Neri Miranda Has a Message for Netizens Who Ask Her for Money

6. Don’t bring kids to the groceries with you.

The items in a supermarket will always be a source of temptation for the kids and would end up with Mom or Dad buying items not on the list. So, one mom swears that leaving her kids at home allows her to stick to her budget. 

7. Buy fresh produce from street vendors.

This not only saves one on transportation cost, but prices are still cheaper compared to supermarket prices. An SP Villager makes this comparison: Red onions six pieces in a pack at the supermarket costs Php80 but from a street vendor, two pieces only cost Php20.  “So if bibili ako ng 3 packs at Php60 nakamura ako ng 20 pesos. 

Wais, di ba?