The JOY of Shopping

OK maybe not, shopping in Singapore can be a trying experience.

 First of all there is a lot of shopping in Singapore to be done.   There are stalls, markets, malls, and stores everywhere you turn, one can literally find anything they are looking for but you have to know where to look and then..... you have to be willing to pay.

The average shopping experience for groceries is sort of like shopping on Black Friday in the U.S.A.  If you have never been Black Friday shopping let me tell you, it is a mad house, no where to park,  people everywhere, and then more people.  Yep, that is how it is shopping in Singapore, people, people, people.  Combine all of the people with the fact that I have to take a bus, a train, a taxi or a combination of all of them to even get to or from my shopping and you can understand why I am motivated to find alternate shopping choices.

It is common amongst the expat families (families not from here who are here for a job) living in Singapore to have a live in or a part time "helper".  These girls come from Thailand, the Philippines, Malaysia, Indonesia etc... to work and make money to send back to their families.  We have chosen to not have a helper as I am perfectly capable of managing my household affairs. 

After living here for a year, I totally understand why people have helpers, she cooks, cleans, takes care of the kids, irons, does the laundry and SHOPS for you.  All of these tasks are much harder to accomplish in a place that is not your own.

We were just home for six weeks and I really, really enjoyed the ease of shopping and running my home.  As we go into our second year of living here in Singapore we are learning more and more how to make life easier for us. 

I am focused this year on decreasing my stress, while still living simply, after all, we only have about 10 more months to go then we will head back "home" to the U.S.

So shopping.... I have found some delivery services that are making my life a lot easier, I will call them my personal "helpers".  If you are in Singapore reading this blog here is a list of places we use for delivery.

Kenny's Grocery: http://kennygrocery.com.sg/
they actually CALL YOU every morning to see if you need anything from "the store" it does not matter how much or how little you need they will bring it that day to your door and then bill you at the end of the month.  If you account for taxi fair to and from stores the price is the same or cheaper than what you would pay to shop yourself.  At the end of your list they ask you questions like "how is your bread, do you need any fruit, what about cleaning supplies?" making it easy for you to not forget things.  Plus I am told they can find ANYTHING and they will bring it.

QB Foods: http://www.qbfood.com.sg/path/index.php
we get all of our meat and cheese, except chicken, from QB foods, they also have some great snack items such as raw trail mix, and yogurt drinks that we really like, they are a wholesale place so your price is about 1/3 cheaper than what you would pay in the grocery store, delivery is free if your order is $200.00 or more, so we only order about once a month from them, they also have great french fries.

Chicken: Mr Wee AKA "The Chicken Man"  call him at  9139 2189
He owns a chicken farm in Malaysia, you call him in the morning and tell him what you want, you can get anything, chicken breast with or with out skin and bone, thighs, wings, whole chicken with or without the head and feet, whole cut chicken etc.... it is butchered that day,in a manner of which we are use to, the butchering skills in Singapore are sometimes.... scary as you can have hunks of bone etc... in your chicken.  This chicken is delicious!  And we like Mr Wee, he delivers to your door that day or a few days after you call.  He also said he can get things from the market for us, like red snapper, eggs etc.....

Best Organic Food: http://bestorganicfood.sg/organic-food-home
There organic produce is amazing, it is really really fresh and has a ton of flavor way better than what I can find in the markets or at the store.  Price.... it is a bit much but we do it anyway since we feel that vegetables are the most important part of our diet.  Again they deliver to your door.

Fair Price, Cold Storage and Carefour also have online delivery.

With these services I am thinking this year will be a much more relaxed "shopping year" esp. with Kenny calling me every morning to see what I need.  Now if I can be organized and plan ahead so I have my list ready in the morning.......

Ahhhh the joys of shopping in Singapore.