People are always asking me how much money do I spend on different things compared to what I would spend in the US. So I thought I would post what I pay.
I have included the amount per month that I usually buy. There are things that I wish I could buy, but I just can't justify spending so much money on it. The money amount listed at the end of each item is how much it costs per item, not how much I spend in total.
For example an 8oz package of montery jack cheese runs 78L at the Mega grocery store. Which means it costs almost $10/pound. For 90L I can get 3 pounds of quesillo, which is a soft cheese that sort of is like mozzerella, but not quite. Or I can get 3 pounds of queso seco. Dry cheese. Yuck. Everyone in the house likes queso seco except for Andre and I. I much prefer quesillo.
Oh, and if it seems like I buy alot of food - I do. Lets do a recap of who eats in my household.
- Lale - who eats the equivalent of 3 teenage boys.
- Me - who eats normal
- Andre - who eats the equivalent of 4 teenage boys
- Sendy - the equivalent of 2 teenage boys
- Jordan - normal
- Mickey - normal
- Isa - normal
- Johan - the equivalent of 1 teenage boy - seriously.
- Lana - normal
- Levi - more than normal
- Ari - eats a good deal as well.
So while there are 11 mouths that have food shoveled in, it is like I have to cook for 27 people. (because we all know that 1 teenage boy is the same as two normal people). Seriously. At each meal make approx 55 tortillas for everyone. That isnt including me, because I rarely eat tortillas. 38 of those are for 4 people.
Anyways...
on average, $1 = 18.87L
Water bill for the year = 240L
Replacement Chimbo (gas for the stove) (2/month) and it varies. I have paid anywhere from 176L to 215L. It all depends on the price of gas.
(5/month) Baby Formula 354L
(2/month) Ketchup (1 gallon) 123L
(1/month) Mayo (generic semi icky flavor brand) 40L
(1/month) Mustard 36L
(6/month) Hot Sauce = 15L
(2/month) Coffee (1lb bag Cafe Oro) = 34L
(1/month) Creamer (the BIG container) = 55L
(4/month) Margarine (5 sticks Issima brand) = 14L
(2/month) Oil (1 gallon) = 210L
(4/month) Manteca (think a tube of crisco. 1 Kilo) = 24L
(10/month) Hielo bags (20 bags) = 4.5L
(varies/month) Topogigio bags (30 bags) = 4.5L
(2/month) Flour (25lb bag) = 180L
(2/month) Maseca (50lb bag) = 290L
(4/month) Rice (25lb bag) = 230 <> (1/month) Rice (100lb bag) = 880L
(2/month) Spaghetti (5 lb sack) = 110L
(4/month) Diapers (50 diapers size XG Huggies) = 290
(1/month) Salt (Sal Fino 25lb bag) = 80L
(2/month) Sugar (2 fardos. 1 fardo = 40lbs) 220L
(15 chick/month) Chicken (frozen, 4-5 lbs each one) = 20L/lb
(1 big bag/month) Dog Food = 13L/lb or around 490L for the big bag - 40 lbs I think?
(12/month) Macaroni noodles (8 oz bag) = 8L
(3/month) Tomato Paste (12 pack case) = 80L
(5/month) Shampoo (crappy dollar store type, 1 liter) = 48L
(3/month) Conditioner (same crappy dollar store type, 1 liter) = 48L
Deodorant (Dove brand) = 80L
(1/month) Dishwashing soap (24 bar case) = 190L
Dishwashing soap (each) = 9L
(25/month) Laundry Soap (each) = 12L
(1/month) Laundry Soap (powder, medium bag) = 45L
(2/month) Bleach (1 gallon) = 38L
(2/month) Flash cleaning liquid (1 gallon) = 88L
(15lb/month) Hamburger meat = 40L/lb
Hamburger meat (more fat) = 25L/lb
(15lb/month) Meat (think roast) = 40L/lb
Beef tenderloin = 48L/lb
(varies) 3L of soda = 30L
veggies (250L/week)= 1000L
The deodorant I buy enough for everyone for the year here in the US, then either take it down with us, or shove it in the box we send down. This year I am doing the same thing with shampoo. I really miss my Pantene. And the price of the small pantene in Honduras is almost equal to the price of 1 liter of Pantene in the US.
The veggies I buy either from the market in Tocoa, or from the veggie truck that comes by our house every Saturday morning. Usually - but not always, the veggie truck is cheaper than the market in Tocoa. The picture above shows what I bought from the veggie truck for less than 160L. Or between $7 and 8$. For that amount I got 5lbs of tomatoes, 3 heads of lettuce, 1 head of cabbage, 4 pounds of red onions, 5 pounds of potatoes, 3 pounds of carrots and 10 green peppers.
Speaking of food - Isa was looking at pictures of her cousins birthday party, which we werent able to make it to, and she asked me why only he had friends over his house for a party. We celebrated her birthday at home with a special dinner, a cake and just us family. We didnt have the money to do anything big, and I hate having a bunch of people over to the house anyways. So I told her, Isa, you have so many brothers and sisters that together they make enough people for a party. So not only did you have a party for your birthday, you have a party EVERY time you sit down and eat. Just think of how lucky you are to be able to have a party 3 times a day.
I dont know if she bought it or not though because she just sort of looked at me funny and walked away.
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