It Still Shocks Me

I've lived here for a year and a half, and it still shocks me. So I need to blog about it to get it out of my system. If you want to eat like an American, then you will pay for it. We are very careful with our groceries most of the time, but when Will is gone for a week, Emma and I go on a "fun" grocery run. This is when we buy American products that we normally wouldn't buy along with some other staple items to eat on that week. We have a good time, but I want to scream at the cash register when we check out.

When I used to grocery shop at Aldi, I could literally fill my cart for about $60.

Will made frequent runs to Kroger to get the 5 for $5 items.

I would clip coupons for name brand stuff we enjoyed like real Pillsbury cinnamon rolls (they don't have those here...my family has struggled with that).


Not too difficult....until we moved here.



There are no off-brands of things. You pay about double for most items because they are imported.

I haven't seen coupons. Today I noticed some "specials" but it was for maybe 50 cents off. Whoopdedoo.

And I have to throw in that gas is around $6 a gallon and not one person here complains. To have a car is a privilege in this country. And sometimes there just isn't any gas. Get over it. There might be some tomorrow.

Anyway, back to my shopping experience today. Here is a picture of the stuff we bought:

Wanna take a guess at how much it was? 

It was a grand total of 88,418 colones. That's $177.05! Yep, still shocking.

As you can see, nothing I bought is in bulk quantity.

I would like to break it down here to get an even better idea:

Jiff Extra Crunchy Peanut Butter (first time I've seen it here) - 3115 $6.24

Individual Lime Gatorade - 775 $1.55

Individual Lime Gatorade - 775 $1.55

Strawberry Yogurt with chocolate bits (1) - 650 $1.30

Strawberry Yogurt with chocolate bits (1) - 650 $1.30

Pops Ice Cream Sandwiches (6 in a box) - 2125 $4.26

Package of String Cheese - 4400 $8.81

Life Cereal - 2475 $4.96

Quaker Oatmeal Squares Cereal - 2545 $5.10

Activia Vanilla Yogurt (4 pack) - 3005 $6.02

Activia Vanilla Yogurt (4 pack) - 3005 $6.02

Pantene Naturals Shampoo - 3075 $6.16

Pantene Naturals Shampoo - 3075 $6.16

Pantene Naturals Conditioner - 3075 $6.16 

Pantene Naturals Conditioner - 3075 $6.16

Suave Childrens 2 in 1 Shampoo/Conditioner - 3965 $7.94

Nestle Cini-Minis Cereal - 2830 $5.67

Bananas (6) - 699 $1.40

Nature Valley Peanut Granola Bars - 2995 $6.00

Nature Valley Yogurt Granola Bars - 3045 $6.10

Scott Toilet Paper (12) - 5350 $10.71

Bag of Gala Apples - 3400 $6.81

Ritz Baked Crackers - 2845 $5.70

Green Tea Bags with Honey - 1790 $3.58

Diet Arizona Green Tea in can (1) - 700 $1.40

Diet Mountain Dew can (1) - 475 $.95

Diet Mountain Dew can (1) - 475 $.95

Gallon of Milk - 2150 $4.31

Frozen Tyson Dinosaur Chicken Nuggets - 2555 $5.12

Jacks Brand Chocolate Edible Straws - 475 $.95

Spicy Tuna Roll Sushi Dinner - 5170 $10.35

California Roll Sushi Dinner - 3390 $6.79

Eggo Frozen Cinnamon Waffles - 2945 $5.90

Colgate Toothpaste - 1345 $2.69

Colgate Toothpaste - 1345 $2.69

Bag of 4 Oranges - 1834 $3.67

Small Can of Cashews - 2820 $5.65

Total: 88418 $177.05

I will only vent about this once. Even though it's expensive, I am thankful that these products are available here when we want them. Other missionary friends of ours in other countries don't even have the option. We only shop like this when Will is away, and I'm sure this post will give him a heart attack. Don't worry Will, we'll eat it all!