SHOPPING!






My blog today on shopping and a few weeks ago on “Living on an Island” are not meant to be a travel guide for those wishing to visit Bermuda but merely some things that I found very interesting since moving here four years ago. We have hosted family members and friends who have come to the Island for a visit. The agenda normally goes something like this; a tour of Hamilton, a visit to the Pink Church a drive along Harbor Road to see the city from the opposite side of the bay. On another day we drive to the gorgeous town of St. George’s where we visit St Peter’s Church and then to the harbor to see the “dunking board” being put to use. Jill usually packs a picnic lunch which we enjoy at a nearby park. Then, on yet another day we visit the dockyards on the other end of the Island see the massive cruise ships and enjoy a tour of the local museum. There are several fascinating places in between these two points not to mention all the beautiful beaches some of which have pink sand! Following a grand tour of the Island we then turn our family and friends loose to visit the grocery stores!

A visit to a grocery story can be a highlight to a vacation. It has been said that Bermuda is one of the most expensive places to live in the world. I have been asked whether or not I intend to live here after I retire and my answer has always been the same; “No way, I couldn’t afford it!” Many Bermudians have two if not three jobs in order to help pay the bills. Weekly groceries form a large part of one’s budget. We take people into the grocery stores and sometimes they can’t believe what they see. When we first arrived we would hesitate and complain before picking up something we needed and then we would remind ourselves how cheap it was in Canada. NOW, we say we need it and so we buy it and spare ourselves from any regrets. Cereals can be very expensive (over $7 a box), packaged cookies can be expensive and ½ gal of milk can run you well over $5. A loaf of your favorite whole wheat bread can run you over $7. Fresh local carrots cost about $7 for half dozen! There are other items like some meat and dairy products which cost you about the same as you would pay back home. If you are one who enjoys munchies and soft drinks then you had better add a few more dollars to your shopping budget. After you pay the cashier for your groceries it is expected that you tip the one who has packed them as this is the only pay they receive. One very obvious reason for high prices of course is that nearly everything is imported and when you are over 600 miles from the nearest shoreline shipping is very expensive.

So what do we do to save a little at the grocery till? We do the same as you would in any other country; you wait for the specials, you shop on Wednesday pay cash and save 5% and then you choose carefully where you shop. I always have our visitors to the manse especially if they come from Canada to bring a box of Shreddies (not available here) and a tin of Tim Hortons coffee!

Bermuda is a fascinating place to live even though it might be a bit expensive.