Cost of Living Increase

The items pictured are (not necessarily in order) Jif Chunky Peanut Butter 18 oz and the cost is N695 or $6.31 US. Two different jams, one on each end I think. They cost N225 or $2.04 US. Honey is the big squatty bottle, 500 Grams and it's cost is N510 or $4.63 US. Tuna and Ketchup are the last two items. Tuna is in a traditional sized can and costs N245 for an American Equivalent of $2.22 US. (Oops, the Tuna got eaten and didn't make it into the picture) The Heinz Ketchup is made in Egypt and costs N675 which converts to $6.13 US for what looks to us like a quart. It is 855 Grams.

Tuna can be used with cucumber and celery chopped in it for a quick lunch sandwich. The Peanut Butter and Jam are used the same way. Sweets are not available at a price you would want to spend. Some are available, but the missionaries (Seniors and the regular Elders and Sisters) eat very little in the way of sweets. One couple who came back to visit last week, after being home for 1 year said two things made them sick when they got back to the US. First was eating beef and the second was eating sweets.

Here's the real story. Senior Missionaries have three basic places they spend their money each month. First is Rent for the Apartment, the car and the cell phone. Second major use of money is Food, and third is Fuel for the car. Because of the cost of food, it seems to be the largest block of money each month. Our source of protein is chicken and peanut butter. Lots and lots of vegetables, tomatoes, cucumbers, potatoes(very small, yellow in color inside, but very good!) Celery, cabbage, some lettuce, canned green beans & corn, onion, beets. Some fruit. Mostly Pineapple. They cost about a dollar and are very good. They are not as fat and yellow as those from Hawaii, but the fruit is excellent and it is white. We eat the center of the Pineapple because they are not tough. So, way more gets spent for food than at home for lots less in quantity and very little meat. A baking or roasting chicken is about $9-$10.00.