Survey: How much do you spend on food everyday?

[crazycrab]

Just wanna know how much to spend on food everyday for my budget. How much is the difference between buying food and making our own food? :confused:

[EpiJunky]

It can range - thats really a relative question based on activity level, weight, eating habits, etc...you could get someone here who eats one meal a day but also weights 108lbs you also could get someone who eats six times a day but they are working out and are trying to put on muscle mass.

You should also search because this topic has been discussed before...but heres my answer:

Cooking will almost always be cheaper than buying food. Nearly everything down there, especially at IGA (the main supermarket) is extremely expensive compared to the U.S. as everything is imported. For example, a box of morningstar veggie patties, which are btw $3-4US in the U.S. are btw $7-8US in Grenada. This goes for a lot of things because they are being shipped in and shipped in cold/frozen storage.

If you can cook, cook and cook enough to last you two days or more. That way, it doesnt take up too much time. Bring a pot and a pan at least and maybe a decent knife like a santoku or chefs knife. Thatll help you tremendously if you want to cook.

In terms of buying food like quick meals on campus, the prices can range btw ~$10-20EC per meal. A wrap from Pearls is $15-20EC for example.

But like I said, do a search and dont forget that that question is pretty relative on lifestyle and eating habits so you may get many different answers.

gluck

[crazycrab]

Thank for the reply ahhaa. hmm so the groceries in GND are expensive? but if you cook it will still be less expensive than buying food? Pots and pan can be heavy, and since im flying LIAT.... probably a big mistake... :S

So $10-20 EC can get pretty healthy meal?

[CanadaLM]

I think it depends on what you mean by "healthy". For me, I would say the food you buy is very unhealthy...but then again, i don't eat much. The wraps are definitely not healthy -- especially after you add all the different sauces! Also the wrap will cost you between $6-$8 US/CDN. I also don't find the groceries much more expensive than in Canada. There are a few items that seem pricier, but that's to be expected (ie. $10 CDN/US for a carton of Tropicana OJ). Cooking is definitely less expensive than eating out. Expect to pay about $30-$50 US/CDN for groceries per week depending on how much and what you eat. I have heard of people spending about $250 EC per week, but I think that is rare.

[crazycrab]

Alright, I might need to bring pots and pans then... Hey CanadaLM, where do u buy ur insurance from? any recommendations? and also did u open a bank account with RBC or Scotiabank to withdrawal money there in Grenada? Thanks :roll:

[CanadaLM]

If you are talking about health insurance, then I get it through my mom's benefits, so it doesn't cost me anything. I heard of people going through blue cross and buying travel health insurance for $400 for the whole year. I have had a bank account with Scotiabank since I was a baby, but they still will charge me $5 per withdraw if I go to the Scotiabank in Grenada and withdraw money. I was told it was because international Scotiabanks are considered to be foreign or something like that...but get this: If you bank with Bank of America, you dont have to pay service charges if you withdraw money from Scotiabank. It's kinda dumb. I usually just withdraw money from the ATM at school. I take out larger amounts at a time ($1000 EC) so the service fees dont kill me. It costs the same to take money out at the ATM as it does to take money out my own bank...go figure!

[crazycrab]

haha ok. Do you need to transfer funds from Scotiabank Canada to Scotiabank Grenada? Or are they in the same system?
OR, Is it a better idea to bring some Canadian currency (in cash?) to Grenada and then open and save to a local bank account there? Thanks.

[kananaskis_girl]

don't bother bringing Canadian money, they won't accept it in Grenada, go to your bank and get USD (every bank in Canada has USD in the back). It'll be accepted everywhere in Grenada, banks in Canada don't usually carry EC, it's a special order so just bring USD.

no, the Scotiabanks aren't connected, they are completely separate banks so you can't just "transfer funds" between them. You would have to open up a whole separate account with Scotia Grenada. As said above, don't even bother, not worth it to set up a bank account in GND. Use your debit card with the ATM on campus and take out larger sums of money to minimize transaction fees. Make sure to set it up with your bank account at home to maximize the amount of money you can take out every day, some people have limits set up on their accounts.

[crazycrab]

Hey Thanks. Do you mean not to set up a Scotiabank Grenada account? You suggest bringing USD and setting up an account in the local bank near or on campus?

don't bother bringing Canadian money, they won't accept it in Grenada, go to your bank and get USD (every bank in Canada has USD in the back). It'll be accepted everywhere in Grenada, banks in Canada don't usually carry EC, it's a special order so just bring USD.

no, the Scotiabanks aren't connected, they are completely separate banks so you can't just "transfer funds" between them. You would have to open up a whole separate account with Scotia Grenada. As said above, don't even bother, not worth it to set up a bank account in GND. Use your debit card with the ATM on campus and take out larger sums of money to minimize transaction fees. Make sure to set it up with your bank account at home to maximize the amount of money you can take out every day, some people have limits set up on their accounts.

[jaywalk81]

scotia bank has no ATM on campus or within a walking distance.

if you really feel the need to open an acct down there, i would just go with RBTT, they have ATM on campus and at the supermarket/mall where you will go to do your food shopping. much more convenient


i never opened an acct. just withdrew cash from ATM using my debit/credit/bank card. andthey will just deduct it from my Chase checking acct with some fee for international withdrawal

[medannyboi]

im thinking of requesting a PIN for my chase credit card. im wondering what the atm fee is for chase??

[Reilly]

If you have a bank of america debit card you can forgo the transaction fees by going to Scotia. There's one in grand anse by the other food store, but I usually go there on my way to IGA for the week. Saves the $6 transaction fee I usually would get charged.

[crazycrab]

RBTT = RBC? kinda related?

scotia bank has no ATM on campus or within a walking distance.

if you really feel the need to open an acct down there, i would just go with RBTT, they have ATM on campus and at the supermarket/mall where you will go to do your food shopping. much more convenient


i never opened an acct. just withdrew cash from ATM using my debit/credit/bank card. andthey will just deduct it from my Chase checking acct with some fee for international withdrawal

[jaywalk81]

RBTT not equal to RBC
as far as i know

[kananaskis_girl]

RBTT is not the same as RBC...they are both Royal Bank, but it's the same situation as Scotia, they are completely independent and separate entities.

[kananaskis_girl]

Hey Thanks. Do you mean not to set up a Scotiabank Grenada account? You suggest bringing USD and setting up an account in the local bank near or on campus?

yeah, don't bother setting up a Scotia Grenada account. Just bring USD and get it exchanged at the on campus bank, you don't even need an account for that. As Jay and many of us have already stated, there's no real point to setting up a bank account, you don't need one in Grenada (unless you really feel it's important). Just use your home bank's debit card at the ATM, and take out larger sums of cash if they charge you a lot for transaction fees. Also, go into your bank and see if they will decrease or waive your international transaction fees since you are a student, just explain the situation to them and they may be able to get you on a better plan.

[crazycrab]

Nice! Thanks! :D btw a stupid question: which bank accounts can the ATM withdraw from? For example, I use HSBC, can I withdraw money from it on the ATM machine?

yeah, don't bother setting up a Scotia Grenada account. Just bring USD and get it exchanged at the on campus bank, you don't even need an account for that. As Jay and many of us have already stated, there's no real point to setting up a bank account, you don't need one in Grenada (unless you really feel it's important). Just use your home bank's debit card at the ATM, and take out larger sums of cash if they charge you a lot for transaction fees. Also, go into your bank and see if they will decrease or waive your international transaction fees since you are a student, just explain the situation to them and they may be able to get you on a better plan.

[EhJJ]

im thinking of requesting a PIN for my chase credit card. im wondering what the atm fee is for chase??

Credit card or debit card? If you withdraw cash on a credit card, you will be charged interest from the moment you withdraw the money to the moment you pay it back, which can be a lot.

[DWB]

Is it hard to get money out of grenadian bank accounts? Or can I just use a debit card as I would normally do in Canada?

(I know most of you are advising against opening a grenadian account, but my mom works for a bank so I get some great conversion rates, and would like to take advantage of the weak US dollar, I stand to save anywhere between 10-15% cuz of the combined benefits)

[jaywalk81]

use your ATM/bank card to withdraw cash from the gns atm, its just as simple and same as any atm machines in USA. insert card, punch in pin, which acct to withdraw from, amount to be withdrawn, voila...you have your money.

the bank will automatically convert it to EC for you, meaning you will get ECs from the ATM, NOT USD. however on your statements for your bank, it will show the transaction as amount of USD taken out of the acct.

and yes DONT use credit card, the interest for using cash is too high. stick with your personal ATM/bank card

[clive]

yeah, don't bother setting up a Scotia Grenada account. Just bring USD and get it exchanged at the on campus bank, you don't even need an account for that. As Jay and many of us have already stated, there's no real point to setting up a bank account, you don't need one in Grenada (unless you really feel it's important). Just use your home bank's debit card at the ATM, and take out larger sums of cash if they charge you a lot for transaction fees. Also, go into your bank and see if they will decrease or waive your international transaction fees since you are a student, just explain the situation to them and they may be able to get you on a better plan.

just to clarify, debit cards from ANY home bank will work?

[timisdaman]

I find the food on campus to be delicious and nutritious. Because I love meat.

edit: there is a "brown van" guy who comes to campus around noon.

Rotis:
Chicken - 7
Beef - 9
Tofu - ?
Others -?

Meals: 13 (meat, rice, vegetables)

All prices EC. 1US = 2.67EC

[sarit]

wait, that would mean that a meal (meat, rice, vegetable) would only cost
$4.86 US dollars? That's great!

Also, where (where do we go to) does this brown van person sale his food?

[kananaskis_girl]

just to clarify, debit cards from ANY home bank will work?

they should, just go into your branch and double-check with them, but usually the main thing you need to worry about is the transaction fees. Sometimes you also need to let your bank know (or it's a good idea to) that you're heading out of the country, especially with credit cards, sometimes they will freeze them if they think there may be some funny things going on, like people purchasing groceries in Grenada 2 days after you were using it at home in Canada.

[AngryBaby]

most of the ATM's I've seen are a part of the Pulse/Plus network so as long as your debit card has one/both of those logos on it you should be fine.

[timisdaman]

wait, that would mean that a meal (meat, rice, vegetable) would only cost
$4.86 US dollars? That's great!

Also, where (where do we go to) does this brown van person sale his food?

he's near the main entrance, between charter hall and taylor hall

[PikachuMan]

I find the food on campus to be delicious and nutritious. Because I love meat.

edit: there is a "brown van" guy who comes to campus around noon.

Rotis:
Chicken - 7
Beef - 9
Tofu - ?
Others -?

Meals: 13 (meat, rice, vegetables)

All prices EC. 1US = 2.67EC

Tofu roti? Good gawd, now I've seen it all.

Shame the "Authentic Chinese Food" people seem to have vanished. They had some good stuff, though pricey. Might be back when the Fall semester starts though.

To the topic, my food budget works out to around $20EC a day. Fast food accounts for about half of that alone.. it's much cheaper to cook (or eat crix crackers and sardines every day).

[crazycrab]

Hmm, how authentic is the "Authentic Chinese Food"?...

Tofu roti? Good gawd, now I've seen it all.

Shame the "Authentic Chinese Food" people seem to have vanished. They had some good stuff, though pricey. Might be back when the Fall semester starts though.

To the topic, my food budget works out to around $20EC a day. Fast food accounts for about half of that alone.. it's much cheaper to cook (or eat crix crackers and sardines every day).

[timisdaman]

Here is my main concern: where are the all-you-can-eat buffets? Newcastle had 7+ of them!

[medannyboi]

Credit card or debit card? If you withdraw cash on a credit card, you will be charged interest from the moment you withdraw the money to the moment you pay it back, which can be a lot.


oh ok thank, i'll go set up a checking/savings account with bank of america.

[argazul]

oh ok thank, i'll go set up a checking/savings account with bank of america.
or you can try to open one up at Compass bank or Capital One bank. No ATM fees. You'll end up saving quite a bit over two years.

[medannyboi]

or you can try to open one up at Compass bank or Capital One bank. No ATM fees. You'll end up saving quite a bit over two years.

i thought bank of america also had no atm fees. i read somewhere they have a deal wit scotia?

[jaywalk81]

that is if you use scotia bank's ATM which is not close by tocampus at all. you need to take GA_TB bus bus and walk about 10mins. or take the mon toute bus which doesnt come as frequent just to go the bank

[CANeh]

Oh rubbish! It is a short drive.

You just need to print out the schedule and take it with you. Go shoping at Food Fair and come out to catch the school bus.

Here is the link from Scotiabank website.

Scotiabank - Global ATM Alliance (http://www.scotiabank.com/cda/content/0,1608,CID8040_LIDen,00.html)

[CANeh]

You kidding me. One plate and I am full. I don't know where you get that high metabolism. You kids are crazyyyy!!!

Plus in Newcastle (which we all miss by now)... it was 12 pound to 17pound for the buffet. I am sure if you took 64$ EC to 90$EC and offer it to a restaurant it will be equal to an all you can eat (for most of us).

Here is my main concern: where are the all-you-can-eat buffets? Newcastle had 7+ of them!

[jaywalk81]

that is if you drive. unless the bus schedule has significantly improved since i was there...i never liked the mon toute route

[timisdaman]

You kidding me. One plate and I am full. I don't know where you get that high metabolism. You kids are crazyyyy!!!

Plus in Newcastle (which we all miss by now)... it was 12 pound to 17pound for the buffet. I am sure if you took 64$ EC to 90$EC and offer it to a restaurant it will be equal to an all you can eat (for most of us).


actually, it was ~£4.95 for pizza hut lunch buffet and ho's chinese buffet at lunch. some buffets were expensive, but they were actually less delicious than the cheap ones :)

[crazycrab]

hmm anyone know if the local caribbean bank is on campus within a walking distance? and does it have a bank card so we can use ATM to withdraw money? Any transaction fees?

[jaywalk81]

the one on campus, RBTT is right on campus, located at the student center, next to the gym

[crazycrab]

the one on campus, RBTT is right on campus, located at the student center, next to the gym

So I can bring a bank draft and get a RBTT bank account, deposit there in RBTT, and withdraw money from it using RBTT bank card? Is this wut some other ppl are doing? lol :p

[DWB]

K i talked to my financial planner and he said that if i take a draft, they'll hold it for atleast 17 days cuz thats how long canadian banks hold it for (and since its international they will prob hold it for longer). So you might be best off bringing cash or traveller's cheques or something...

[crazycrab]

K i talked to my financial planner and he said that if i take a draft, they'll hold it for atleast 17 days cuz thats how long canadian banks hold it for (and since its international they will prob hold it for longer). So you might be best off bringing cash or traveller's cheques or something...
I am thinking of bringing some cash to use until i can cash the draft. btw, traveler's cheques are expensive right?

[EV]

***********

[Kongakut]

LOL...I assume you are referring to the Patels?


I personally use a Canadian credit card for all the groceries without a problem. I also opened an RBTT account and used it for the loan refund checks. I was able to use a Scotia and a TD bank card, although the fees were rather rididiculous ($5 I think).
On average I spend 150-200 EC a week on food.

Please remember not to use proper names.

Re-read his post - he said brown van.

[EV]

***********

[argazul]

the Ps maybe? so the Ps and the "brown van" are the same or different?

[EV]

***********

[Kongakut]

the Ps maybe? so the Ps and the "brown van" are the same or different?

They are different. Brown van is down by Taylor Hall and the Ps are up by the bus stop.

[Kongakut]

Please excuse me if I roll my eyes at you....saying Patels is pretty much like saying Sugar Shack as they have been a staple at SGU for many, many years, and referring to them as anything else is just wrong ;)

Which is exactly why their names and privacy should be respected. It's also against TOS.

[EV]

***********

[shadyhtown]

Is there a code sheet lying around somewhere, which matches faculty and staff names w/ their commonly used initials on VMD?

[timisdaman]

No, the "brown van" guy is not "brown" but literally has a "brown van".

Mr. P is someone else. He does not sell meat.