Life is pretty normal. Nothing out of the ordinary for the first few days. Just settling into my temporary accommodation for 2 weeks before we move to our rental apartment.
We went to do some grocery shopping at Walmart over the weekend. The thing that struck me was that, unlike Singapore, the supermarkets are consistently cheaper as compared to another supermarket.
For example, in Singapore, NTUC is cheaper than Cold Storage.
Sheng Shiong or NTUC is pretty comparable, but we just go whichever is more convenient cos we usually have only one supermarket around where we stay.
Whereas in Houston, I have to drive to the nearest supermarket maybe 15 minutes away.
Walmart is one of the cheaper alternatives. There are also a number of other cheap supermarkets around. And they are all around the same level of convenience. No matter what, I need to drive.
Somethings in Walmart are cheaper, somethings in another comparable supermarket is cheaper.
Somethings are more expensive, etc...
When I was at Walmart, I realized that... I just have to buy whatever I need when I'm there. It makes no sense to travel to another supermarket looking for a couple of products and comparing prices.
Furthermore, it's not easy comparing prices. It's not like in SG, when we go out and we will walk past a supermarket at Suntec or Vivo City as we are just walking around.
Over here, I have to make a dedicated trip to the supermarket to buy stuff or compare prices.
Petrol prices aren't particularly expensive, it's just the hassle of driving 15 minutes somewhere else just to check prices or pick up only one or two items.
This is very new to me. Cos in Singapore or even in Paris, it's convenient to check prices or just walk to the next supermarket to check things out.
I can now understand why online shopping and paying for delivery or food delivery is a big thing. Simply cos... it really is more inconvenient over here.
Now, don't misunderstand. It's not bad. It's really easy to drive out and parking is free and most people have a car. The thing is, can you imagine doing this for small items over and over again?
In SG, we just go down and buy some food, or we go down to the neighbourhood supermarket to pick up a couple of items. It's really convenient and we can just go down in our slippers and come back in maybe 15 minutes.
Whereas in Houston, I have to change to slightly nicer clothes, go down, drive 15 minutes out, buy something, and drive back. Food, groceries, household equipment, etc.
It's just more inconvenient. It's different. So I'll just have to work around it and plan what I want to buy and all that. I'm not complaining. It's just an observation.
Also, I have a washing machine and dryer over here in the apartment.
In SG and Paris, I also have both of these appliances. However, I usually do not use them. Cos I have a place to hang the items for drying in both SG and Paris.
In my current apartment, I don't have anywhere to hang my clothes, so I just throw them all into the dryer and it's dry in 45 minutes. Then I can just fold them. Super easy.
I'll likely have a place to hang my clothes in my new place cos it's bigger and I can fit a hanging rack in the apartment. But in my temporary accommodation, I just take the easy way out. Since I don't need to handle the utilities bill in this place for now.
If you all haven't tried using a dishwasher, I recommend you try it out once at least.
I've never tried using a dishwasher. I've always heard it's useful. Yesterday I tried using it. And frankly, it's awesome. I can cook multi step dishes, use 2, 3, 4 pots or pans, use a spoon, or fork to test the food, use multiple plates to serve the food. And at the end of the meal, I just put everything into the dishwasher and turn it on and I can go and watch TV, and in an hour or so, it's all done. I don't need to think about it at all.
It's amazing.
Of course all these... is not free...
I can now totally understand why people get used to the convenience of online shopping, food delivery, washing and drying, dishwasher, and it really makes a lot of sense. If you have the money and enjoy these... it really is a nice luxury.
It's the same as subscribing to Netflix. Having shows on demand. It's a nice luxury too.
And, I think all these is fine. It's ok to consume these things. As long as you really consume it and it improves your life.
If you love watching shows and it's your main entertainment, then by all means, subscribe to Netflix. Cos that's going to be cheaper than going out and getting movie tickets and eating out.
Or if a dishwasher is really going to improve your life, then I think, by all means get one cos it's going to be used and it's worth the expenditure.
But if you buy things that will go out of fashion, or buy it and keep in the storeroom, then I think that's a real waste.
Or even getting a Grab/Uber... I'm a bit stuck on that. It's really convenient, and when I'm back to visit in SG, I think I'll use it often, cos I don't have much time in SG and I need to get around quickly to meet up with friends.
Overall, I think... well, if you can afford it, and it improves your life, why not?
Of course all these is a balance between spending, saving, retirement, etc...
If the maths work out... well... why not?
I think I've changed... last time, when I was younger, I would think that saving is the most important. But now, I'm more chill about this. It's a balance between being comfortable, convenience and savings and retirement.
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