SIM is just right beside Ngee Ann Polytechnic and I have gone to the canteen there to eat a few times. I find the prices in the canteen very subsidized and that's why many SIM students would go there to eat if they were having any long breaks. I usually eat the sliced fish mee sua, at a price of $2.80, it amazing value, of course you wouldn't expect fish slices as thick as Piao Ji (Amoy Street Food Centre) but you could just buy 2 bowls for the price of one outside.
Of course, you might say that schools have subsidized pricing and hence their food is cheaper than outside. However, growing up, I have been feeling the effects of inflation. Take chicken rice for example, my all time favourite dish. Previously, chicken rice (breast meat) would cost about $2-$2.50 but now it cost around $3-$4 at some places.
鸡腿肉 will cost $4.50 and above.
Of course, inflation has been going on for years, I think why I really start noticing it and its effect is because I start using my own money for my expenses. This really makes me track prices and hence noticing changes. I remember when I started my gap year working, I ordered chicken rice with 鸡胸肉 rather than 鸡腿肉 because I can save more. When I was young, I never ever order 鸡胸肉 because it's dry and flat. So now, having 鸡腿肉 is like a bonus enjoyment for me. HAHA
Another observation of inflation for me is bubble tea. I remember in secondary school after my class, I would go to those bubble tea shops where the auntie would have flavours like blue coral or oreo crush. I used to love oreo crush in secondary school and I found it expensive as it was about $2.20.
The traditional bubble tea stores are rarely seen nowadays and replaced are brands like KOI, Gongcha and LiHo, all of which are more expensive then the traditional bubble tea shops. Waffle prices from bakeries have also increased. I used to have plain waffle for a dollar but now it has increase to $1.20-$1.40. Definitely, with rising rent and utility bills, businesses have no choice but to increase prices to cope with rising cost.
When I was young, my mum told me that when she was really young, a bowl of noodles only cost like $0.20 (if it is familiar to you then you must be around my mum's age 😏) I guess this is also what I will tell my children in time to come. I am glad to have a place to write down my reflections and feeling about my surroundings. Hope you do enjoy me sharing about my thoughts!
