Florence Sokoveti lives in Baulevu with her family and manages a market stall in Valelevu, where fresh produce plays a big role in their daily lives.
When it comes to grocery shopping, she prefers to shop at Shop N Save Supermarket due to convenience and variety.
With a weekly budget of $200 to $300, Florence says she would carefully plan her shopping to support not just her immediate family but also her older children, who live separately in rented homes.
She shared that $100 is simply not enough for their household needs, especially given the rising prices of food items.
“This enables me to budget wisely while ensuring my family is also well-fed,” she said.
Florence says her routine reflects the dual responsibility she carries—shopping for two households while managing her market stall business.
“This requires a careful balance between budgeting and ensuring quality food, especially since I often source fresh produce directly from our farm,” she said.
She says during the harvesting season, fresh vegetables are plentiful, reducing the need to buy from outside sources.
However, when it’s not harvest time, her family supplements their supply by buying vegetables from the market to ensure they have enough for healthy meals at home.
Florence adds having access to fresh farm produce gives her a significant advantage, helping her family maintain a steady supply of healthy food without relying entirely on store-bought items.
“Apart from supplying us with an abundance of fresh produce, our farm also supports our market stall business, as it helps by providing for our sales, ensuring a stable source of income for the family,” she said.
Florence’ s shopping habits and budgeting reflect the challenges many families face today with increasing food prices.
Her advice to shoppers is to always be mindful of the products you are buying.
She emphasises the need to take time when shopping, especially when it comes to food and household items.
“Instead of rushing through the aisles and picking products based on habit or appearance, I encourage consumers to carefully read the labels and check the nutritional facts.”
“We are fond of rush-shopping, and that is an unhealthy habit,” she said.
Florence also highlighted how this common practice leads to poor choices that could affect one’s health and well-being.
She said reading product labels not only helped identify the ingredients but also allows shoppers to make informed decisions about what they are consuming or using in their homes.
She believes that building awareness around the products we buy can lead to healthier lifestyles and better financial choices.
“By understanding what goes into the items we buy, shoppers can avoid products high in sugars, fats, or artificial additives that may have negative health effects in the long run,” she said.
