GROCERY SHOPPING | COST of LIVING IN AMERICAN SAMOA | Cost-U-Less, KS Mart, Mini-Marts
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- čas přidán 9. 04. 2020
- Wondering what it costs to live in AMERICAN SAMOA?
GROCERY SHOPPING is the first in a series of videos intended to provide information, as well as entertainment, discussing the COST OF LIVING on the island.
We take you into local stores, where you can see for yourself how much you'll need to budget in order to eat and live in American Samoa. We also let you in on a few tricks to make your $ go further in Paradise.
For more of our adventures check out:
BLOG: amsamfam.com/
INSTAGRAM: / traveling_otb
FACEBOOK: / travelingotb
HADLEY'S CZcams: / channel
Thanks for your continued support! Keep on hitting that thumbs up and letting us know what else you want to see, including other cost of living question.
I'm Samoan but born and raised in San Francisco. Last time I visited Am.Samoa was in 1979 when my grandfather passed. I don't remember much. But watching your video helps me to prepare myself for the day when I do go back to visit. Thank you for sharing.
you all probably dont care but does someone know a trick to get back into an Instagram account??
I was dumb lost the password. I would love any tricks you can offer me!
@Ezequiel Davis Instablaster :)
@Clyde Layton Thanks so much for your reply. I found the site through google and im in the hacking process now.
Seems to take quite some time so I will get back to you later when my account password hopefully is recovered.
@Clyde Layton It did the trick and I finally got access to my account again. I'm so happy:D
Thanks so much you saved my ass!
@Ezequiel Davis you are welcome :D
Giving up all the processed foods for locally grown sounds like a pretty healthy trade off.
Don't forget our local markets around the island. Some are owned by locals an Asians. Those are usually the places where their veggies are low in price. I really like watching your video clip and I hope that you love staying here 😍
I love how open minded non-samoan people who live in Am Samoa or Samoa. Such a lovely family ❤️
We really appreciate your kind words and thanks a ton for subscribing!
Yes im samoa
Thank you for putting American Samoa on the map! I’m 31 years old and I never been to American Samoa in my life and I’m so busy with my life it’s hard for me to find time off for Travel to other place’s! Because I don’t want any bills to go unpaid and push back my chances of owning my own house! God bless you and your family entire family!
My family and I lived in American Samoa for a few years as missionaries. I love seeing your videos and hearing about your family's experiences because it brings back all my childhood memories from growing up there. It's also refreshing seeing a family from the mainland who is actually there to really experience the culture and life in Samoa! Am Sam will always have a piece of my heart!! Best wishes to you guys!!
I haven’t been home for a while, so it’s really nice to see a lil bit of it through your channel! Thank you!
Thank you for filming this 💗 I've been homesick from being away from Am Samoa for 4 years and I really appreciated watching your video 🥰
Appreciate all the videos from back home. Please, keep em coming!!!!
Benjamin Manu no plans to stop 😊 I’m glad you’re enjoying them. Stay safe!
Great video!
Lots of useful information and insights for potential visitors to American Samoa.
Thanks! We’re glad to be able to share our experiences, in the hopes that they can be helpful for others.
I’m glad I found this channel haven’t been home in 5 years and this just made me feel a good to see the changes not much but glad there moving forward.
Fafetai Lava @amsamfam
Tai lava!
You guys are awesome! Love the vlogs! I still can’t believe i haven’t heard of some of the hideaways you guys have been to.. Love it! Keep them coming, I sure am looking fwd to more videos:)
Thank you so much for being kind, understanding n respectful to your living in Am. Samoa!!! I appreciate n love to watch your videos about my home!!!!
The way I see it, we’ve chosen our life here and it’s a life that we love. American Samoa isn’t perfect, but it’s as close to perfect for us as we’ve been able to find ❤️🏝 We love the people, land, and ocean and we try our best to be respectful to each.
I love your stories, simple, very real and practical advises. Good job on contributing to local Tourism industry. I am already interested in visiting American Samoa from your videos. God bless you all.
Awesome! We hope you’ll be able to visit sometime soon 🤞
Just subscribed. I love the videos. Makes me miss home being soo far away here in the U.S now. But also always nice to see. You guys are amazing ! Keep up the awesome videos. Stay safe , take care & God bless.
Sam Faasuamanu aww, thanks for subscribing! I think it’s always the place we can’t be that we miss the most. We’ve been missing the States lately, but we’ll have to settle for a visit when travel restrictions are lifted. We’re not ready to move anytime soon. We ❤️🇦🇸
I love your channel. You guys are so respectful of the culture while you speak. Subscribed!
My curiosity brought me here🙃Great video👍 you guys have a beautiful family. Thank you for bringing us into your lives🧡
Awesome stuff Guys Thanks for sharing your experience with us all 😊
We went to the USA for 3 months and everything was cheap but guess been a island you don't mind paying for things when on holidays. I loved this video thank you as it shows us a lot more. We are not use on accommodation for a week yet but we would love to be able to still cook meals.
Amen to AmSamFam, I hope you guy's having a great time living on the island, because Samoa is a happy island, and happy people.
Yes it is and yes they are. We love our island home 🏝
Thank you for sharing this vlog, please keep coming...
This is so interesting! Great to learn more about what life is like. Stay safe guys! :)
Five for the Road I’m glad you found it interesting. We try to share information, while keeping them fun and entertaining too.
🙌🏽🙌🏽🙌🏽 hope you guys enjoyed the stay
I think they live there
I really adore and respect your love in a place I call home as well. How lovely to see how you captured and encounter challenges and be able to rise above and make adjustments in life. Great vlog once again! God bless, and Happy Easter!🕊🕎❤️✝️🙏
Ano Tuimalealiifano thanks! That’s what life is, right? We all keep moving forward, taking challenges as they come. That’s what makes life so fun and exciting 😊 Happy Easter to you too.
Ano Tuimalealiifano, looking at your last name, which is a kingly title, I reckon you also have ties to Independent Samoa.
Seems like a perfect place to have a garden if you have the space? Tomatoes grow like weeds!
Bro you can buy a whole land and grow a plantation
@@steverimoni852 You need to be 50% Samoan to own land there.
Love you guys video always enjoy watching it
Macthorn P thanks!
Been awhile since I’ve been back, awesome vid.
Solid advice on the food😀 thank you. Btw awesome tan guys😎
Carmen Caroline Purcell haha, thanks!
Thanks for sharing your awesome story on the island
Thanks Fam.
Stay blessed
Thanks for the video it will help us when we visit Am Samoa soon....stay safe.
Tee Samataua great! I’m glad that you’ve been finding them helpful. Hopefully things will calm down enough in the world that our borders can be opened again, giving people like you a chance to visit and enjoy the islands for yourself. Take care.
So interesting! Thanks for sharing!😁
Your videos have been so educational! Thank you for sharing. I'd love to take my kids to travel there
A lot of that stuff that you crave can be grown in your garden, like tomatoes all you need is the seeds to grow them, those are inside the fruit. That's the beauty of living in the tropics, well unless there is an environmental prohibition against growing the certain vegetable.....but strawberries and tomatoes should be harmless and they come ready with seeds on or in them.
Another awesome clip 🤙
Love it! Keep it coming guys!
Forgetmenot thanks! Miss you 😘
Malo Forgetmenot . Stay safe in Vegas lol
AMamea - Rock Solid Entertainment- a kuai ga kufa kou stimulus check koe kakala kou borders pls haha
Thank you for taking me around I love looking around.
Great video folks, next stop ...Saturday morning shopping at the Fresh Market in Fagatogo...get breakfast there. Keep up the good work ...faafetai lava.
TheRawfishking that’s a great idea! We’ve been here three years and have never done Saturday breakfast at Fagatogo market. We’ll add it to the list. Thanks for the suggestion!
@@nathanielclayville380 Yoh wsup...thanks for getting back. Everytime I'm home...I always make it a point to get there. I'm sure you're familiar with the local diet 🤭🤭🤭 so it's going to be a greasy spoon type of outing. So be prepared, especially for the lil'ones. Btw the way...my place is behind the LMS church. My eldest sister is there...say hello. Tell her I send ya'll...my brother Iese looks out for the yard. I'm in VaBch, Va. Also...lunch at Milovale's for Fish and Chips is another must. GL.
anyone else watching this after the article about american samoa being the only us territory without coronavirus
There are so many reasons why American Samoa is a great place to live ❤️
boob yeb CVIRUS scared of those people lol 😝
Yean
Tavoi Aiono and?
Yup didnt even know they existed
Thank you! beautiful family God bless! ❤❤❤❤
Awesome viddiez!🙌 moving to island of Oahu in February, can’t wait to go back home! Mainlands too Dakine ( crazy )🤣
I ❤️ you guys. Keep the videos coming!
Is this our good friend Brandi from Middleton?
Pretty cool!
All fresh vegetables from our gardens around the house Awesome...🥰💗
Miss my island..appreciate yall family videos💝💝
Talking about strawberries, someone who came from America to Samoa brought some strawberries and I ate for the first time and didn’t like it. I still don’t like it here in the U.S but it’s interesting how we do have to adapt to our surroundings. I miss laupele so much tho. Thank you for sharing and being so respectful tho ♥️
Im living in Texas and I used to live in American Samoa, Subscribed :)!
Cool channel and Family. Thanks for the videos of Am.Samoa
Thank you!
Just found your channel after reading that Am Samoa doesn't have Covid. What a wonderful thing! I love your videos. Hello from Delaware USA
Lol the ICE CAKES memories lol...wow your daughter already know about simoi? 👍🏽🤙🏽 man thank you for the videos, manuia and alofas from Utah
2L0W LAVA she loves Simoi! She eats the little Simoi candies and everything 😊
One mandatory/fun stop when visiting other countries is the grocery store, so I was keen to live this experience through you. I've done it in so many places that it is what I expected, Funny part was you mentioning strawberry, where I live, I go to the local farms and buy buckets during the season, at the same time I miss good papaya and guavas from places I grew up. Just adjust and build a garden, I'm sure you can plant a lot of things, possibly year around. I do this here with winter and everything. The long green beans your daughter showed, I grow them in my garden and get so much that I give them to friends.
What country are you living in now?
@@alexanderbemar2637 I live in US (NC to be precise) Why are you asking?
Very cool video! I always wondered what it was like shopping there.
We’ll be putting out more shopping/cost-of-living videos soon. 🤙
New Sub. Awesome video. Alofas from the UK🙌🏽❤️
Welcome! Thanks for the sub.
Talofa thank for this voideo!!!
You did really well w this video! Awesome switches between main and b roll. Great wrap up at the end. Editing was great too! Good job guys!
I’m always amazed at how much more modernized Tutuila is than Upolu. It’s similar to the step down in modernization from Upolu to Savaii as well.
Thanks! It can be hard to remember that we’re more modernized here than some places 😄, but we’re even more grateful for it when we are reminded. We have yet to visit Savai’i and we can’t wait. We’ve heard such good things about it 😍
Vicious Species I agree that it is a fine line. There are things about life on these islands that I would never want to change. While other things are the way they are just because they are and seem to have nothing to do with the beautiful fa’a Samoa. I hope our love for the Samoan people and culture is as evident as our love for the islands themselves ❤️
Love your videos!!God Almighty blessing upon your family..much alofa from Maui
Falemon Jennings thank you ❤️ Take care in Maui.
Aloha AMSamFam I was born in Am Samoa in 1956 in the village of Faleniu left for the mainland USA south central Compton 1973 never been back till 2015 i enjoying watching you guys love your family stay in good spirits and best of health Fa AMSamFam love all your videos ciaos keep the faith
I worked as an RN in Honolulu and my Samoan patients always invited me to come to American Samoa to see some real Polynesian culture. Hoping someday my wife and I will make the trip.
You guys are awesome please keep making videos thanks
Hello🙋🏽♂️! I’ve been watching you guys but I think this is my 1st time commenting on your Blog! I’m Samoan and I live in Tokyo Japan moved here from Hawaii and I love watching you guys on my 70 “ TV and I love it cos cos it looks real like you are really connecting talking to me🤙🤙🤙!
I love you guys❤️❤️❤️!
Thank you!! We love connecting with people through our channel! We’ve never been to Japan. How’s life there?
Awesome video thank you.
I'm from Guam living in Arizona. Food is expensive there due to shipping costs. BUT, we had food also shipped in from Australia, New Zealand and Japan. The cost is cheaper, healthier and gave us more choices. Guamanians garden alot too so fresh fruits and vegetables are abundant. I miss the islands 😔.
Good point! We have really come to love New Zealand brands, too! Thanks for commenting!
I am a Samoan in Vienna, Austria. My father came here to play rugby and met my mother during his time in England.
Love watching your videos guys,
I love “Lau pele”. Very delicious and it goes with any dish you make 🔥🔥🔥
Mmmm, yes!
A beautiful family,GOD BLESS y’all!
I love the way your kids know the foods, and have fun there. The one with the ice cake and simoi 😂❤️❤️❤️. Fa soifua
Talofa guys, love your videos,keep it up🤙
Thanks!
Aww we had a DVD shop right across the street from Cost U Less back in ‘07-‘09
I think it’s still there! We don’t have a DVD player so we’ve never actually stopped there, but all the movie posters are still up in the windows.
Oh man the KS bread are hella fresh ! I always shop the almost every Sunday coz of their bread
Mmmm, yes, their French bread is the best 🤤
I’m so happy to say I know where all these places are
Thanks for the clip. I’ve always wanted to visit American Samoa. Hopefully one day...
Take care, God bless.
This is awesome! I've always wanted to know what the shops are like over there & lifestyle too, one day hopefully we can go to AM just to shop then come back 😂 & I'm a new sub so gonna start from video 1 thanks for the upload 😊💕
Lei Kuata - Fiapai awesome! I’m glad you found us 💗 I hope you can visit American Samoa someday too. There’s so much beauty and friendliness everywhere you look.
Samoa, land of the happy people. Make sure you visit Ofu Manu'a, has the most beautiful beach you will ever walk on earth. I've been to many beaches in my life and none has come close to Ofu Manu'a....
Reminds me of my trip to the Philippines. Stayed a month. If it's from there it's good and not expensive. Seafood was good and cheap. Beef is non-existent. Did get some good pork ribs! LOTS OF RICE. San Miguel beer was good.(I had ONE)
Thank you for sharing, greatly appreciated your family for informing your viewers what to expect if they decided to move there or even visit. The last time I visited was in 2012. I enjoyed every minute of it...fa'afetai lava ma ia manuia.
I thought about moving from Hawai'i to Am Samoa....Will DEFINITELY be visiting
Everyone says American Samoa is like Hawaii was 50 years ago. No idea if that’s true, but certainly we love it!
Looks like it would be easy to have a couple of big garden beds at home for your spinach, tomatoes, herbs, strawberries - seems like ideal growing environments.
A few veggies grow here, but root rot is a real problem for berries, tomatoes, and a lot, of the other typical garden veggies. We end up,eating a lot of bananas, papaya, taro, and squash, though. It is an excellent way to save money.
Love to my samoan brothers from there Mexican brother ...
Download the translator app to scan and read the Asian labels of what they are...works for me ! 👍🏾
Good tip. Thanks!
My husband was watching your channel on his smart tv and he called me over to come and watch with him. It was very interesting indeed! I am a native of American Samoa. I live in Las Vegas now. I'm homesick seen what you shared on your channel about home. I miss all about AS especially the Samoan Food. I guess because I'm Samoan. I subscribed to your channel just to check and see how home looks like nowadays. When I come to AS next time, I will look you up. Thank you for sharing your stories, appreciate you and God Bless.
Faafetai, Avau! So glad that you found our channel!
@@AmSamFam Likewise! Faafetai fo'i. Manuia le aso.
Last time I was in Samoa I was 14 maybe younger so didn’t no much about the island.. now that I’m 42 I wanna go back and visit.. God willing it will be soon… 🙏🏾 😊 thank you
You live in paradise. Grow your own food. 🙌🏻
New sub right here love your content 😍
Awesome! We’re glad you’re enjoying our videos. Thanks for subscribing.
Enjoyed your videos. Have watched 2. Is there a video explaining why and when you moved to Am Samoa (and how long you expect to stay) and what you do for a living there? I'd love to find out more about your story.
A little about that in our intro, but we’ll cover some of that in our live event tomorrow, too!
I used to work at KS in 2009 ❤
America Samoa is beautiful, but Yikes for the price of a box of cereal!! Well actually, food in general. :)
I really enjoy your videos about my home, I'm from Aoloau I don't know if you guys been there. There's a hiking trail from the new Aoloau to the old Aoloau village you should try it. Enjoy watching you guys from Washington state...
Vimoto Fuimaono yes, it’s beautiful and that is one of the few hikes we haven’t tried yet. We’ll have to take our cameras and give it a try soon.
The price you quoted on 80/20 ground beef is cheaper than I can buy it in NC, unless I catch it on sale.
Yeah, not everything is overly expensive here. In fact, if it can be frozen and shipped via sea freight, it’s usually not too terribly priced. It’s the airfreight produce that can get a little pricey, so you learn to do without and eat local!
These markets are exactly like I found on Guam. Prices similar too. Were there an aisle full of spam? Eating like a local was definitely how I survived the sticker shock in Guam.
Haha, yep, lots of Spam and canned corned beef 😋
Hello, I just discovered your channel. I can totally relate. I just was at Cost U less an hour ago. FYI Cost U Less actually has origins with connection with Costco, I believe they are supplier, thus that's why you also sometimes see Kirkland Branded items. By the way, I live right now in Guam. It was interesting comparing prices and differences between Cost U Less here and there. Seems many things are similar but slightly cheaper here. Also, produce at Cost U Less here is pretty good, also this is weird but Organic stuff is often cheaper than regular, esp lettuce. Also, Cost U less doesn't have like a quick snack/pizza area where. Now the only large retail store that has a direct connection with the USA mainland is Kmart, actually the largest in the world. I have a love-hate relationship since, if something breaks, your in trouble. They do have groceries and sometimes I do get things there, but mostly for Little Caesars Pizza. Now the main local grocery chain owned by one of the major families is Payless. Prices are more expensive than the mainland, but the key is specials and getting things that are set to expire that day. Also, they actually have one payless store that is an organic store. Then there are a bunch of large single grocery stores, they are hit and miss when it comes to cleanlyness. And then there are all the Mini-Marts, seems very similar here vs American Samoa. Now there is something I do like to mention that is great about Guam. Being so close to Asia, and lots of Asian tourists, and people living in Guam who are asian, lots of Asian grocery stores. Actually, right next to Cost U Less is a place called Toyko Mart and another called Seoul Mart. Both have nothing but Asian stuff. I go there to get things like fresh kimchee, and other things. Also, being that military is a big thing in Guam if you have base access the military Commissary and Exchanges are significant savings, but won't go there. Now some other general things i noticed. Just like you, you don't see gallon sizes of milk. Something weird I see here is 3/4 (96oz) jugs of milk. Typically goes for around 8 dollars. Most common is a half gallon which is around 5 dollars a half gallon. And then there is the UHT or shelf-stable milk, which typically is around 2 dollars but often can be found less. I been around that for many years, but sorry milk that can sit on a shelf in the tropics still weirds me out a bit. Now an interesting surprise is Guam has a great selection of Cheese. Like good stuff from Tillamook. 2lbs cost about 10 dollars. Anycase, overall I am surprised. As to bread, it is expensive, there are local bakery that makes local bread, but it is more expensive than what you showed. Wish french bread was 2 dollars. Normally for bread I get reduced price bread that is put on a reduced shelf. Also, another thing, just be prepared for foods that might be already expired or seeing food that is moldie. Anycase, great seeing difference.
Thanks for sharing. It’s really interesting to see the comparison between Guam and AmSam!
Thanks for making this video I’ve never been to Samoa. I didn’t know they don’t sell gallons of milk crazy..
I would think that’s cool. To see other brands. Would you take us on a foraging for the food that grows naturally. What about growing your own garden? Is that feasible?
Great idea!
I remember the days there at cost u more
Right! We called it Cost U More in USVI.
Respect to youz for living over There in Samoa that's why there all soldiers there U have to be a soldier to live there much alofas too youz and family I'm half Samoan half Serbian and I love my Samoan roots 685 rep alldae god bless youz.
Sure your Serbian samoans and tongans always claim to be mixed with something exotic
Wow! I was surprised the price of the tomato! 🍅 I mean tomatoes grow in tropical places. At the very least one could grow their own, even strawberries. I live in Florida and they grow here. Great video!
dietrevich Tomatoes do grow, but not very big and they are difficult because they get eaten by bugs and rats. In my 35 years here I have only been able to coax a few small strawberries. Not worth the effort. Am. Samoa and Samoa are much more tropical than Florida. To see what grows well, the market in Upolu is a good place to go. Pasio is my fav fruit to grow, and very easy.
Great shopping tips! I always compare our prices to Hawai'i....food is way more affordable here!! Items like eggs, bread, frozen chicken, canned food, flour, sugar, etc. are affordable but air freight prices for fruits & vegetables are beyond crazy! Thanks for your sharing your experiences!
Atalina Coffin that’s a great comparison. We haven’t spent enough time in Hawaii to make the comparison. Thanks for the perspective.
Am watching this just right now in 2020!,
From west samoa born in New Zealand most of the food we get it off the land and sea when you to the shops it's Xmas time
There's our cruise ship monthly sooo have fun
Wow a lot of those prices are what we pay now on the mainland right now