Ration Control

So, to use the Commissary (grocery store) and PX (clothes and housegoods etc) stores on Post, I have to have a Ration Card.

Yes, all 1940's style.

The United States Army is a guest in Korea. The two governments have worked out various agreements about how government money is spent and part of the deal is that US soldiers and their dependents must not spend more than a certain amount per month (family of four equals a max of $1300 a month) on groceries and we are not allowed to buy more than 5 units of alcohol a month (a unit is defined as a 1.75 L bottle of 20% or higher proof) and 8 cases of beer a month.

Also, if they suspect we are buying certain items to sell on the black market, they will Hunt you down and kill you. Or, throw you in military jail. Alcohol in Korea is very expensive, and since it is cheap on Post (American prices on post), some people have been known to buy excess amounts and sell it on the black market for personal gain. Same goes for rice, diapers, cigarettes, etc.

So, Big Brother is always watching what we buy on Post.

To clarify:

The Commissary is the on Post grocery store. It is just like any other big grocery store. The prices are suppose to be the average US prices. Milk is sold in half gallons only, and is approximately $2.60 per half gallon. Kind of pricey. BUT, milk here is "ultrapasturized", and lasts much longer (unopened). The date on our milk right now is February 23rd!

All of the groceries items I have bought at the Comissary are roughly the same as they were back in the US. We are allowed to use expired coupons (up to a year), but, where do we get the coupons from? It's not like we have the local Sunday paper with the Red Plum and PG Saver coupons. (So if you have expired coupons, send them my way please).

And I was so used to shopping at CVS and spending next to nothing by finding great deals and getting Rewards Bucks, so in theory, I AM paying more here, because dont have the luxury of competing stores.

The PX (Post Exchange) is like a small Target. Kind of. It sells clothes, dept store makeup, cleaning supplies, art supplies, Yankee Candles, perfumes, watches, electronics, kitchen stuff, books, decor, etc. Oh sure, it sounds great, and its not bad, but they dont carry a big variety of stuff. For example, Emma wears Night Time Pull Ups. At the PX, they only sell daytime Pull Ups. (They do however sell night time pull ups at the commissary, go figure). And there arent a lot of brand choices, so not much price comparision shopping going on. It's nice, but just not like the US.

Also on Post are:

A library

a free movie theatre showing the latest movies

a thrift shop

4 star hotel

salon (nice one too with lots of fancy salon options)

many many restaurants

lots of chapels

3 schools

a post office

2 daycares

A LOTS of military STUFF

So, we have options, but its not the same as the US where you can hunt down the best bargains or a favored brand name item.