For many families, a monthly foodstuff package is the most practical way to look after parents and relatives back home. Sending cash is quicker, but it is not always spent the way you intended, and in a period of rising prices a package of real food goes further. Here is how to plan one well.
Start with the household, not the shopping list
Think about who will eat the food and for how long. Two elderly parents need something different from a household of six with teenagers. Mention any health needs, such as diabetes or low-salt diets, so the package suits the people receiving it.
The staples most families ask for
- Rice, beans, garri and semolina or poundo
- Vegetable oil and palm oil
- Spaghetti and noodles
- Tomato paste, seasoning cubes, salt and sugar
- Tinned milk, beverages and tea
- Fresh items such as yam, onions and pepper, if the delivery is quick
Bulk items such as a 50kg bag of rice are cheaper per kilo, but are heavy for older parents to store and lift. Portioning into smaller bags, sealed and labelled, often works better.
Understand what drives the price
Market prices in Nigeria change quickly, sometimes weekly. A fair quote separates three things: the items themselves, the cost of getting them there (fuel, transport, loaders) and the service fee. Be wary of a single lump sum with no breakdown, because you cannot tell what you are paying for.
Make sure it reaches the right hands
The most common complaint we hear is "I paid, but I never knew if my mother got it." Ask for three things: a video of the items being bought, a video of the handover, and confirmation from the person who received it.
Plan for festive seasons early
Around Christmas, Easter and Sallah, markets are busier, prices rise and roads are slower. Ordering two to three weeks ahead gives time to buy before the peak.
How Pamojo helps
Tell the Pamojo concierge who the food is for and roughly what you want to spend. You get an itemised quote. Pam buys at the market, portions and packs everything, and delivers it on camera. Your mum reads out a short code to confirm she received it, and you see the receipts and videos before you pay the final 30%. If prices jump by more than 10% while we are shopping, we ask you first.
