Can't afford a whole tin of sausage or corned beef? No need to worry. Shopkeepers in a number of inner-city communities are cutting items into smaller portions to battle the high cost of living.

In the latest trend to fight the economic stress, a number of items, including corned beef, sausage, condensed milk along with household items such as soap powder and 'cake soap', can be purchased for a little more than half the regular cost of the whole item.

The 'bargain' does not end there as shoppers are also able to purchase slices of bread (with a 'swipe' of butter), half a bulla, a single sanitary napkin and syrup in a bag.

Just take a trip to a shop in Denham Town, west Kingston; Mountain View, east Kingston or Wilton Gardens (Rema) in St Andrew, and you will find the evidence.

A whole tin of corned beef usually costs $140 but when the 'pocket is weak' then you can get a half tin for $75. A tin of sausage costs $80, while the half tin cost $45. Similarly a pack of soap powder costs $70 while the half pack can be bought for $35.

Bag of syrup

In the case of the single napkin that is priced at $12 down from $110 for the pack, while the bag of syrup is priced at $10 which is much lower than the gallon bottle priced at $170.

This bargain consumers say is very helpful. "Trust mi, it go a long way fi all a man like me weh live by myself. More time mi nuh need one whole tin a bully beef so mi buy di half and do mi thing, plus di price nuh bad, so why not," remarked André Morgan, a 24-year-old resident of west Kingston.

David Gentles, who runs a shop on Mountain View Avenue even went as far as to tell THE WEEKEND STAR: "To how time a run ya now, anybody come to me and want half a anything at all, mi sell dem it as long as it reasonable. Yu tink a likkle bit a time mi sell all half a bulla."

Shop owner Wesley Hamilton, 30, from Denham Town, said: "A waan tell yu seh 'bout two weeks ago, a woman come to mi and seh she want half a blue soap fi buy cause she hav' two white shirt fi rinse out. Mi think a did joke but when she show mi seh she serious and did really want it, mi sell har di half, and a she same one buy back di next half bout a week afta that."

The price of the reduced items is usually calculated by adding a few dollars to half of the original price.

"Wi a understanding people too eno, so wi naw kill di people dem. Wi jus' add on a five cents ($5) pon half a di money and sell di half," explained Delly, who operates a shop in Rema.

When asked how the food items are stored, it was revealed that emphasis is placed on storage, as failure to do so can result in the items spoiling and essentially a loss of profit.

"Yu si like all di corned beef now, when wi bus it inna half, wi store it inna di fridge. Dem ting deh sell whole heap inna ghetto eno, so wi naw fi worry if it a go spoil, but wi mek sure seh wi store it properly still, 'cause wi cyaa afford fi a dash weh food and money," Hamilton explained.

When THE STAR contacted the Consumer Affairs Commission (CAC) a representative said that the commission was aware of these practices.

Dolsie Allen, chief executive officer, said that with these practices there is always the concern for the safety of the food items.

"We are aware of it and we understand that it is just a matter of survival. We don't have a problem with it and our major issue would be safety. We would hope steps are taken to ensure the food is hygienic," Allen said.

Efforts to get a comment from the Minstry Of Health were unsuccessful as THE WEEKEND STAR was told to send the questions via email. Despite calling back twice, up to press time a reply was not received.