Domestic Helper's Food -- Advice Please

Hello everyone -- We just relocated to hong kong and would like to hire a domestic helper as I'm pregnant. We are still in the learning process, and would like to know how people handle their helper's food. Understand that you can either buy your helper food or give her cash to buy food. As we are veggie and sometimes eat at work, we'll probably go with the cash approach. Do people just reimburse their helper for all food she buys? If so, is there any mechanism to encourage her to act within reason (i.e., not always buying the most expensive stuff in the store, not buy more than needed leading to waste, etc.) -- is anyone applying a cap on the weekly/monthly amount that are reimbursable? Or do you just give your helper a fixed amount each week/month for her to decide what to buy (this seems a more efficient way since people tend to be more prudent with their own money)? If so, what is an appropriate amount to give? I had a few trips to my local grocery store already and prices seem to be ok, but I still don't have much idea how much a person will need here to buy grocery to cook meals on a daily basis.



These must be quite basic questions but since we are new to Hong Kong we would really appreciate people's advice. Thanks in advance.

we give ours $500.

Thanks for all the replies. . . I had a read through the thread that cara mentioned . . . WOW -- had I realised how sensitive the question is i'd not have asked it again here! Obviously people have very different views on this issue but --the comments about rat meat and cockroaches really made me laugh! Where on earth did those come from? Anybody on this forum treating their helper remotely that way? Anyway glad that my thread did not arouse another round of attack and understand that this type of questions are better asked around in person rather than on a forum like this.


Thanks again for everyone that replied!

catty - i think it is whatever you are comfortable with - $300 being the minimum of course. We give $1,000 per month

When offered a choice, our helper sensibly opted for eating with us instead of taking cash allowance. Our family of 5 (including 2 kids under 10 yo) spend easily $8,000 to $10,000 a month on groceries and toilettries, and that is shopping mostly at wet markets and Wellcome (granted we do buy imported eggs and dairy products)! Can't imagine the bills for those of you that shop at Olivers...