Why are Mooncakes priced to the moon?

We are less than two weeks away from celebrating Mid-Autumn Festival in Singapore (24 September) and many of us would have already made plans to get or already gotten some of our mooncakes. 

Maybe some of us are already used to paying rather high prices for these mooncakes, but i personally cannot quite rationalise buying them for my own consumption. One can expect to pay up to $80 for 4 exotic favored mooncakes. That is almost $20 for each mooncake! Sometimes i feel you are just paying for the fanciful packaging. 

Interestingly, couple of years back, the China government's campaign against corruption cited mooncakes as one of the lavish gifts which was used to curry favor with officials and pave the way for future dealings. Mooncakes was subsequently banned as gifts, together with many other expensive gifts as well. 

Credits: Goodwood Park Hotel

Credits: Yan Ting | The St. Regis Singapore

Credits: Intercontinental

No doubt, there have been much innovation (and hence expenses) in the area of mooncakes flavours as well e.g. more hip ingredients such as Lychee Martini Truffle, Champagne Truffle, Chocolate Truffle, Chia Seeds and all different sorts of ice cream flavours, but i am just not too sure if its worth all the hype (and calories). 

So if you really do like mooncakes and buy them each mid-authum festival, perhaps as gift for the future-in-laws 😜, how can you save yourself from paying top dollars for decent quality mooncakes? 

• Order / buy it early- there are usually early bird discounts available.
• Buy discount vouchers from discount websites like Fave

  

  Credits: myfave.com

• Use your credit cards to get discounts! POSB, Standard Chartered, Citibank and many more, just check out your preferred credit card's website for more details (most banks should have).

Credits: Standard Chartered

• Or you are hardworking enough, make your own mooncakes! I am sure your mooncake recipient would be more than touched to know you made it with your own two hands. 😀

Are there other ways you know to save on buying mooncakes? Happy to hear your comments below!

Frugal Singa