"The market is risky, I don´t want to put my hard-earned money there!"

It is a point I hear often, and for many people, it makes good sense.

However, for me, this expression is akin to the following, which my dear girlfriend (and her mother) will attest to:-

"I don´t like doing the shopping in the market, they rip me off. It costs me more than doing it at the Mercadona (a local supermarket)"

The clear point here is you go to the market if you have the knowledge.

When you know what the the "real market price" of oranges are, you don´t get ripped off. If they offer a greater price, you don´t buy - you go elsewhere or wait another day. If they offer less - you buy lots.

If you don´t know the "real market price", people that shop at markets aren´t afriad to research to see what different stalls are offering and what informed buyers (my favourite are hard faced little old ladies with quiffed hair - for the fruit market) are paying.

If you do not qualify for either characteristic mentioned above, you are probably right in sticking to the fixed price of Mercadona fruit (or fixed deposits and bonds) - or get someone else to do your shopping at the market!

Sincerly,

Alessandro Sajwani