Name: GuruprasannaProfession: Web solutions architectBudget for household provisions: `20,000Popcorn, snacks and aerated drinks are part of the ritual of watching a movie in a theatre. With food inflation over the top and malls compelling the audience to buy food products at cinema halls itself, snacks, while watching movies, is a costly affair. Guruprasanna C S, an architect, web solutions at Harvest Technologies Pvt Ltd, echoes this sentiment while describing the many ways in which the food inflation has affected his monthly bill. Reducing eating out is only one part of the story. Guruprasanna’s family of four spends about Rs 20,000 every month for fruits, vegetables and for eating out. Two years ago, they spent half this amount. “Last year, it would cost us Rs 100 for vegetables per week. This year, it is costing us Rs 250,” he says, adding, the option for them would be either to compromise on the quality of products that they buy or absorb the price fluctuation. “After you are used to a certain lifestyle, it is difficult to step back. I want to buy a certain quality of oil for cooking. I do not want to settle for palm oil,” chips in his wife Manasvini, senior manager, learning solutions, in Rumi Education.You absorb and what if the prices go up further to a point where you cannot absorb the hike? “That’s when we panic thinking may be we are not earning enough,” she quips adding on a serious note that the price hike has definitely reduced the amount of savings they make. It’s a choice between savings and spending. Since it is food, we do not want to compromise, she says.Going to Rythu Bazar is also not viable for the family. The traffic, petrol and the time invested is too much. Buying things in bulk and protecting grains from not getting spoilt is taxing for their busy schedule. Hence, they settle for the malls nearby, though it is a few hundred rupees extra. Name: AnjaliProfession: Vegetable vendorBudget for household provisions: ` 3,000Anjali, a vegetable seller in Begumpet, has cut down on the amount of fruits and the variety of vegetables she buys for her family. Last year, she spent Rs 2,000 on groceries for her family of three. This year, her expenses have gone up to Rs 3000 and above. “My daughter is in fifth standard. I know I am not giving her enough nutrition. What can I do? This is the most I can afford,” she sighs. Vegetables like capsicum are something she wants to avoid. Papaya and banana are the fruits she can afford once a week. “The government should control the prices. If prices go up further, we will have to stop eating. How can we manage like this?” asks Anjali. Name: Choto SharmaProfession: TraderBudget for household provisions: `8,000A family of seven and the monthly grocery bill is about `7000-`8000. Choto Sharma manages a Kirana Shop and is vexd with the price hike. “Now, we cannot stop eating. What we are doing is cutting down the quantity. Dal and rice have to be bought. Other products we try to reduce the amount wherever we can,” he says. The price of one kg of Onion is `20 now while it was `12 a few months ago. A kg Rice costs `32. Earlier it was `24. He cannot let his purse strings loose as he has to pay for his sister’s college fees which also has gone up from last year. “Everywhere there is a hike- petrol, gas, college fees, groceries. But my income remains the same. It’s very difficult to manage,” he points out.
Comments
0 comment