Comments on: Trying the austerity cap for size

By: sraikh

sraikh — Tue, 29 May 2012 13:29:29 +0000

Food is our biggest expense here in Americaland. Because of the youngest allergies, we tend to spend a bit more(also the 4 kids doesnt help) We are growing a veggie patch here in the country. Planted tomatoes, zuchinni, peppers a few weeks back. Sprouted meethi seeds and herbs on the kitchen counter.

We never buy baked goods. The oldest loves baking and she bakes every 2-3 day. Muffins and cakes are packed in school lunches. Spouse packs his lunch every single day. We do not have cable TV and save about $60 each month. We rent DVDs from the library or watch Netflix.($7,99 versus the $60)

I am also getting hens. However the amount I spent on building the coop is making each egg cost about $3.50 right. In about 3-4 years the eggs from the hens will profitable. However the experience of keeping hens and collecting fresh eggs is priceless.

The other biggest thing I do is buy almost everything used either from craigslists or garage sales or thrift store. I know this isnt as available in India but thats how I save the most money. From furniture to clothes to books Most desis here though think that is the most digusting thing ever. I smile and just keep my money saving tips to myself.

By: manisha

manisha — Tue, 29 May 2012 12:45:07 +0000

miss the ac! not putting the ac on all day and night in this sweltering heat is so tough! but looking at the electricity bill at the end of the month, tougher still. we seem to be making more money and getting poorer…

By: Joe

Joe — Tue, 29 May 2012 05:46:23 +0000

Hey, you’ve just written the story of my life. Like you, we recently moved to a building with a club house, squash court and a swimming pool. So entertainment is more or less taken care of. My workplace is a 10 min drive from home which is a luxury in a city like Mumbai and my husband works from home. We do dinners out once in a while but we both love to cook so when people come over it’s good old home made food which surprisingly people appreciate more than take aways. And all the money we save goes into grocery bills. My maid just asked for a raise this month. I was dead against it as her salary was just hiked 5 months back. But then i thought, if rising prices affects us so much think about them. One movie less a month won’t hurt us too much.
Glad to know your brat appreciates what he gets. Don’t see too many kids doing that these days. I remember getting new clothes only during Diwali that too it was one frock or maximum two. I lived on my elder sister’s hand me downs. But my sister kept her clothes in pristine condition so I would look forward to that too. Even today whenever my sister cleans up her cupboard she calls me up and I get the first pick of clothes she’s discarding or giving away to maids or charity and i have no qualms about wearing those even now.

By: shunalishroff

shunalishroff — Mon, 28 May 2012 09:06:06 +0000

You manage to be funny even when you are talking about something as serious as inflation and how it is screwing up our lives. The sad part is that it is not going to get better any time soon. The good part it that you and I are not alone. We all are fine tuning our respective spends and cutting back on luxurious indulgences even though ‘appearances’ would lead one to think otherwise. In Melbourne I met enough people who complained about how expensive life as become. I did not feel like shopping myself, even a bit. I am in Kaula Lumpur for the day today and the same Re that used to be Rs 8 to an RM a few years ago is now Rs 18 to an RM. How can anybody want to shop under such circumstances. The kids will have to be satisfied with the tidbits I have found for them at the duty free instead of shopping bags filled with goodies purchased due to the guilt of leaving them behind.