By Roughrider
Most rump-fed ronyons at Jukwaa will not understand this. Much less our lucky brothers and sisters in the diaspora who munch gigantic big macs on a daily basis. But the reality of the high-ended discussion we’ve had about inflation and exchange rates is this: ordinary households are suffering increasingly stringent price shocks. Many cannot make ends meet on shoe-string budgets. Inflation has cut real incomes by as much as 50%! So, after some thought, here are a few ideas for struggling households. Feel free to add your thoughts:
1. Buy groceries from markets, not supermarkets: I always see well dressed, urbane housewives with manicured nails shopping for vegetables, fruits, beans etc at Nakumatt or Zucchinis. Normally, they have a rosy kid riding underneath the trolley. For the hard-up family this is a no-no. Your budget will be significantly lower at the markets in Gikomba, Wakulima, Toi, Burma etc… and the vegetables will just be as fresh. You can save up to 30% this way. Further, rarely go shopping for household foodstuff with kids and never without a list.
2. Talking of supermarkets – Ukwala, Naivas are cheaper than Nakumatt by a significant margin. When you need to buy stuff at a supermarket, discounting for relative costs of transportation: it is almost 15% cheaper when you buy a basket of goods at Naivas and Ukwala than when you buy the same stuff at Nakumatt. I am indifferent about Uchumi as they seem to give with one hand and take with the other, but they are cheaper than Nakumatt. Some great bargains at Uchumi are accompanied by atrocious rip-offs.
3. Grind maize – shun sifted flour. I know this is unthinkable when you have a house full of urban kids who thrive on sugar and other fine things. But it is infinitely healthier and significantly cheaper to buy maize and grind it. The ‘skin’ of the maize has important nutrients and also provides roughage. You may also think of adding millet and cassava into the mix. You can do Uji with this as well. The brave mother will face a household riot introducing this but once it settles the family is better off health-wise.
4. Kadogo economy is not cheap: whenever you can, buy the largest quantity of a product that you can, as long as it does not go bad. 2kgs is cheaper than 1kg. 1kg is cheaper than 500 gms. If you think your house girl 'wastes' stuff like cooking oil when the quantities there is more (only natural), you can offer a little and keep the rest under lock and key and release them bit by bit. But, budget allowing, always buy the larger pack.
5. Boarding school is cheaper in the long run – now here is a thought. If you have kids who can all be shipped off to boarding school, you will: after comparing costs realize that boarding school is probably cheaper for you than having the colony in the house. Do the math.
6. Live in rural areas and commute to work: I want address teachers from my village, especially. What is this about renting houses in small urban centers when your rural home is just 5-10 kms away? You could just as easily live at the rural home and cycle to work. This way, you don’t pay rent, and often, electricity. You can keep a small vegetable garden to supplement family diet and you can engage in other domestic projects! – It would save loads of cash if you got a transfer to the station nearest your rural home.
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