Saudi households spend around SR20 billion on consumable items a year. In fact, the average spending on food in Ramadan for a Saudi household is equal to that spent in three other months of the year. This is a clear indication of the unscrupulous way we consume food. The above figures were cited by Muhammad Al-Anqari, an economist, who told Al-Hayat newspaper that spending in Ramadan has a negative impact on the annual household budget. This means that most households spend money on food for 14 months, not 12. As a result, this increases the burden on the household budget. These are frightening percentages which can dent the budgets of most families. Overspending is not something new. It is something that has existed within our society for many years. Many experts have warned about overspending and many television programs have been made and articles written on this issue without any benefit. It all boils down to the culture of finance within our society and the fact that many Saudis appear to know little or nothing about saving. After searching for information to tackle this issue, I found that the Riyadh Chamber of Commerce and Industry has published some advice on this matter on its Twitter feed. Some of the more salient points are as follows: • Plan to buy your Ramadan groceries two weeks before the holy month. Try to buy the things you will need on a daily basis; • Write down all the things you need on a list and stick to it; • Do not pay attention to advertisements because they will make you end up buying more than you need; • Look for alternative cheaper products at supermarkets that are known to sell goods at reasonable prices; • Do not buy groceries before Maghreb prayer in Ramadan. And, as my grandmother used to tell me, never buy food when you are hungry; • Do not stock up on food. Buy only what you need; • Cut down on concentrated juices because they contain additives; • Check the expiry date on food products to ensure they do not go to waste; • Buy food in small containers, not large ones.
