The rising prices of essential commodities has affected the household budgets of many families in the Kingdom, despite the efforts of the government to rein in prices and subsidize certain products. Some families, however, have failed to cut down on their expenses, particularly on luxury items, resulting in them falling ever deeper into debt, reported Al-Yaum Arabic newspaper on Tuesday. While many have surrendered to the lure and promises of commercial advertisements, other families have been able to budget sensibly by cutting out unnecessary purchases. Neda Adnan, a newly-married young woman, believes the main breadwinner must take control of the family budget. “I don't know anything about family budgets. I don't plan a budget for my husband's salary. My husband handles his own salary. He shops on his own for all our daily needs. He also gives me monthly pocket money and does the same for his mother who stays with us. Being the main breadwinner, I think it is in the interest of the family that my husband keeps control of his salary. This will also prevent us from buying the latest gimmicks.” Adnan believes that wives and children should not watch or listen to advertisements which are simply aimed at getting people to shop more. “We should also develop the habit of deciding what our priorities are. It really is a choice between buying the latest fad and investing your money responsibly or saving it.” Yousif Ibrahim, a married man and an engineer by profession, said: “The nature of modern life places great pressure on families. You can isolate yourself from society, but families often share happy occasions with their extended families. This, of course, makes it very difficult to control expenses. Because of this I have not been able to plan properly. By the end of the month I have spent my entire salary of SR9,000, without saving a single halala.” He said that life was much simpler in the past for his father and forefathers. Umm Muhammad, an employee at Al-Amal Institute and a mother of three children, said: “The needs of modern life make it very important for us to rein in our crazy buying and to save money for the future of our children. Their demands seem to increase as they get older. This makes it very important for us to plan a budget for our salaries. We should cut out all luxuries and buy only essential commodities. We need to lead a balanced life to avoid any deficit in our budget which will force us to take out loans. If we get into debt, it will be to the detriment of our family and the future of our children.” Huda Al-Fahaid, a member of the Consumer Protection Society, said studies have shown that Saudi women are the world's number one consumers of cosmetics and second in terms of spending on food and fashion. The studies said that prices have surged because of this extravagance and irrational spending.
