Tighten spending during a time of rising prices.

In the current context of continuously rising prices, not only food prices but also other consumer goods are experiencing escalating costs. Many families have to adjust their spending plans to ensure their livelihoods.

Walking around the market in Ward 3 (Tan An City, Long An Province), Ms. Ly Thanh Tam (Ward 3) looked from one vegetable stall to another, picking up and putting down items repeatedly. Ms. Tam sighed: “Before, 200,000 dong was enough to cook a meal. Now, with the same amount of money, I can't buy much. The price increase of each item isn't much, but the total cost for a week's meals adds up significantly. If we don't manage our expenses carefully, the combined salaries of both my husband and I might not even be enough to cover our living expenses.”

Consumers are being cautious when making purchases during times of rising prices.

Meanwhile, Ms. Chau Ngoc Hieu (Ward 1, Tan An City), who is both a housewife and a street vendor, carefully considers her income and expenses every day before going to the market. According to Ms. Hieu, even though she only sells breakfast food from a small stall, she still feels pressured by rising food prices.

“Previously, pork belly cost around 120,000 VND/kg, but now it has increased to 150,000-160,000 VND/kg. Therefore, I have to reduce the amount of meat I buy, replacing it with other foods to ensure my family's meals are still nutritious. I try to cut down on expenses as much as possible, only buying what is truly necessary, avoiding impulsive purchases or non-essential items. These days, everyone is tightening their belts, so business is also facing many difficulties. My customers are mainly students, so I can't raise prices, but keeping the same price is also difficult because the cost of raw materials has increased. If I keep the price the same, I won't make a profit, not to mention the cost of gas and other expenses,” said Ms. Hieu.

People are tightening their spending as prices rise, leading to a decrease in purchasing power. Le Van Hai, a small trader at the market in Ward 1 (Tan An City), lamented: "Currently, my sales are much slower than before. Now that prices are soaring, people are spending more cautiously."

Ms. Truong Thi Tam (Loi Binh Nhon commune, Tan An city) shared: “I work as a factory worker, and my monthly income is enough to cover my living expenses. Because food and daily necessities are constantly rising, I often choose to buy products when they are on sale at convenience stores and only buy what I need to avoid waste. Besides that, I use electricity and water sparingly and work overtime to increase my income, limiting eating out.”

Ms. Nguyen Thi Kim Hue (Ward 7, Tan An City) said: “To avoid running out of money too quickly, before going to the market, I write down the things I need to buy and consider choosing food items with better prices at many other stores. Saving a few thousand dong is still saving money. On average, I spend 120,000-150,000 dong per day on family meals. For items that can be bought on e-commerce platforms or livestreams at bargain prices, I prioritize them. However, I also have to research carefully, focusing on product quality and brand to ensure safety for my family.”

Amidst rising prices, many families are having to tighten their belts to make ends meet. Hopefully, prices will stabilize soon to ease the burden on consumers.

Thu Thao

Source: https://baolongan.vn/siet-chat-chi-tieu-thoi-vat-gia-leo-thang-a192862.html