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How to avoid overspending at Bazar Ramadan? After a day of fasting and thirst, it’s no wonder that one’s eyes are dazzled upon arriving at the Ramadan bazaar, filled with a wide variety of food and drinks. Each item looks delicious, and the desire to buy many foods is overwhelming. If we follow our desires, we would want to buy everything. Let’s learn some easy techniques to avoid overspending at the Ramadan bazaar.
Tips to Avoid Overspending at the Ramadan Bazaar
Many people forget that during this blessed month, it’s not just about enduring hunger and thirst but also controlling ourselves from being wasteful. According to data released by the Solid Waste and Public Cleansing Management Corporation, approximately 270,000 tons of food are wasted during Ramadan each year.
It’s easy to buy food based solely on our desires. However, isn’t wastefulness an act of Satan? When fasting, all food appears delicious. Follow the tips below to avoid wasting money and food:
1. Create a Food List
Before going to the Ramadan bazaar, make a list of the food and drinks you want to buy. If you don’t make a list, the likelihood of overspending is high. Remember, choose only the food and drinks you need. For example, write it down on a small piece of paper or use your mobile phone for convenience, and make sure you remain disciplined in following that list without deviation.
2. Set a Spending Limit
Once you have a food list for the bazaar, the next step is to bring just enough money based on the estimated prices you calculated from the list. Avoid carrying extra money. This is because if you have more money than necessary for the items on your list, you are more likely to buy additional food just to spend the money you have on hand.
In addition, for those who don’t write a food and drink list, you can set a spending limit for yourself at the bazaar. For example, bring only RM10 for your shopping. With limited cash in hand, you will be more inclined to be thrifty because you only have a small amount of money.
3. One Type of “Kuih” per Day
The Ramadan bazaar can be described as a feast of sweets and pastries. It has become a tradition during the month of Ramadan to buy various types of sweets as a treat for breaking the fast. To avoid wastage while still being able to taste all the different types of sweets, it is recommended to buy one type of dessert or “kuih” per day. By rotating the types of desserts, wastage can be avoided, and you can enjoy a variety of sweets throughout the month of Ramadan.
4. Avoid Buying Drinks
When visiting the Ramadan bazaar, one of the stalls that often catches our attention is the one selling various types of drinks, especially colorful and flavored beverages. We are easily tempted to buy drinks because of thirst. If you want to save money, it is recommended to prepare your own drinks at home because this indirectly reduces your expenses.
5. Bring Your Own Food Containers
By bringing your own food containers, you are indirectly limiting your spending to fit the containers you bring from home. This method not only avoids wastage but also contributes to reducing the use of disposable plastic at the Ramadan bazaar.
6. Leave Immediately After Getting the Planned Items
Humans are sometimes defeated by their desires. Once we see delicious and neatly arranged food, our desires can be tempted. Therefore, as soon as you have obtained the food and drinks on your list, immediately go home to avoid buying unplanned items.
7. Plan Your Iftar Meals
Not only do we need to plan our lives or journeys, but we also need to plan our meals. When you plan and list the menu for breaking the fast every day, it saves time for thinking and preserves your money. It becomes easier when you know what you want and go straight to the destination. There is no wastage by buying unnecessary food.
Estimate your daily budget so that you don’t overspend. When you have a budget, you become more aware and mindful. If you choose to cook at home, make sure you plan the menu and ensure that the ingredients in your kitchen are complete. It’s more economical if those ingredients can be used for several types of dishes and last for a few days. This way, you don’t need to go to the store to buy cooking ingredients every day.
8. Send Food Orders
It is actually better if you simply send iftar meals to friends, neighbors, or family members who are going to the Ramadan bazaar. This way, it restrains you from buying too much. However, avoid sending too many orders. It is sufficient to send one or two menus. That is already enough for breaking the fast. This way, you will not be tempted by other types of dishes available in the bazaar because you cannot see or smell them.
9. Go to the Bazaar Near Iftar Time
Avoid going to the Ramadan bazaar early. It will lead you to make various choices with a lot of time. When you go to the bazaar near iftar time, it forces you to make quick and concise decisions.
10. Ask First
If you live with your family, make sure you ask them about the iftar menu beforehand. If you don’t ask first, you may end up buying the same food, resulting in wastage. If your family members want the same menu, there’s no need to buy too much. To avoid wastage, buy only one set of iftar meal and share it among yourselves.
Now You Know How to Avoid Overspending at Bazar Ramadan
The Ramadan bazaar can be considered a food festival filled with various delicious foods and beverages. It is undeniable that desires can run high once you arrive at the Ramadan bazaar. However, the month of Ramadan requires us to control our desires and avoid unnecessary wastage.
The saying of Allah, which means, “Indeed, the wasteful are brothers of the devils, and ever has Satan been to his Lord ungrateful.” (Quran 17:27) The word “bazaar” is closely related to “Bazarra,” an Arabic term that means wastage.
Ramadan teaches us to be grateful for the blessings given without engaging in any form of wastage. It all starts from within ourselves to control the urge to buy excessive and unnecessary food. Try to make changes and train yourself not to waste, not only during this fasting month but at all times. If it doesn’t start at home, then who will initiate it?
That concludes Qoala’s sharing. We hope you have found it beneficial! If you’re looking for the best car insurance, consider obtaining it from Qoala, where you can experience a seamless and prompt process.
