Deepavali is just weeks away and for those who observe this joyous occasion, it is time to get those preparations going.
Deepavali is the festival of lights and colour. If you swing by Brickfields and Jalan Tengku Kelana, or Little India in Ipoh and Penang, you will be delighted at the sound, sight and smell of festivities.
However, as nice and warm Deepavali is, just like all festivals it comes with a price tag. What’s worse, the price tag likely getting bigger with rising inflation.
While we all want to embrace celebrations after the recent years of social distancing due to the pandemic, we can still do it without overspending.
Here are 5 simple tweaks that you can make so you don’t have to celebrate Deepavali worrying about your finances!
Make smart clothing choices
It is a tradition to enjoy an oil bath upon waking up and put on a fresh pair of traditional attire. This will be followed by a temple visit. While putting on a new saree and kurta is appealing, making it an excuse to buy over-expensive traditional attire will lead you to overspend.
Many of us don a grand saree and kurta only during festivities and weddings. Other times, you would feel too out of place and overdressed. Naturally, you will opt for a simple attire and your grand attire will soon face the back of your cupboard until one fine day you decide to Marie Kondo your closet.
To compare,
| Designer piece | Casual | |
| Kurta | RM250 | RM70 |
| Saree | RM500 | RM100 |
| Saree blouse | RM150 | RM70 |
Deepavali is just not the same without Murukku and a long list of other cookies. However, many of us are forking over big bucks buying it without a second thought. If you stop to think about it, Murukku and the other festive treats we enjoy during Deepavali are more meaningful if family members come together to make them. To compare,
Make your own cookies
Murukku (100-120 pcs) RM85 RM27
Ghee biscuit (30-35 pcs) RM35 RM17.50
*Estimate price range from online stores.
Make your own Deepavali cookies! It may take some planning ahead to gather all the ingredients and round up the family troopers but that's what memories are made of.
Here’s what you need:
Murukku (100-120 pcs)
| Murukku mix | RM9 |
| Ghee | RM8 |
| Oil | RM10 |
| Spices | Negligible |
| TOTAL | RM27 |
Ghee Biscuit (30-35 pcs)
| Moong dal | RM1.50 |
| Ghee | RM12 |
| Cashew nut | RM4 |
| Spices | Negligible |
| TOTAL | RM17.50 |
Money packets and gifting wisely
Kids look forward for money gifts from the adults during Diwali. ‘Ang pow’ has also become the term Indians use to describe the money packets often given to the kids and elders. While it is definitely nice to gift someone on an auspicious day, it would be better if we give a deeper thought to the act.
Does a 13-year-old really need a RM100 money gift? While RM100 holds enough value to cater positively for an undergraduate, it might do more harm than good in the hands of a young teenager.
Instead of giving them money gifts, you could consider meaningful gifts: In short, you will nurture them to be financially mindful and you would be saving some bucks by cutting down on money-laden packets. You could also indulge the kids, adults and the elders with these thoughtful and useful gifts which are below RM30! Spending is inevitable during Deepavali. Many households do place a premium on buying gold jewelry during this festive season. After all, gold and gold ornaments are an integral part of this festival. So, you might as well get the most of out of it. Make use of cashbacks and reward points from credit cards when you shop for groceries and clothes, go out for a family dinner, and movie outings with friends. Instead of mindlessly spending your money, a quick research will show how you can save money by utilising the discounts, get cashbacks and reward points from your credit cards and membership subscriptions. In short, find the best way you could make the best of your credit card and membership subscriptions. True, it may take you some time but it will also make your Deepavali a financially-healthy celebration. To find out more, you can check out our credit card comparison tool here. So, spend smart, light the diyas and have a joyful financially-healthy Deepavali!
Use your credit card wisely
