The smell of delicious ghee-dripping goodness is wafting in the air and fireworks displays are scattered about between neighbourhoods.
Deepavali is finally here and the air is still thick with festivity!
The reality for many families today, however, is that their financial budgets may have taken a toll from changes the pandemic brought along. Many have had to cut, tweak and narrow down their expenses.
Motherhood Story sends our reassurances that you are definitely not the only one who might need a more economical approach to your expenses!
As the matter of fact, any middle-class household will follow a kind of budget to ensure they don’t break their banks during festive seasons. Here are a few ways you can adopt a financially healthier, economical way this Deepavali!
#1 Kolam and Rangoli but make it Organic
Did you know back in the olden days kolams and rangolis were specifically designed to cater to animals?
It was a symbol of harmonious co-existence. It’s drawings and illustrations were made from organic materials like rice flour and rice paste to attract insects, birds and such.
Why not try bringing to life this noble tradition? Try opting for more eco-friendly or even fully organic substances when using to fill up your kolam and rangoli!
This translates to using even everyday household items to replace otherwise chemically produced colourings. From flower petals, leaves from trees, vegetables, to coffee ground, all-spices and powders like tumeric!
All you need is to take a good look around your home, or the closest grocery store or supermarket.
#2 Earthen Oil Lamps and LED lights
Deepavali/Diwali is also known as the ‘Festival of Lights.’
An ostentatious, colorful festival where rows of Diwali lights and diyas are arranged as beautiful décor around public spaces and residential compounds. These are gorgeous, elegant lights meant to symbolise enlightenment, a reminder of the triumph of light over darkness, good over evil.
The modern era has seen many of us opting for over the top electric lights and even plastic, electricity powered candles. These may be costly and a much better option would be to adopt LED lights instead!
The yellow elegant fairy lights we tend to see almost everywhere are not just aesthetically pleasing, but they’re also incredibly affordable!
Another much more rewarding and environmentally friendly approach is to purchase earthen oil lamps instead!
These are traditional lights especially healthy to the environment and your bank accounts. Cost effective and highly-biodegradable, these natural diyas will emit the same earthy, all-natural, elegant hues around your abode.
#3 Upcycle and Make Your Own Decorations
Repurposing and recycling your Deepavali decorations may just be the hack you needed.
After all, it’s unlikely for your guests to notice the smallest of changes as opposed to you. You may even get creative when sourcing for your décor!
For example, sarees are normally beautifully and intricately designed. Their colours vibrant, eye-catching and rarely fade over years of use. How about using them as decorations to hang up on walls or drape over tables and such?
Another example is to consider making your very own bandhanwars. These are traditional ornamental door hangings typically made of mango leaves and marigold flowers.
Although this modern age enables us to purchase them, they are traditionally self-made. Yet another fun do-it-your-self project to enjoy with your little ones! Perhaps you can even slip in your own creative twists using creative resources of your own.
#4 Gift From Your Heart, Not the Store
It is always the thought that counts, especially when it comes to gifting others.
Don’t panic if you couldn’t purchase any items because a gift from the heart is better than a gift from the store. This festive season may bring much more sentimental value than the previous year, after all.
With the travel ban finally lifted, we are all now back to family home visits. Most of us are just getting to meet our loved ones after more than a year. So why not just enjoy the company and the visit?
On the other hand, a gift from the heart may also mean cards and letters made by yours truly. Or even meals and desserts you prepare with much love and affection.
Have a pot luck session instead of a gift exchange session, or simply spend the best quality time you can with your loved ones. That is what matters most!
#5 Say No to Fireworks!
Yes, we understand a festival of lights is not complete without a show of lights. Perhaps then, consider opting for lesser fireworks!
Truthfully, it’s really not just healthy for your bank account, but also the environment it explodes ever so brilliantly in. Every form of firework requires combustion which emits a string of harmful elements into the atmosphere.
Needless to say, you will be contributing to lesser noise and environmental pollutions should you decide to refrain from fireworks.
The boisterous, bombardments of noises may also be a cause of horrific alarm and even harm to animals, which have far more sensitive hearing than their human counterparts. The truth is, less is more and none is the best, in the case of fireworks.
Let’s try to do our part to ensure a less harmful, disruptive way of celebration this time around!
#6 Take Advantage of Sales (after setting a budget, of course)
Before you make any form of purchase, you will need a budget sheet prepared.
This sheet needs to take in consideration your gross income to better gauge just how much you should be spending on. From here, you are able to prioritise (or rather, reprioritise) your needs and expenses.
A smart shopper is one who makes their purchase well within their means.
Not only are you allocating a budget for every form of expenses, but you also spend on items well worth their price. This entails looking out for the list of flash sales in malls and supermarkets, but also online!
Motherhood Story Wishes You the Happiest, Safest Deepavali
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