PETALING JAYA: Discussions on the cost of living in urban areas are getting many Malaysians all worked up this week following the publication of an official guide on how much families should pay for their monthly groceries.
On July 12, netizens debated whether an infographic publicised by the Community Communications Department was realistic as it stated a family of four would only need RM391 per month for groceries, with items on the list including rice, chicken, bread, eggs, cooking oil and cooking gas.
According to another budgeting guide for Malaysians put forth by the Employees Provident Fund (EPF), a single person in the Klang Valley would require a monthly budget of between RM1,930 and RM2,600 to survive, whereas a married couple without children would require RM4,630, those who have a child would require RM5,980, and those who have two children will require RM6,890.
The guide suggests that singles should allocate RM610 for their monthly grocery budget while married couples without children should plan to spend RM960 on food each month.
For couples with one child, the monthly allocation for food should be RM1,420 while those with two children can cap it at RM1,690.
EPF stated that these were merely guides to assist their contributors in budgeting wisely, in accordance with their locations.
Checks on the ground showed that many income earners are trying to stretch the ringgit by buying cheaper meats such as chicken instead of seafood and shopping at cheaper places.
For mother of four Norlaili Aryati, 48, who lives at the Intan Baiduri People’s Housing Project (PPR) in Kuala Lumpur, the Community Communications Department’s suggestion of RM391 would barely cover essential food items for her household.“My household would need about 10 chickens per month as the children do not like to eat fish, and chicken is also cheaper than fish. One chicken can be priced at RM20.
“Just the food – both wet and dry items – would easily come to about RM1,000. My household income is now RM5,000 as three of my children are working and only one is still schooling,” said Norlaili, who makes a living babysitting for her neighbours.
She said that her grocery bill is her largest expense, so she has decided to reduce her spending on school transport and instead rely on the free bus services offered by the Kuala Lumpur City Council.
Lower middle income earner and portal sub-editor Khayrana Pilus, 49, from Seremban, said that eggs and chicken are her mainstay for her household with four children.
Khayrana, whose household income is about RM7,000, said at least two chickens are consumed in her house every week.
“I do not cook much vegetables as the children would not eat them, and it would just be for me and my husband. I would buy milk and cereal on pay day.
“I don’t buy cheese or butter, as they are too expensive. RM1,000 is what I spend on food every month. Luckily, I work from home, and this allows me to cook and skip eating out,” said Khayrana.
Housewife and mother of three, Prema Pekasam, 52, of Petaling Jaya, said she still watches her bills even though her household income may be in the top tier.
She said that her children, aged between 17 and 23, are still studying, and much of her household income goes for their education.
“I make sure that my grocery bill does not exceed RM2,000 every month. I cook almost every day as my children, even though they are in their early 20s, still bring packed lunches to college.
“Fresh items and groceries alone would come to between RM1,300 and RM1,500. My family also consumes about 15kg of rice a month.
“I go to wholesale marts such as NSK to buy my chicken as it is cheaper there. While supermarkets elsewhere may sell chickens for RM11 or more per kg, it is only RM8 per kg at these wholesale outlets.
“Every month, I would buy four whole chickens and also chicken parts. A supermarket trip would cost me about RM300 for a full trolley,” said Prema.
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