Grow own food among tips to save money

In most families, the women, as a wife and mother, are usually responsible to manage household expenses, a role which can be quite burdening especially with the rising cost of living.

Believe it or not, the burden is felt by women at all levels, including wives of deputy ministers, who shared their tips to save money on groceries and kitchen essentials.

Wife of Deputy Agriculture and Agro-based Industry Minister Datin Rohkiah Abdul Samat said she saved a lot by growing her own vegetables, including chili pepper, turmeric, lemongrass, pandan leaves and kaffir lime in the compound of her house.

"These are among the items we use for cooking. If we can grow them ourselves, it will definitely help us save, besides enabling us to enjoy fresh ingredients in our meals," she told Bernama here, Monday.

Her view was shared by Deputy Rural and Regional Development Minister's wife Datin Angelina Calestine Ujang, who said cooking and sharing meals with the family at home was much cheaper than eating out.

"We are like any other family, and being the wife and mother, it is my job to be thrifty. Everyday, I will cook food adequately for my family to prevent it from going to waste," she said.

Meanwhile, Deputy Health Minister's wife Datin Seri Jamilah Mohd Zain said since she was residing in Balik Pulau, Penang, one of the many ways she adopted to save money was by buying fish directly at the fish landing area.

"If it's just for my family, I prefer to buy normal fish compared to the more expensive ones, such as tenggiri. What matters is the nutrients in the fresh fish," she said, adding that she also preferred raw vegetables and herbs in her daily menu.

Wife of Deputy Human Resources Minister Datin Fatimah Kassim, on the other hand, said the wise-spending culture practised by her family had also led them to practice healthy diet, including by reducing the use of cooking oil and sugar.

"At home, I like to steam or grill my fish. It is not only healthy and oil-free, but will also taste better when served with suitable dipping sauce and hot steamed rice," she said.

Fatimah said she had also made it a habit to compare prices of goods at several shops before making her purchase and mark the shop with the lowest price as her favourite.

Meanwhile, Deputy International Trade and Industry Minister's wife Datin Asiah Mohd Noor said she went for grocery shopping on a weekly basis because it was cheaper than doing it daily.

"If we do it on a weekly basis, it is easier for us to manage our expenses because we will use what we already have in the kitchen. We can estimate our budget. We don't need to cook fancy meals. One main dish along with one vegetable dish will do in our home," she added.