Shalini Bana, a housewife living in Noida Extension, says she will not have to run her household on an even tighter budget as the relentless rise in grocery prices go unchecked. Her views:
The recent announcements in the Union Budget has left me, a middle-class housewife in my 40s, with a deep sense of disappointment and frustration. As someone who meticulously manages my family’s finances, I was eagerly awaiting the budget, hoping for some relief or measures that would ease the financial burden we carry daily. However, what I found instead was a series of decisions that seemed to widen the gap between hope and reality for families like mine.
For years, the middle class has borne the brunt of heavy taxation, and this budget is no exception. While the government tom-toms about its focus on infrastructure and other big-ticket projects, there is a glaring absence of tangible benefits for middle-class households. Our income bracket often feels like the forgotten child of the economy—too wealthy for subsidies and too poor to enjoy luxuries without consequence. The tax relief measures, if any, were negligible, failing to account for the ever-increasing cost of living that erodes our purchasing power.
One of the most pressing issues is the relentless rise in grocery prices. As someone who manages household expenses, I see the direct impact of these price hikes every time I step into a supermarket. The cost of daily essentials like fruits, vegetables, and grains has skyrocketed, forcing me to make tough decisions about what goes into our shopping cart. It’s not just the food items; even basic household necessities such as cleaning supplies and personal care products have become more expensive. Despite all the budgeting and planning, I find myself struggling to make ends meet, and this budget offers little to alleviate that burden.
Moreover, the surge in gold prices is another blow to the middle-class family. Traditionally, gold has been a safety net and a reliable form of investment for us. It’s something we have relied on for generations, whether for weddings, cultural ceremonies, or as a hedge against inflation. However, with prices at an all-time high, even the thought of buying gold is daunting. This budget does nothing to address this issue, further alienating middle-class savers like us.
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The irony lies in the fact that while the economy is touted as growing, the benefits of this growth are not trickling down to families like mine. Our expenses continue to climb, and our incomes do not match this rate of inflation. Education costs for our children are increasing, healthcare is becoming more expensive, and our savings are dwindling. The promise of better infrastructure or digital advancements holds little weight when the daily realities of making ends meet feel like a never-ending struggle.
The lack of focus on financially relieving the middle class in this budget is disheartening. We need policies that understand and address the challenges faced by families like mine—policies that provide tax relief, control inflation, and make essential goods affordable. We need a budget that prioritizes the needs of the middle class, recognizing our role as the backbone of the economy.
In all this budget has left me with a sense of despair and a feeling of being unheard. As a middle-class home budget maker, I hoped for measures that would offer some respite from our financial challenges. Instead, I am left to navigate the same struggles with an even tighter budget, hoping for a future where our needs and contributions are acknowledged and valued.
As told to Deepti Sharma
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