FASTING is not just about resisting hunger and thirst, instead it is a symbol of the obedience of Muslims to obey the commands of Allah (SWT) who knows what is best for His servants. When fasting, we must take care of our behaviour, our gaze and even our words.
One thing that is quite challenging in this month of Ramadan is to restrain from the desire to spend excessively when buying food for breaking fast and also when preparing to celebrate Syawal.
The presence of Ramadan bazaars further enlivens the atmosphere. Many are willing to crowd to get their favourite delicacies, raya clothes, raya biscuits and various other home furnishings.
So it is not surprising that some of us 'drift' to spend until there is wastage. Not only is a lot of food wasted, but the cost of monthly expenses can also skyrocket.
Worse, there are those who are willing to go into debt just to look 'gah' on Hari Raya.
Here are some suggestions so that we can be more careful in spending to avoid wastage. These proposals were shared by Shariah Consultant, AIA Public Takaful Bhd, Ustaz Ahmad Fikri Mohd.
1. Determination to save
If you can be determined to lose weight this Ramadan, try to keep it in mind to also be frugal in spending.
If going to the Ramadan bazaar to buy food for breaking the fast, set the amount of money to be spent. For example, not more than RM10.
2. Plan daily expenses
Planning can be done daily or monthly. For the festive month for example, we should make an initial plan of all the preparations and list the items that are only necessary to be purchased to avoid overspending.
3. Breaking the fast and having sahur in a reasonable manner
Once in a while it is acceptable to break fast at a hotel or with a relatively expensive meal, but it is better to break fast at home or at the mosque because it can save money, and even better because it can keep the Maghrib prayers that are often forgotten due to breaking fast while away from home to eat.
4. Spend as needed
By Syawal, of course, various things need to be purchased including clothes, items to beautify the house and also expenses for the trip to balik kampung.We should be reminded not to spend on unnecessary things.
Hopefully these tips can help you plan your daily expenses more prudently. Give a lot of charity and don't forget to pay zakat fitrah. – The Vibes, April 15, 2022
* This article originally appeared in our Malay-language sister portal Getaran
