Jyoti's problem: "I stay with in-laws, husband and two kids. My household budget is completely topsy-turvy with rising food prices."

How she works it out: "I realised that I had to pay attention to what I buy. I can't afford to neglect small, day-to-day buys like vegetables, any more.

This helped a lot. Now I buy only the things we will finish for sure and nothing goes waste."

Jyoti's tips:

i. Make sure you do the vegetable shopping. Try not to entrust the task to maids or children. They may not guage what and how much to buy.

ii. Innovate in the kitchen! Use less oil, try more salads. If you have left-over vegetables, use them in a new Parantha or a chinese dish.
 
iii. It's a good idea to buy your groceries in bulk. Especially foodgrains with better shelf life, in bulk. Wholesale prices are good for regularly needed grains, for example rice and wheat.