Hold Down Your Lavish and Wasteful Habits in the Month of Fasting

Ramadan is the time for us to control human desires, not only by enduring hunger and thirst by fasting but also by resisting impulses to do things that may not be of benefit to us. One of the things to do is saving money.

Perhaps many of us think that fasting is already an economical practice due to a decrease in the food budget. But in all honesty, it is not uncommon for us to be more wasteful during the fasting month. There are several habits in the fasting month that cause this waste, such as breaking the fast with friends at a restaurant or buying new clothes for Eid. Then, how do you deal with these habits? Let’s see the following explanation!

It’s Okay to Decline Invitations to Iftar Gathering
The fasting month is often associated with the moment to meet up with old friends from school or colleagues from our old jobs. Hanging out with old friends is fun. However, if you attend their iftar gatherings every time, you will be stressed out at the end of the month.

The cost for one iftar gathering can be 2-3 times your daily lunch budget. The menu price offered can be higher than your usual dining budget. Let's just say that for one lunch on a normal day costs you Rp30-50 thousand. However, during the fasting month, it can jump to Rp70-150 thousand.

It's time for you to decline your old friends' invitations for this year's iftar gathering. Especially with the pandemic, you still have to protect yourself from all risks of virus transmission. Avoiding crowds is one way to do it. However, if the iftar gathering is held virtually, it’s definitely a good solution for you and your friends to stay safe and budget-conscious.

Resist Discounts, Shop Only As Needed
The temptation that you must endure during the fasting month is not only about controlling thirst and hunger, but also Ramadan discounts that are scattered everywhere. “Ah, the discount makes it so cheap. Just buy it! When will you ever get this price again?" then you put a variety of groceries in the basket, even though they are not the things you need. This is a consumptive behavior that you shouldn't continue if you don't want the money in your account to run out instantly.

Eid Doesn’t Require New Items
Eid is a sacred moment for Muslims who succeed in carrying out their prayers to the maximum during the fasting month. They will return to being pure like newborn babies, turning over new pages.

Unfortunately, this renewal is falsely interpreted by materialistic things such as new clothes, new house paint, and even new furniture that do not necessarily reflect one's success in carrying out worship during the fasting month.

In fact, it doesn't have to be like that at all. Celebrating Eid by using old clothes and all existing items in your home is just as appropriate. Truthfully, this kind of Eid celebration shows wisdom after a month of fasting. This indicates that a person can control their desires, as well as feel gratitude for all the things that they already possess. Of course, this is also a good thing because expenses will not increase due to shopping for new items for the Eid celebration.

No Need for Excessive Iftar
After holding back thirst and hunger for a full day, it’s common that you feel impulsive when choosing the iftar menu. It’s as if you want to eat everything that looks delicious. However, you don't have the ability to consume everything, right? In the end, the food will be wasted with no one to eat it.

If you continue this bad habit, there’s a possibility that you will spend iftar with only a glass of water without takjil because you have run out of money from being wasteful in the previous days. Control your desires when breaking the fast! Plan your iftar menu in advance, take notes, and buy a menu that is already on the list. That way, you will no longer be confused when shopping for the iftar menu.

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