The tough economic times are forcing households to make drastic adjustments to stay afloat amid the high cost of living.
Many families have made – and continue to make these ‘necessary adjustments’ to their lifestyle at a time when many are grappling with high cost of electricity, food, fuel, school fees and even rent.
Julius* – a resident of Embakasi – told Wananchi Reporting that he no longer goes to his fancy gym. It’s been three months since he last visited the gym.
“I suspended my Ksh.2,000 subscription per month to save some money for use in the house,” said the father of three.
“I currently exercise in the house; running whenever I can to just stay fit. The money I used to spend on gym goes to something else now,” said Julius.
He notes that the gym he used to visit has seen a sharp drop in membership subscription.
“I have subsequently cut down on the amount of food I eat in the house because my body no longer demands loads of food and water,” he says with a smile.
On her part, Vivian – a front-pew member of her church has not been tithing for a few months now – and the guilt she says is eating her a live.
“I used to tithe every month; setting aside over Ksh.10,000 monthly to go towards my tithe, but now I find it really difficult because the money is suddenly not enough,” she said – noting that her church has recorded a drop in tithe offerings for months now.
“I guess life is not easy for most people especially those living in towns and have large families, and children to take to school. One can tell based on the number of phone calls you receive in a day from friends and relatives asking for financial help,” she says – noting that the current taxes are partly to blame.
Others, like those who imbibe, have reduced the number of trips they make to the clubs, bars and restaurants to eat and drink. Some men no longer shave weekly – but now do it once a month – often at the end of the month.
People are not spending money like they used to do a few years ago. Today even sweets are not moving; children no longer come to the shop fiddling with a shilling asking to buy sweets because even the prices of sweets have shot up,” said Erick Kipkemoi, a shopkeeper in Embakasi, Nairobi.
It’s a tough time for most families, but many are holding to hope that things will look up someday. Meanwhile, families are doing everything to live.
