After witnessing numerous instances of family tensions caused by financial matters, I have written the following lines as sincere advice for anyone who may find it relevant.
It is crucial to keep our expenses within the limits of our income and never exceed them. Our spending should be guided by our income, rather than cultural pressures or the expectations of friends and relatives. While it is important to respect traditions, however, we must remember that occasions like weddings, engagements, birthdays, and other social gatherings should align with what we can afford.
Spending an entire month’s budget on a wedding or social event is unwise. Likewise, purchasing costly household items to impress others is unnecessary. It is better to make do with affordable alternatives, ensuring the budget lasts until the next salary.
Spending wisely is an art. We should allocate our budget across categories such as food, health, charity, commuting, clothing, entertainment, utilities, children’s education, emergencies, and special occasions. However, this does not mean being miserly or denying ourselves genuine needs just to save money. The key lies in finding a balance between frugality and sensible expenditure.
In today’s world, banks and financial institutions promote consumerism by encouraging people to spend more. Tactics like ‘Buy now, pay later,’ ‘Own a car of your dreams’, easy instalment plans, and credit cards, that tempt us to ‘spend like royalty’ are designed to manipulate our mindset and fuel unnecessary competition. Housewives, in particular, can be vulnerable to such pressures. A wise wife, however, manages the household within the husband’s salary and resists such temptations.
Meanwhile, the husband should maintain control over financial matters, keeping them private.
In Urdu, there is a timeless saying: “Mian, jitni chadar hai, utne hi paon phelao (Dear, stretch your feet according to the length of your sheet.) This age-old proverb, passed down through generations, carries the enduring wisdom of living within one’s means.
But the question remains: Are there any listeners? Are there any takers?
Ahmad Fakir Muhammad
October 2, 2025