UAE fuel price hike: How residents are cutting down on expenses

Households in the UAE are becoming financially savvy and have already started creating a new monthly budget or are busy refreshing their existing one.

This comes after the recent hike in fuel prices that are likely to have an impact on other commodities. Some have even suggested shifting homes and moving closer to their children's schools and offices to cut down on petrol costs.

When Khaleej Times spoke to a cross-section of people in the UAE, they said they were tweaking their grocery shopping routines. They also said they were now becoming more mindful about their overall household budget, tracking down every little cost that the monthly expenditures entail.

Malaysian expat Adiltul explains how her family thought it was prudent to shift home in light of the recent fuel hike.

"As there has been a hike in fuel prices over the past few months, we decided to shift homes. Earlier, we used to live in Khalifa City; now we've moved closer to my husband's office and child's school in Al Bateen. This was a conscious move bearing in mind the increase in petrol prices. This certainly helps us save money on petrol, and we don't have to pay the toll tax anymore."

"As for me, the surge in fuel prices may not have a huge impact on my monthly grocery bill as my son has recently moved to Canada to pursue his higher studies. My husband is, anyway, an expert shopper, and he is very good at economizing things and eliminating unnecessary purchases. He buys things in bulk online when offers are available. But we all certainly need to be more mindful of our expenditures."

Egyptian expat Mostafa Shaarawy says, "With the increase in fuel prices, the prices of all other commodities is bound to increase. So, to keep the grocery bill in check, which is a major expenditure every month, planning ahead becomes critical now. Additionally, I think I'll have to now become savvier with discount coupons and promo codes. Earlier, I didn't care for these things as much. Grocery stores usually mark down a lot of items as they get close to their sell-by date, so availing those would be a good idea too."

Residents suggest switching to smaller fuel-efficient cars

Many residents suggest switching to more fuel-efficient, small-sized cars, minimizing the use of their SUVs, or even buying electric vehicles.

Pakistani expat Munir Asghar said, "Cutting back on the household grocery list of items does not seem like a viable option to me. That's because we are used to ordering certain things in, which seems difficult to curtail. But yes, we'll be focusing more on discounts now and will try to maximize our purchases during those periods when promotions and sales begin."

"However, I feel, as a family, what we'll do to cut costs is to probably switch to small cars instead of using the SUV that I currently drive. Shifting to electric cars is another good option in the light of the recent fuel hike."

"In addition to that, I pick up groceries on my own, rather than opting for ordering online. Though most delivery apps state that there's no charge involved, there is always a minimal charge attached for the deliveries, which can make a huge difference when one accounts for it at the end of the month."