Keeping to festival budget
JOHOR folk are seeing an increase in their spending for Hari Raya Aidilfitri this year because of the weaker ringgit and higher prices of essential goods in recent months.

Dr Siti Massita Misbani and her husband Aizuddin Nur Syafiq Azraii spent about RM1,200 buying new baju kurung and baju Melayu for themselves and their two children last year.

“This year, it cost us about RM2,500 to have them tailored,” she said when met at a boutique in Dataran Larkin, Johor Baru.

Dr Siti Massita (right) and boutique owner Jamil Sukaimi (left) assisting Aizuddin with his tailor-made baju Melayu Teluk Belanga.

Dr Siti Massita, 35, chose to have their clothes tailored this year instead of buying ready-made ones from shopping complexes like before.

“After comparing the prices, we found the tailored clothes cheaper than the ready-made ones, which would have cost at least RM500 more,” she said.

Petrol station manager Aizuddin, 38, has allocated about RM1,200 for the Hari Raya dishes and cookies, up from RM800 last year.

“We are lucky as we are spending our Hari Raya holiday in Kulai as our families are here or else going back to kampung will incur extra cost,” he said.

Legal secretary Dahlia Nonteh Mohd Mokhtar, 46, said her family spent less when observing Hari Raya Aidilfitri during the movement control order in 2020 due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

“During the pandemic and in 2023, we allocated RM1,000 for duit raya and we might increase the amount this year, as we are expecting more guests,” she said.

Dahlia said the family would also celebrate Hari Raya in Singapore and change ringgit into Singapore dollar to give duit raya to children there.

“Singaporean relatives who come to our place usually give duit raya in Singapore dollars to my children,” she said.

Logistic manager Daeng Iskandar Mizan, 40, and his wife Ria Anastasia Mohamad, 37, who works as a dental assistant, are allocating RM3,500 this Hari Raya.

The couple said the money was spent on tailoring new clothes for themselves and their five children.

“As for duit raya, the amount remains the same at RM1,500, similar to the 2023 allocation,” said Daeng Iskandar.

Daeng Iskandar (left) and Ria Anastasia will spend RM3,500 on getting new Raya clothes sewn for themselves and their five children.

Hairstylist Muhd Azhar Zainuddin, 21, from Batu Pahat, said he had already spent RM500 buying new baju Melayu Teluk Belanga, shoes and T-shirts.

The bachelor said apart from the baju Melayu, he did not buy any other clothing as the ones he bought the last few years were still in good condition.

“I’m giving my mother RM300 for Raya dishes and we are lucky as our mother always bakes Raya biscuits for the family instead of buying them,” said Muhd Azhar, the eldest of five siblings.
Hari Raya Aidilfitri,Ringgit,Duit Raya,Dishes,Essential goods
With rising cost of living, Johor folk find ways to spend within means on clothes and goodies.