Squeezing the budget even further; the only solution.

I passionately like listening to my grandfather’s stories on how little they used to spent a few years ago- ‘fairy-tales’ is what I can call them. I should not even go that far, in 2003, a loaf of bread was going for as little as Ksh. 20, unbelievable half of the current retailing price.

It is a painful realization that prices in Kenya only assume one trait- they always go up and never come down. It is only recently when for once down in history we had a commodity, fuel, price was regulated downwards- my bunch of flowers to the Kenyan government. 

While transport sector investors and those owning personal vehicles feel relieved, the normal commuter has nothing to be happy about- Fares have not consequently been reduced to their relief.

Every day in business news, there’s excitement about the good standing of our shilling against other global currencies. It is however not the case on the side of products retailing in the market since the last time the shilling value deteriorated. 

A normal Kenyan remains a fulltime window shopper, no wonder on average nowadays a person spends a lot of time in stores comparing prices of same, alternative and substituting products seeking to cut on expenses as a result of the pocket injuring economy.

Last weekend I paid a visit to a long time friend of mine whom the last time I visited, was doing so well. Every time I visited him before, we could grab a bottle of cold Guinness beer from his fridge and pass time. To my surprise this time round we had a single cup of black tea and worse even further, the sugar didn’t taste. Why?-ruthless economy!

It is a fact that some foods like meat are slowly becoming once in a blue moon delicacies thanks to the piercing economy. Kenyans are now left to grapple with injurious economic conditions with ever ‘zooming out’ on their expenditure becoming the one and only option warranting survival.

©PaulMusyikah2012