Dashain is more about celebrating and rejoicing, and less about show off or giving too much importance to material possessions.

Dashain, the most auspicious occasion of many Nepali people is on our doorstep. Naturally, all those who celebrate it are excited to cherish the best of togetherness, and to forget all the sorrows and hardships. However, it has often been more about increasing material possessions, and incurring huge expenses on purchase and maintenance of homes, auto, jewelries, home appliances, shopping, groceries and tour and travel packages. As a result, Dashain sometimes symbolizes financial pressure on the breadwinner of the family, especially if the individual belongs to a traditional family. So, here we have some simple remedies that can guide you on financial planning this festive season.

Planning is required:

Firstly, proper planning is required for sound budgeting and to ensure that Dashain takes place the way to intended. For examples: are you planning to go on a family tour (domestic or international)? Are you travelling to ancestral or maternal home? Are you heading back to your home district? Planning serves as a roadmap to control expenditure.

Set economy-sized budget:

The first thing that we all need to make sure is that the size of proposed budget for Dashain is realistic, and covers the price hike. While doing so, avoid comparing your budget and financial status with others. Also, try to keep credit purchase and borrowing to minimal to prevent from overboard of money.

Differentiate between needs and wants:

Prioritize your cash outlay into needs rather than on wants, and ensure that the needs are genuine and are not just influenced by peer pressure and social circle. In other words, convince yourself that the needs you are supposed to fulfill are not solely driven by fun or entertainment.  

Allocate budget proportionately:

Once the genuine needs are identified, it is very crucial to allocate budget proportionately. The basis for proportion allocation should be: urgency, its usage/importance, and demand and consumption estimate from past. 

Inventory what you already have in your shelves:

Define suitable market place for shopping: Market place (shopping mall, department store, wholesaler, street vendor, retailor and door-to-door seller) also matters while shopping around, because of differences in price and service in these places. So, it is recommended that you choose a suitable one that best meets your budget and needs. More importantly, don’t forget to search for festive offer/sale and to ask for bulk purchase discount as well.

Review quality assurance: A common mistake we make is that we do need read the labeling of products we purchase. Therefore, we recommend that you check at least the basic facts such as: expiry date and nutritional information of products you intend to purchase. As a result, possible health hazard can be reduced to greater extent.

Don’t underestimate past experience: Experience from past consumptions during Dashain can be valuable for estimating grocery needs this year. Also, a rough calculation of relatives and guests you need to invite can be made based on previous year’s presence, which can ultimately reduce wastage and overstocking of goods.

Discussion with all family members (elders and young ones): You need to discuss with your family members in order to understand each other’s needs, likes and dislikes during Dashain. This is especially important in joint families.

Remind yourself that ‘Health is Wealth’: Most of us tend to suffer from indigestion, and gastritis, stomach cramps during Dashain mainly because we consume more spicy and nutritious food and alcohol in that one week than perhaps in a year. So, eat and drink moderately for prolonged happiness, and save on unwanted medical bills.

                                        Keep in Mind:

Educate and inform your children and family members that having quality fun time with family, receiving tika and blessing from elders and worshiping Goddess Durga are the true rationale behind Dashain celebration, not purchasing unneeded physical stuffs, eating beyond capacity, or running after ‘dakshina’