Has price rise during festivities started to pinch?

Yes, it hurts when common items are shooting through the roof. It’s difficult to budget for household provisions. Now even lemon has become expensive since last fortnight. Sugar has also become so expensive that it is even hurting the middle class. Now we avoid preparing sweet dishes often at home. The price of tur dal has increased for almost a month now. So I try and use alternative like pulses, channa or moong dal.
 —Kavita M

Currently even a commodity like become scarce in the market. Luckily we had purchased it in advance, but it won’t last long. We have also prepared lemon syrup in large quantity, which comes handy in the scorching heat. It’s really unfair that the price of everyday commodities is on a rise on a regular basis. Also, many restaurants have increased the prices of almost all the items including basic snack items like masala dosa, grilled sandwich and even fruit juices. So with the increase in items outside as well, it’s a better option to prepare it at home.
—Aarohi Udeshi

Soaring prices of even peripheral eatables is beginning to bite. The prices of other everyday food items and vegetables is also on the rise. Now, commodities like lemon are expensive. But it hasn't impacted my eating pattern. Restaurants have increased their prices for certain items, since they have to maintain their margins, they don't have much of a choice.
—Sumit Sharma

The price of pulses, dals and sugar are already high. To add to that even lemon has become expensive now. With this, we can expect that the prices of other everyday commodities will also soar further, making them almost out of the reach of the lower middle class. It becomes difficult for the common man to handle a steep price hike in eatables. We would prepare sweets over the weekend, but now we have discontinued it. Jaggery is a good substitute for sugar for everyday use. We will have to opt for alternatives for lemon.
—Riya Divekar

Not just lemon, all vegetables and fruits have become very expensive. Currently it’s the season for apples in the market, but the price has almost doubled, from Rs60-70 a kg, it has become Rs100-120. I buy just the adequate provisions and try to avoid wastage. An everyday necessity like milk too has become expensive, it's more than Rs30 per litre. We have no option but to purchase it at a higher price.
—Paresha Raja

Compiled by Brinda Majithia