Write about your approach to budgeting.

Budgeting for me revolves mostly around how to cut costs.

I usually place orders through Swiggy, a food delivery chain in India. The delivery most of the time takes time.

If I find the delivery is going to take more than 25 minutes and the restaurant I choose is located close by, I will cancel placing the order and go myself to pick it up. That helps save money on costs.

I ride to work by scooter, as a two-wheeler is easy to drive through busy traffic and a huge saving on gas.

I drive only during weekends. Less traffic, faster roads.

I’ve recently decided to furnish my kitchen with a state-of-art chimney as smoke stays in and that cause embarrassment when guests visit my home.

I called a couple of agencies and asked how much that would cost me. Many said quotes that sounded too unrealistic. The budget ran into two lakh (₹225K) rupees. 

I quickly hired an electrician, took him to a store close by, bought a wall-mounted fan costing about ₹1400 and asked him to fix it in the kitchen.

It’s a breeze. Fan on oscillation. No smoke. Positioned in such a vantage place, the flame on the stove is not disturbed at all.

Saving costs, therefore, is budgeting for me.