AFTER 15 years as a housewife, Madam Maryanti Chaman, 35, went back to work in May.

The rising price of food and the goods and services tax (GST) hike over the past year have made the family's finances very tight.

To make matters worse, her 42-year-old husband, a shipyard supervisor, saw his take-home pay reduced from $2,200 to $1,600 after his company stopped overtime work.

Madam Maryanti now works five days a week as a part-time stall assistant to supplement the family income. She earns about $600 a month. Her mother or father-in-law cares for her five children when she is at work. The family lives in a five-room flat in Marsiling.

Madam Maryanti always shops around for the cheapest groceries and household goods. She has also cut down on tidbits for her children.

The family now uses cheaper detergent, which costs about $4 for a 5kg box, compared to her previous brand, which cost $6 for a 3kg box.

Her three-year-old toddler Khalaf Hubaish drinks Dugrow milk, which costs $8.50 for a 1kg tin, instead of Friso milk, which costs $20 for an equivalent tin. He wears the cheapest diapers that Madam Maryanti can find: $12 for 35 pieces compared to $17 for other brands.

She buys fish only on Sundays, around noon, when fishmongers are clearing their stocks because the market is closed on Mondays.

'I can get 2kg of ikan selar kuning (gold-banded scad) or mackerel for just $7, instead of $6 a kilogram.' That is enough to last the family a week.

She tries to buy more chicken than fish because chicken is cheaper. The family has stopped eating out.

When she shops for groceries in Johor Baru, she takes along a calculator to make sure that she buys only things which are cheaper after the currency conversion.

When money dries up towards the end of the month, the children receive less pocket money and take a packed lunch to school.

To save on electricity charges, the family has cut down on television viewing. Electrical appliances are no longer placed on stand-by mode but switched off when not in use.

Madam Maryanti said she also makes sure that her children turn off the light when they leave a room. 'We have no choice but to do this. Everything is more expensive now.'

Where does the money go?

THE Hazalis' combined household income: $2,200

Their monthly expenses:
- Groceries: $150
- Wet market items: $200
- Utilities: $220
- Insurance: $380
- Children's pocket money and transport: $300
- Mr Hazali's lunch money, transport and cigarettes: $500
- Madam Maryanti's monthly savings: $100
- Miscellaneous items (mobile phone bills, snacks, clothes and so on): $350
Total: $2,200