SHAH ALAM, Dec 30 — With the 2026 school session set to begin in about two weeks, parents are focusing on school preparations while adjusting their spending to cope with daily expenses.
Rising prices have prompted consumers to be more prudent and meticulous in managing household expenditure, particularly for basic family necessities.
Qu'ran and Fardu Ain teacher Siti Yang Masturah Mat Desa, 35, said the increase in the cost of essential items could be mitigated by using the Sumbangan Asas Rahmah (Sara) incentive.
“I prioritise buying items that can be paid for using Sara, while the rest are purchased gradually. My estimated monthly expenditure is around RM300 to RM400,” she said.
Masturah hopes that assistance like Sara will continue to help lower-income groups ease the burden of purchasing basic food items.
Meanwhile, Siti Aminah Mustafa, 52, said uncertainty in market prices has prompted her to spend only on necessities, choosing reasonably priced goods.
“So far, our spending is still under control as the number of dependents has been reduced to six out of eight family members, while the others are already married,” she said.
The housewife added that her family’s expenditure is now more focused on the schooling needs of two children, as her other children have completed their education and are earning their own income.
Retired teacher Mohd Yazid Abdul Rahman, 62, also expressed concern about rising prices for basic goods, which he described as increasingly burdensome, especially for supporting three children who still live with him.
“Prices of items like rice, sugar, and other necessities are continuing to rise. I hope government assistance will be continued to help ease the burden,” he told Media Selangor.
Yazid also suggested that supermarkets introduce school essentials purchase packages for families with many children to help reduce costs.
Meanwhile, Hakimi Darus, 43, and his wife expressed hope that the national economy would continue to improve and that the government would provide more incentives to help the public save on daily expenses.
“If school preparation assistance, such as textbook aid that existed previously, could be reintroduced, it would certainly be very helpful,” he said.
The Sara utilisation rate, which has reached nearly 100 per cent in several states, highlights the importance of the assistance in helping recipients manage their daily needs.
On December 18, Finance Minister II Datuk Seri Amir Hamzah Azizan said that nearly 5.6 million Sara recipients had used their MyKad to purchase basic goods at registered premises, reflecting an overall utilisation rate of 99 per cent, with total spending amounting to RM4.59 billion.
The assistance is provided to Malaysian citizens aged 18 and above and can be redeemed cashlessly at selected supermarkets using their respective MyKad.
