Tips and tricks: how to live with rising prices

The world has shifted in many ways since the Covid-19 pandemic and one challenge felt across households is the higher cost of living. Price pressures — shaped by global supply chains, energy markets and local conditions — have filtered into daily life. For someone like me on a modest income, the change is felt in small, careful decisions that keep the family budget on track. A routine supermarket trip tells the story: the basket fills quickly, but the bill rises faster. Essentials such as vegetables, rice, cooking oil and snacks now take a larger share of the monthly allowance, so choices are planned more deliberately. At the checkout, I sometimes pause. Should I put something back so the budget lasts until month-end? These moments of hesitation are now familiar to many families across Oman. To cope, I plan. At the start of each month, I list the non-negotiables: rent, electricity, water and my children’s school needs. Whatever remains is divided between food and other essentials. Eating out, buying new clothes and small luxuries have been reduced. It is not about living without joy — it is about living within our means, with dignity. Around me, I see quiet ingenuity. A neighbour prepares traditional Omani dishes in her spare time and sells them through social media. A friend bakes cakes from home and takes orders online. These are small enterprises, but the extra income makes a real difference. What I admire most is the refusal to give in to despair; people are using their time and skills to support their families. I also try to buy smart. Choosing Omani products often stretches the rials further and supports local producers.

I look for discounts, seasonal offers and bulk buys for items we use often. We avoid waste: cook what we need, store leftovers properly and turn yesterday’s rice into today’s lunch. Small habits add up. There is a wider lesson here: awareness. Financial awareness and community awareness are no longer optional. Families benefit from basic budgeting, saving for emergencies and distinguishing needs from wants. Schools, media and community organisations can help by teaching practical money skills to the next generation. Even simple tools — a notebook budget or a basic phone spreadsheet — can reduce stress. What gives me hope is the spirit of cooperation that runs through Omani society. Families share items, neighbours exchange goods and relatives step in when someone is struggling. These traditions of solidarity lighten the load and remind us that nobody faces challenges alone. The authorities, for their part, are working through laws, subsidies and consumer-protection measures to help cushion households and maintain market stability. These efforts matter. At the same time, I have learned that solutions cannot come from policy alone. Each of us has a role: adapting our habits, learning new skills and being disciplined with what we have. For me, that means simple living, a clearer budget and the courage to try small side jobs when possible. For my community, it means supporting local businesses, sharing knowledge and looking out for one another. Rising prices may remain part of our reality, but patience, creativity and unity allow us to protect our families and carry on — with pride — in our beloved Oman.