Moving back to Hyderabad and looking for ways to cut cost of living there

[mist]

Hello Everyone,

We are moving back to Hyderabad in 2/3 months and I was calculating the cost of living there. Minimum cost of living would be
rent - 20k
groceries - 10k
utilities + cable + internet + gas - 10k
misc - buffer of 10 k (maid for cleaning home/... unforeseen)

Rent is something I cant bargain. I can try to tweak expenses in other areas like using a washer once in 2 days instead of a maid washing clothes. It would increase my electricity bill, but still might be cheaper. I have decided not to buy newspaper, but will look it up online. I am going to cook myself, so no cook.

Is there any other way to cut costs? Because I will live in an apt, i might grow herbs, not full fledged veggies.
Is anyone there who has a container garden? If yes, can you give me some tips please.
I will have to visit rythu bazaar/super mkt? Believe rythu bazaar will turn out cheaper, though will know after I actually use the services. I have decided that we might eat out once/twice a month, or I will encourage my spouse to get a takeout cause that would be cheaper than eating inside a restaurant.

Guys, how are you trying to cut costs. any ideas?

Thanks,
mist

[srinpo]

Sorry, unable to help as I dont have the similar requirement. But just to make 2 points. Rythu bazar wont work for me, because I'll save 100 Ruppees say out of 400, but need to pay petrol of 80 Ruppees and huge hazzle of parking. And poor crowded chaotic experience.
Also growing garden (I have enough space), doesnt work for me. Too much hazzle and work. Irrespective of how successful you are in that area, I am not able to understand how it can save money. (It will save penny's)

[mist]

I will have to agree with you on the savings on vegetable part, though i will know exactly when i am in hyd..
but in US, i was able to save 30 bucks almost on buying flowers for god.. i grew marigold in small pots and i always had flowers. in my previous apt, we didn't have a balcony, so i had to buy flowers every 2/3 weeks for 4$ a bunch.
that saved me a little and also made me feel good with alll those bright colors..

i tried to grow tomatoes, but when they started budding, i realized that i had to pump the plants with artificial fertilizers to make them grow more... which i ignored... i would rather buy in the store when there's a sale..

[kkr]

I will have to agree with you on the savings on vegetable part, though i will know exactly when i am in hyd..
but in US, i was able to save 30 bucks almost on buying flowers for god.. i grew marigold in small pots and i always had flowers. in my previous apt, we didn't have a balcony, so i had to buy flowers every 2/3 weeks for 4$ a bunch.
that saved me a little and also made me feel good with alll those bright colors..

i tried to grow tomatoes, but when they started budding, i realized that i had to pump the plants with artificial fertilizers to make them grow more... which i ignored... i would rather buy in the store when there's a sale..

It sounds like you are a pretty big saver. Rather than trying to save a few rupees by growing vegetables and all that hassle, how about spending some time initially to find a place with lower rent than 20K? I am sure you can find similar apartments in any area for lower rents than what you might find initially. Just trying to direct you to think about things that will make bigger impact on savings and ignore those with lower potential.

[B_Krishnakumar]

Agree with kkr. Besides there is the opportunity cost of growing vegetables. If you spend 10 hours a month (plus pots, soil, fertilizers, tools, hose, water) on gardening hoping to save Rs. 500/month on vegetables, wouldn't it be better doing something you are specialized in and earning a lot more in that 10 hours?

[Vivekananda]

I think that growing vegetables has lot more benefits than just saving money. The time spent outdoors caring for them will have great returns in terms of sound health. The skills can remain with a person that can covert to hobbies at a later stage in life. My 11 year old son grows vegetables starting from germinating in cups, transplanting, caring, harvesting, saving seeds, and sharing harvest with people. He can do this all by himself. I am there to help him. Moreover the variety of plants invite new set of living organisms that just creates a richer environment at the home. Now, do you get all these experiences by just going back to the same work day in, and day out? Like they say, some experiences can be priceless. I think that life can be richer in other ways if we do different things, particularly in the nature.

I see that people that spend time on other hobbies such as electronics, and working with tools in addition to their regular job have a balanced life.

Have fun.

[imemyselfindian]

I have been living in Hyderabad for the past 2 years and do agree with the rough expense structure that you have framed and quantified. I think the real opportunities in savings would be amongst three of the buckets that you have specified 1)Rentals 2)Utilities and 3)Miscellaneous
1)Rentals - Maybe look at something in the 15k range and preferably something that is near your workplace
2)10K for utilities etc are a bit inflated. Electricity should be around 3k (and possibly lower helps also as you would be doing to the green bit), Internet and Cable 1.5K, Gas .5K. So that should be a total of around 5K
3)Miscellaneous - A full day maid should be around 3K. I assume that fuel expenses would also need to be accounted for in this bracket. So another 4k there
Therefore on a conservative basis you should be looking at a monthly expense of atleast 40K. I dont think its possible to go any lower than that in Hyd

[mist]

Guys,

i do understand that reducing rent makes a good impact. but the main reason i am not considering rent right now is becaue we dont know the area yet... so dont want to venture into kukatlpally/nijmapet though we would save more....
also we have friends close by... so for the first 1 year, we are not thinking about rent.. after seeing the roads there , we might rent in cheaper areas.. that is the plan so far...

[mist]

I appreciate your son!!!

[mist]

Hi Krishnakumar,

Growing plants and veggies is not just for saving money, it makes feel good... that i am doing my bit to clean the polluted air around my home.... I dont expect it to save much, but the satisfaction that i got when i got my first 4 cherry tomatoes cannot be priced... i do work, am a software professional , but i am planing to take a break for the first 1 year after r2i..... so i was looking around to do my bit in cutting costs...