KUALA LUMPUR: Families are turning to ringgit-stretching methods to hold their family reunion dinners to deal with the uncertain economic outlook.
A student who wished to
be known as Low, 24, said her family would be having a home-cooked reunion dinner as it was more affordable.
“Before Chinese New Year, my family would plan out the menu for each day (reunion dinner and first two days of Chinese New Year) to make sure we don’t overspend,” she said, adding that they would prepare a five-course meal.
“The most essential item in our menu would be a whole chicken and a fish ball soup with shang choi (prosperity and reunion).”
Low said her family found other ways to make sure the “essence of the celebration was there, but in a cheaper way.
“Families would usually have a whole fish to eat during their reunion dinner, but during this festive season, the prices of fish are expensive, so we’ve decided to just get one fish (for everyone) to symbolise an abundant year.”
Since the economic downturn, Low said her parents had decided to maintain the amount of money given for ang pow.
Meanwhile, Pao Suen Foo, 26, from Kuantan, Pahang, said her family would allocate the dishes in portions for the feast.
“Reunion dinners are usually an extravagant affair where meat dishes, soups and desserts are abundant but this year, instead of having several meat dishes, my family will have a single meat dish.
“For example, we will only serve chicken at the reunion dinner, while a duck dish will be served on the second day of the Chinese New Year,” she said, adding that by doing it that way it would reduce wastage.
For Lai Yit Loi, 55, from Cheras, here, said buying ingredients for the reunion dinner in advance had helped him keep his grocery shopping on budget.
“One way to save money is to buy meat earlier as it doesn’t spoil as quickly as fresh ingredients.”