Hong Kong homemaker Fion Chan skips meals when she has to tighten her purse strings to make ends meet.
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She said her husband’s unstable income of about HK$20,000 (US$2,570) a month was barely enough for their family of five, with almost a quarter going toward rent for their public flat in Kwai Chung.
“We have to be very careful with money,” the 46-year-old said.
To cut her food bill, she chose only cheaper frozen meat and vegetables sold at bargain prices near closing time at the wet market. She learnt to stretch 300g of pork over three meals by serving it minced.
Despite her best efforts, there was sometimes not enough for Chan, her husband and their daughters aged 20, 18 and 10 who are all students.