Comments on: Necessity or Not: A List of What I Bought in Week 1-2 http://www.gauravonomics.com/offconsumption/necessity-or-not-a-list-of-what-i-bought-in-week-1-2/ My year-long book-as-a-blog experiment in why we choose to consume, or not Thu, 20 Nov 2008 09:04:27 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.5 By: Gaurav Mishra http://www.gauravonomics.com/offconsumption/necessity-or-not-a-list-of-what-i-bought-in-week-1-2/#comment-263 Gaurav Mishra Tue, 22 Apr 2008 09:29:09 +0000 http://www.gauravonomics.com/offconsumption/?p=32#comment-263 @Mayuresh: My experiment isn't really about living on as little as possible, so my definition of what is necessity isn't primarily based on price. So, icecream (not a necessity) is different from muesli (necessity), but a packet of Good Earth muesli (necessity) is no different from a packet of store brand muesli (necessity). The intent is to buy only what I need, not only to survive, but also to experience joy. The intent is also to discover how little you really need to experience joy. But, perhaps, this explanation requires a full post. @Mayuresh: My experiment isn’t really about living on as little as possible, so my definition of what is necessity isn’t primarily based on price. So, icecream (not a necessity) is different from muesli (necessity), but a packet of Good Earth muesli (necessity) is no different from a packet of store brand muesli (necessity).

The intent is to buy only what I need, not only to survive, but also to experience joy.

The intent is also to discover how little you really need to experience joy.

But, perhaps, this explanation requires a full post.

]]> By: Mayuresh Gaikwad http://www.gauravonomics.com/offconsumption/necessity-or-not-a-list-of-what-i-bought-in-week-1-2/#comment-239 Mayuresh Gaikwad Fri, 18 Apr 2008 21:14:53 +0000 http://www.gauravonomics.com/offconsumption/?p=32#comment-239 Comments: 1. Muesli itself borders on luxury, but diet-Muesli!!! You paid 50% more to get less nutrition in terms of calories? Not a necessity at all. 2. Why shop for "Good Earth". Numerous other brands are cheaper. infact unbranded corn flakes are much cheaper! 3. Take the train to Dadar and purchase your weekly supply of groceries from there. The prices you mention here are atrocious! 4. What is the difference between bell-pepper and capsicum? They look (in shape) the same to me. Maybe just different varieties of the same vegetable. So get the cheaper one! Also, get the cheapest vegetables, not vegetables which you like as that borders on luxury. 5. I think having a south-Indian breakfast (idli sambhar or dosa or upma with coffee) at any of the udupi joints in cuff-parade would be cheaper than what you spent on breakfast here! So here, going to a restaurant for breakfast is cheaper than eating exotic stuff at home! 6. Try Margarine instead of butter / cheese on your bread. It is much cheaper and is available in most Indian supermarkets. Cheese seems a complete extravagance in India! Comments:

1. Muesli itself borders on luxury, but diet-Muesli!!! You paid 50% more to get less nutrition in terms of calories? Not a necessity at all.

2. Why shop for “Good Earth”. Numerous other brands are cheaper. infact unbranded corn flakes are much cheaper!

3. Take the train to Dadar and purchase your weekly supply of groceries from there. The prices you mention here are atrocious!

4. What is the difference between bell-pepper and capsicum? They look (in shape) the same to me. Maybe just different varieties of the same vegetable. So get the cheaper one!
Also, get the cheapest vegetables, not vegetables which you like as that borders on luxury.

5. I think having a south-Indian breakfast (idli sambhar or dosa or upma with coffee) at any of the udupi joints in cuff-parade would be cheaper than what you spent on breakfast here! So here, going to a restaurant for breakfast is cheaper than eating exotic stuff at home!

6. Try Margarine instead of butter / cheese on your bread. It is much cheaper and is available in most Indian supermarkets. Cheese seems a complete extravagance in India!

]]> By: Samy http://www.gauravonomics.com/offconsumption/necessity-or-not-a-list-of-what-i-bought-in-week-1-2/#comment-235 Samy Fri, 18 Apr 2008 09:47:20 +0000 http://www.gauravonomics.com/offconsumption/?p=32#comment-235 Hi I went through your blog after going thru article about you in TOI , Mumbai edition. Frankly I found the concept interesting though I am skeptical. Why ? You have included your grocery consumption but what about lots of other things eg rent (house),electricity: is fan and light essential and AC on high consuption list ? I mean their are so many question , eating out is least of the problem for most of the people in India . Hi

I went through your blog after going thru article about you in TOI , Mumbai edition. Frankly I found the concept interesting though I am skeptical. Why ? You have included your grocery consumption but what about lots of other things eg rent (house),electricity: is fan and light essential and AC on high consuption list ? I mean their are so many question , eating out is least of the problem for most of the people in India .

]]> By: Gaurav Mishra http://www.gauravonomics.com/offconsumption/necessity-or-not-a-list-of-what-i-bought-in-week-1-2/#comment-210 Gaurav Mishra Mon, 14 Apr 2008 17:39:01 +0000 http://www.gauravonomics.com/offconsumption/?p=32#comment-210 @Blr Bytes: Heh! Breakfast for me is usually a big bowl of toasted oats, banana and honey along with half a carafe of green tea. @Aditya: Actually, now that I'm neither driving nor shopping, I often leave behind my wallet and only carry my keys and some small change when I leave my house. @Nirav: A litre of milk at Rs. 80 is expensive indeed. My wishes will be with you, my friend. @Ana: I haven't tried the Mumbai bus system yet, but the year still has 49 weeks. ;-) @Blr Bytes: Heh! Breakfast for me is usually a big bowl of toasted oats, banana and honey along with half a carafe of green tea.

@Aditya: Actually, now that I’m neither driving nor shopping, I often leave behind my wallet and only carry my keys and some small change when I leave my house.

@Nirav: A litre of milk at Rs. 80 is expensive indeed. My wishes will be with you, my friend.

@Ana: I haven’t tried the Mumbai bus system yet, but the year still has 49 weeks. ;-)

]]> By: ana http://www.gauravonomics.com/offconsumption/necessity-or-not-a-list-of-what-i-bought-in-week-1-2/#comment-188 ana Fri, 11 Apr 2008 06:20:37 +0000 http://www.gauravonomics.com/offconsumption/?p=32#comment-188 Taxis & autos are a complete extravagance. Truely thrifty ppl use the bus. I kw many millionnaires in mumbai (who belong to the old school) who routinely use the bus. Taxis & autos are a complete extravagance. Truely thrifty ppl use the bus. I kw many millionnaires in mumbai (who belong to the old school) who routinely use the bus.

]]> By: Nirav http://www.gauravonomics.com/offconsumption/necessity-or-not-a-list-of-what-i-bought-in-week-1-2/#comment-186 Nirav Thu, 10 Apr 2008 21:39:28 +0000 http://www.gauravonomics.com/offconsumption/?p=32#comment-186 Hahaha, I too was a blind shopper till the credit crunch hit the markets. When I realised the food price inflation (comparing old reciepts) A Liter of milk at the super market has gone up to 64p from 53p (Rs50 from Rs 80, and yes I live in London) 22% inflation in a few months :) And anyways I never have any cash on me. live on credit card (as it is a cheap financing at 0% save a months interest at 5% per annum on my total consumption) Hahaha, I too was a blind shopper till the credit crunch hit the markets.
When I realised the food price inflation (comparing old reciepts)
A Liter of milk at the super market has gone up to 64p from 53p (Rs50 from Rs 80, and yes I live in London)
22% inflation in a few months :)
And anyways I never have any cash on me. live on credit card (as it is a cheap financing at 0% save a months interest at 5% per annum on my total consumption)

]]> By: Aditya http://www.gauravonomics.com/offconsumption/necessity-or-not-a-list-of-what-i-bought-in-week-1-2/#comment-184 Aditya Thu, 10 Apr 2008 15:26:31 +0000 http://www.gauravonomics.com/offconsumption/?p=32#comment-184 If you have that problem of never looking at the price, here's a tip: Avoid using credit cards. Well, minimize credit card usage. Carry cash, and you'll see what difference it makes. Start with groceries. I can tell you this from experience, living in the US, we hardly carry cash. So you never care much about what you spend as long as you have balance in your card. If you have that problem of never looking at the price, here’s a tip: Avoid using credit cards. Well, minimize credit card usage. Carry cash, and you’ll see what difference it makes. Start with groceries. I can tell you this from experience, living in the US, we hardly carry cash. So you never care much about what you spend as long as you have balance in your card.

]]> By: blr bytes http://www.gauravonomics.com/offconsumption/necessity-or-not-a-list-of-what-i-bought-in-week-1-2/#comment-182 blr bytes Thu, 10 Apr 2008 09:05:05 +0000 http://www.gauravonomics.com/offconsumption/?p=32#comment-182 Try oatmeal, not the quick cooking type, for breakfast. It's great! Combine it with some flaxseed, apples, cinnamon powder and yoghurt for a super start to you day! Try oatmeal, not the quick cooking type, for breakfast. It’s great!

Combine it with some flaxseed, apples, cinnamon powder and yoghurt for a super start to you day!

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