Penny Wise

In a curtain raiser to the budget on july 6, india's youth present a wish list to the fin min. they don't mind shelling out a few bucks, but only if it's worth the price

Sushant Dharwadkar (25)
Copywriter, Bandra, Mumbai

WORK
>u00a0Less income tax
> Fuel prices should be subsidised
> Rise in prices of gadgets does not affect me as I am not a tech-savvy person
> Tax on accessories and branded clothes should be marginalised
> VAT at eateries should be decreased
> Hike in power rates should be brought down
> Interest on education loans should be nominal

PLAY
Since I am a teetotaler, I want a huge price hike on alcohol and cigarettes
The telecom sector should decrease the price of cellphones by 20 per cent.


Work
> The government should give subsidies to new ventures to help decrease production cost. Jobs can be created if small entrepreneurs excel
> The tax process should be simplified, as most people don't file returns
> The rise in price of commodities should be checked

Play
Entertainment tax should be slashed

Balraj KN
Cartoonist, Bangalore

PLAY
> If prices go up, I may go in for cheaper whiskey, but I will go to the same watering hole because I drink mainly for socialising. Of course, if prices come down, I may end up drinking a little more.
> If air fares come down, I may fly to my holiday destination. If air fares rise, I will still go on a holiday, but I may not fly.
> I'm waiting for 3G and I will go for it if the prices are lowered. However, because of competition, I don't think the budget has a very big role to play when it comes to gadgets.

Manish Gurnani
Senior finance executive, Bangalore

WORK
> Irrespective of what the budget says, I will not go in for a car for the next one year
> Thanks to the poor economy, I don't think that I can go in for a generator right now However, I will go in for a solar heater so that I can reduce my electricity bills
> I don't eat out much and so the amount is not significant

Vivek Naidu
Senior Associate, KPIT Cummins, Pune

WORK
> Less tax/more standard deduction so that I can spend my savings on women
> Waivers on perks
> Lower petrol/diesel prices
> Discount on gadgets like laptops that are used for work
> Cheaper clothes, especially formal wear
> Cheaper accessories like shoes and watches
> No tax on stationery items and CDs
> Cheaper electricity for office work and laptop
> Low interest higher education loans

PLAY
> Cut in prices of beer and whiskey
> Lower cigarette prices
> VAT should be reduced to 8%
> Condoms/pills should be available free of cost
> Taxes on air fares should come down
> ISD call rates should be cut by 30%
> Branded clothes and accessories are highly priced. Prices should be slashed
> No custom duties on imported liquor
> Slash room rates in hotels
> Cheaper iPods and gaming consoles

That's how we spend our money

Rahul Tripathi (24) Marketing exec, Mumbaiu00a0
Work expenditure (per month approximations)
Tax: Rs 7,000
Fuel: Rs 3,000
Gadgets: Rs 41,000
Clothes: Rs 1,000
Stationery: Rs 1,000
Electricity: Rs 2000-3000
Watches/mobile: u00a0Rs 20,000-25000 (per year)
Food: Rs 2000-3000

Play expenditure (per month approximations)
Travel: Rs 4,000-5,000
Tea/Coffee: Rs 1,000
Cellphone: Rs 20,000 pa

Shubhendu Nath, Media professional, Bangalore
Monthly expenditure (approximations) Rs 8,000
Tea/coffee: Rs 1,000
Alcohol: N/A
Cigarettes: Rs 1,000
Lunch: Rs 2,000 (alone)
Eating out: Rs 2,000 (with family)
Mobile bills: Rs 2,000

Ashish Ranjan (29) Engineer, New Delhi
Work expenditure (per month approximations)u00a0
Petrol: Rs 3,000
Food: Rs 1,000
Phone: Rs 1,000
Play expenditure (per month approximations)
Movies: Rs 1,000
Alcohol: Rs 1,500
Electronic gadgets: Rs 5,000 pa
Holiday: Rs 10,000 pa
Travel: Rs 30,000 (three trips pa)