Fuel price woes.

Citizens who have visited the fuel pump after the government's third late-night surprise must have left with a deep sense of unease thinking about what the days ahead will bring. The large hole just fuel itself is burning in our household budgets is expected to grow as the next fiscal year starts on July 1, when the government's budgetary proposal to stack the petroleum levy and sales tax on top of the per-litre cost of petrol and diesel takes effect. It will be followed by a likely increase in the costs of nearly all other expenses due to higher production and transportation costs.

It is, unfortunately, quite a glum scenario, and one that seems quite unavoidable given global market conditions and the state of our country's finances.

Unless the government can find new streams of revenue to create fiscal space for subsidies, the public will bear the brunt of the inflation.

Citizens can cut some costs immediately on their end by curtailing travel for necessary tasks only, carpooling where possible and using smaller, more fuel-efficient vehicles instead of 'gas guzzlers' if the choice is available. At home, lifestyle changes like the conservation of electricity and cutting back on consumption of non-essential, imported goods can help reduce monthly expenses.

Read: Consumers to get short end of fuel price stick

Employers must consider work-from-home arrangements where possible to help employees save on commuting costs.

This should also be a strong wake-up call for policymakers, who need to devise more well-thought-out strategies to enable the citizenry to switch to cheaper sources of fuel and...