Understanding Expenditure Behavior of Farm Families of Punjab, India

The present study was planned to understand the expenditure behavior of farm families of Punjab. Data was collected from 500 farm women selected by using simple random sampling technique. Data was analyzed by using frequency, percentage, mean score and one way ANOVA. Expenditure behavior of farm families was measured in terms of expenditure on different household components such as personal, health, clothing, children’s education, food, relative’s functions, transport, entertainment and household utility bills. It was found that farm families spent comparatively more on food, household utility bills, children’s education and transport while expenditure on clothing, on relatives’ function and personal expenses of farm women were found to be least. Overall average annual expenditure on different household component was Rs. 275,668 of an average farm family. It means farm families spent Rs. 22,972 monthly on different household components. Comparison of average annual expenditure of different income groups on different household components showed that high income group had high expenditure on various household components. Expenditure on relative’s functions, household utility bills and overall expenditure was significantly high for high income groups.