Maria: 'My Cup of Tea Has Lost Its Flavor'

In Ville-Noire, Mahébourg, Maria Bauluck's life has tightened around a survival economy. At 67 years old, this retiree now finds every meal to be a calculation. "With all the expenses to manage, I can only focus on the essentials," she says, noting that the list of products becoming unaffordable for her keeps growing.

What was once ordinary has turned into an unattainable exception for Maria. Today, her strategy is to cut back on purchases in the face of rising prices. The checkout line at the supermarket has become a moment of tension. With prices fluctuating on the shelves, it is not uncommon for her to have to put an item back when faced with the total cost. Reevaluating her choices has become her new shopping ritual.

Although Maria has no children to care for anymore, her generosity extends to her granddaughter. When her granddaughter visits, Maria’s priorities shift. "I’d rather she eat well even if I have to deprive myself. The most important thing is that she enjoys what she loves."

In her own survival, Maria manages her provisions with military precision, calculating each portion to ensure her supplies last until the end of the month. She doesn’t eat to her fill; she eats to endure.

Among the sacrifices, one symbolizes the harshness of these times: her usual brand of milk. It was her little luxury, the one that added richness to her daily tea. Now, she can no longer afford it. What she misses most on her table are not feasts, but simply that cup of tea enjoyed alone, without the bitter taste of renunciation.

Weekends no longer offer respite. It's the same struggle as Monday, with anxiety rising as the end of the month approaches. Her trick? She crosses out, eliminates, and removes from her shopping list anything that becomes too burdensome for her wallet.

Fatigue looms, both physical and mental. Managing bills for water, electricity, phone, medication, and food alone is a weight that grows heavier each morning. Maria also worries for her own family as she sees her daughter lacking energy in the face of exhausting work and motherhood responsibilities. In this context, fatigue is no longer just hers; it has become a family burden.