JEDDAH: The hike in prices has made it hard for men with large families to survive on a single salary.

Some of them invest in shares in the hope of making ends meet, learning the hard way that entering the stock market requires more than money. It demands in-depth knowledge about the great risks.

As a result, many of these men are forced to turn their cars into taxis at night and work two jobs.

Adil is a Saudi who recently fell prey to the volatility of the stock market, losing a lot of money he had borrowed as well as from his own pocket. “Now me and my family are going through very tough times. It will take me years before I can pay off my debts and on top of that everything has become so expensive. What is a man with a large family to do,” he told Arab News.

“My life will never be the same again, I will never be able to financially get back to the position I was at before.”

Um Wael sold her gold jewelry, borrowed money and used her savings to buy shares that she was sure would be worth the trouble. When she lost the money the burden fell on herself as well as her son, who now has to drive a taxi to support the family. “My son, instead of saving money for his marriage is paying our debt. No one has any idea how much I blame myself for this mistake. In times of trouble nobody stands by you,” she said.

Shada’s husband also turned their car into a taxi after he lost a lot of money in the stock market. She said with their savings now gone and prices being at a high level the family has no option.

“It’s very exhausting for him. I’m always afraid he’ll get into an accident. That’s why I told him to keep his driving hours short even though it will cost us.”