THE DAILY ECONOMIC CHALLENGES OF COBBLER FAMILIES IN RANGPUR CITY, BANGLADESH

This study investigates the daily economic challenges faced by cobbler families in Rangpur City. The study employed a qualitative approach, utilizing purposive sampling, to conduct in-depth interviews with 20 participants. The data were analyzed using a thematic framework. The findings indicate that cobblers’ daily income ranged from Tk 300 to Tk 400. Education, transportation, elderly care, childcare, and daily necessities are the primary expenditures of cobblers, which place a substantial burden on their limited income. The seasonality of income results in considerable variation, as it is higher during festivals and winters, and lower during monsoons and summers. Furthermore, cobblers depend on loans from banks and non-government organizations (NGOs)to finance wedding expenses, business investments, housing, livestock, social assistance, education, home renovations, and medical expenses.