Sunday, November 16, 2008

A Desperate's Guide to beating the economic downturn

In this economic gloom, the more one go out, the more he has to spend. First on the list, the 'to and fro' transport. Then there will be the usual stuff to buy and not to mention the food and drinks.
If we would want to reduce our expenditure during this economic downturn, we can cut down on going out and instead do more 'free' things in life like going by foot to your shopping mall or shops in your housing estate, cycle to some nearby parks and do some exercises. Certain outings like these can be free-of-charge.
Even when one is to stay at home, he will be still spending... spending his money on water and electricity running the computers, aircon, fans and etc.
I introduce here the desperate's guide to beating the economic downturn:
Wake up, spend minimial water to brush your teeth and face. Walk to your nearby library to read today's news and while away the time amidst the free aircon and when thristy, sip at the water coolers provided.By the time you have read complete the news, its almost noon and you will get ready to lunch.

You head down to the nearby temple or other charitable organizations by foot and partake the free lunch. After lunch, you will go to shop around the neighbouring shopping mall, enjoying the free aircon, or to the nearby park, chatting with your neighbours. You satiate your thrist from water coolers again and when you are hungry once again, you go to the charitable organizations for an early dinner and then you head back home to sleep early after bath and spending electricity on water and then on the fans to sleep.
Can the above so called my desperate's guide to beating the economic downturn take place in Singapore? The answer is Yes, and the desperate in this case will be really the very poor who will be even more affected by the rising inflation, economic crisis and so as to save cost, they may be thinking of what I have described above. The guide is not far-fetched and these real needy might instead of going library, be going around stocking up on discarded cardboxes, cans and other items,trading them for the needed money, and going to the public toilets to bathe, head for the void decks to sleep, and go to the places offering free food. Some even resort to begging etc.
While average Singaporeans especially the young can blink no eyelids to spend $30 on meals, $50 on handbags, the very poor Singaporeans are struggling hard to earn money and support their families. It is good that our government is always ready to offer some sort of financial assistance to these needy though I agree with the government that this assistance shall just be temporary as the most important is these poor should be self-reliant, self-supporting in future, 'teach them how to fish, instead of giving them a fish each day'.
I do think twice about going out now as it will cut deeper into my pockets but I hope all Singaporeans will not stay at home else the economic downturn will become more serious as there is no spending, no liquidity in the market!
Resume life as normal, curtail a bit of your spending but not all, and I believe the economy can still be running well.

3 comments :

oceanskies79 said...

My heart hurts many times when I hear first-hand how some low-income families try so hard to make ends meet. As I think of them, I shall learn to spend prudently.

Ah...Tan Kah Kee and Lee Kong Chian also led relatively humble lives despite their wealth. I don't have their kind of wealth as yet. Meantime, I suppose every cent saved is a cent earned.

Singapore Short Stories said...

Yes, these are exemplars of selfless charitable millionaires!

Singapore Short Stories said...

Yes, these are exemplars of selfless charitable millionaires!

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