Ubah Cara Hidup
Posted on 2008-Jun-19 at 11:53
Seems to be the mantra prescribed to us all in the face of inflation. Foodstuff has become items of luxuries these days. People are car-pooling and less cars are on the roads. The roads are friendlier these days as people drive in a manner that conserves every last drop of the expensive fuel.
When I do drive, which is rare after the June 8th petrol price hike, I am mindful that aggressive driving gets me 4% faster and burns 30% more of my precious fuel. Like I do aggressive driving ever la kan? But somehow with less people on the road, the keep-at-90kmh does get me to the office on time.
We no longer turn the air-con on in the living room whilst we relax and spend quality time with each other, asking every now and then, "did you switch the water heater off?", "Did you close the fridge properly"". We set the timers on the bedrooms' air cons to just 3 hours per night, waking up in sweats in our hot, humid tropical weather. MrGart has found himself unconciously shedding his shirt (just!) in the morning. Hmm. Screw, keep up with the somber mood here!
I've started to cook more meals for the family than lounging at the neighbourhood Tanjung or the new mamak place. We no longer can afford to go makan at the RahsiaRecipe or the MakJah or the poshy place at D'Pangkin too often. Maybe once a month, okayla.
At the Sunday Pasar Tani, I bought a betik at RM2.50/kg instead of my usual jambu merah which now costs RM7.00/kg. I bought a whole chicken at RM14.10 instead of 1 and a half chicken. I didn't get any meat cos I figured we just ration meat to just once every 2 weeks or 3 weeks. Good on the wallet, better on the cholesterol.
I'm now thinking to stop the girls' kumon classes and probably to either get Aliya & Asha for a private tuition, at-school tuition, tuition them myself or a hybrid solution. Adani can do without her Kumon, though she loves it. Maybe I'll start her at some reader class which will cost me less. This is still in the thinking stage.
But the point is, I'm thankful that in the face of hardship, we are still able to change our lifestyles. We can still find ways to cut costs without too much interruptions in our lifestyles. Sweaty or not, we can still live comfortably. I shudder when I think of other people who are already cash-strapped and have been berjimat-cermat all along. Where else can they cut corners?
Times have changed. Lifes getting harder and more challenging. I worry for the impending increase in crime rates as people get desperate. I hope it won't happen, but I shudder nevertheless.
p/s You see, I've gotten over the fact that our CEO/CFO gets 100% and we get a HEFTY 3% salary adjustment.
When I do drive, which is rare after the June 8th petrol price hike, I am mindful that aggressive driving gets me 4% faster and burns 30% more of my precious fuel. Like I do aggressive driving ever la kan? But somehow with less people on the road, the keep-at-90kmh does get me to the office on time.
We no longer turn the air-con on in the living room whilst we relax and spend quality time with each other, asking every now and then, "did you switch the water heater off?", "Did you close the fridge properly"". We set the timers on the bedrooms' air cons to just 3 hours per night, waking up in sweats in our hot, humid tropical weather. MrGart has found himself unconciously shedding his shirt (just!) in the morning. Hmm. Screw, keep up with the somber mood here!
I've started to cook more meals for the family than lounging at the neighbourhood Tanjung or the new mamak place. We no longer can afford to go makan at the RahsiaRecipe or the MakJah or the poshy place at D'Pangkin too often. Maybe once a month, okayla.
At the Sunday Pasar Tani, I bought a betik at RM2.50/kg instead of my usual jambu merah which now costs RM7.00/kg. I bought a whole chicken at RM14.10 instead of 1 and a half chicken. I didn't get any meat cos I figured we just ration meat to just once every 2 weeks or 3 weeks. Good on the wallet, better on the cholesterol.
I'm now thinking to stop the girls' kumon classes and probably to either get Aliya & Asha for a private tuition, at-school tuition, tuition them myself or a hybrid solution. Adani can do without her Kumon, though she loves it. Maybe I'll start her at some reader class which will cost me less. This is still in the thinking stage.
But the point is, I'm thankful that in the face of hardship, we are still able to change our lifestyles. We can still find ways to cut costs without too much interruptions in our lifestyles. Sweaty or not, we can still live comfortably. I shudder when I think of other people who are already cash-strapped and have been berjimat-cermat all along. Where else can they cut corners?
Times have changed. Lifes getting harder and more challenging. I worry for the impending increase in crime rates as people get desperate. I hope it won't happen, but I shudder nevertheless.
p/s You see, I've gotten over the fact that our CEO/CFO gets 100% and we get a HEFTY 3% salary adjustment.
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