THINGS I AGREE
IMAGE: thestar online
Reference from thestar.com.my
"Stretching the ringgit without scrimping"
IT HAS been more than two months since the fuel price increase and some are still struggling to make ends meet.
But, instead of whining about the rising cost of living, some people have taken up the challenge to make some minor changes to their lifestyles.
Helping out: To save electricity, Jia Vie (left) uses the fan when studying.
Without resorting to drastic measures like skipping meals or moonlighting, they prove that the small things in life matter when it comes to saving.
The student
Kevin Foo, a Mass Communication student from Universiti Tunku Abdul Rahman (Utar), used to spend RM15-20 a day on food before the price increase, now he sets his budget to only RM10 a day and has breakfast at home before leaving for school.
For instance, he will have a plate of mee goreng for RM3 during lunch.
Cheaper option: Instead of fine dining, Tan enjoys fast food with her fiance Goh.
“I do not order drinks as I bring my own bottle of water,” he added.
Although he owns a car, he now opts to take public transport when the situation allows.
“Before the price hike, I only needed RM40 per week for petrol but now I need RM60 per week.
“Nowadays, I take the bus to classes and carpool with friends,” the 21-year-old said.
These simple steps help him save around RM70 on food and RM20 on petrol per week.
The working adult
Cheap food: Foo (left) finds eating at food stalls an option to cut back on expenses.
Sales administration executive Joyce Tan Mei Ling proved that spending prudently does not have to dampen romance.
While she used to go to fine-dining restaurants with her fiance Alex Goh twice a week, now it’s only twice a month.
“We used to dine at hotels, Italian restaurants and other expensive restaurants and it would set us back at RM80-RM100.
“Nowadays, I cook or take away from hawker centres and we enjoy a romantic meal together at home because I do not like to eat at the stuffy hawker stalls,” the 34-year-old said.
“I used to go home after work to shower and change before meeting up with my fiancé for dinner but now we meet after work to save time and petrol,” she added.
There will also be less ‘yum cha’ (tea-drinking) sessions with friends in order to save money.
Tan finds staying at home and carrying out indoor activities like watching TV cheaper than going out.
“We try not to go shopping too often as we always spend on unnecessary things like snacks that we munch on while shopping.
“I used to drive to the convenience store to buy one or two items whenever I run out of household products like shampoo or soap. By preparing a shopping list and buying in bulk, I can avoid this,” she said.
However, saving money does not mean sacrificing her movie outings. She chooses to go to cinemas that offer cheaper rates on certain days such as the GSC cinema at the Summit USJ, especially on Wednesdays.
“I also like to shop at Summit USJ as the food there is cheaper,” she said.
Her silky terrier Tiny is not spared from the plan to cut back expenses.
“Tiny is very choosy and he always doesn’t finish his food. Now, I give him smaller portions of wet food and more dry food, as it is cheaper and better for Tiny’s health.
“I also buy cheaper types of treats for him nowadays,” she said.
The family
It is hard to cut back on certain expenses like the children’s tuition fees, bus fares, and groceries when you have a family.
However, Ko Hui Keng, an accounts executive, tries to save whenever she can when shopping for her family of five.
She buys groceries in bulk at hypermarkets once a week and prepares a shopping list. It helps to prevent impulsive buying and wasting petrol for a second trip if she forgets to buy something.
Her daughter Jia Vie does her part for the family by using the fan instead of the air-conditioner when studying to help save on electricity.
“When I go out with friends, we will take the bus instead of taking the taxi, which is costly,” she said.
She uses her monthly allowance of RM50 prudently.
“Some of my peers get RM70 per month. Although I hoped that I would get more, I do not want to waste my parents’ hard-earned money,” the sensible 16-year-old said.
Ko’s advice is to spend in accordance to how much we earn.
“Some of my acquaintances spend more than they earn as they do not want to forsake their lifestyles and end up in debt,” she said.
However, not all are able to make changes to their daily lives.
Retiree Lim Ka Seng, from Puchong, finds that there is nothing much he can change about his lifestyle.
“The older we get, the more expenses we incur such as health and medical expenses.
“The three basic meals can’t be cut down but we need not go for expensive food.
“My life is simple, I can still cope,” the retiree, who is living off his savings, said.
Tips on saving
Shopping
— Prepare a shopping list
— Buy in bulk, but be sure to check if it is really cheaper than buying individual items
— Avoid snacking during shopping trips
— Bring your own water when shopping to avoid buying drinks when you shop
Food
— It’s time to put your cooking skills to the test. A home-cooked meal prepared with love sure beats gourmet dining at five-star restaurants
— Economy rice is called “economy” for a reason. Plus, there’s no service or government tax imposed
— Bring your own water when eating out if it is possible
— Cut down on snacks, it’s good for your wallet and your health.
Transport
— Opt for the public transport such as buses, Monorail, LRT, or KTM when the situation allows
— Plan your journey and time to avoid getting stuck in traffic jams
— Cycle or walk to nearby destinations, it’s good for your health, too.
— Carpool with friends and colleagues
Entertainment
— Movies: find out which cinemas offer cheaper rates and take advantage of special offers (such as cheaper tickets for women on Wednesday at some cinemas), student and senior citizen discounts.
— Swap DVDs or CDs with friends, so you can enjoy your favourite movies without burning a hole in your pocket.
— Instead of buying DVDs, check out free-to-air TV, which gives pay TV a run for its money with their interesting programmes.
Others
— Keep track of your spending. Set a budget and stick to it.
— Do not overfeed your pet. Too many treats can cause obesity.
