Tips on how to be thrifty during the crisis
Tips on how to be thrifty during the crisis
JAKARTA (JP): Those among us who used to live by the words I
am therefore I shop may now have to think twice before splashing
out on new purchases. With no sign of an end to the monetary
crisis in sight and prices climbing ever higher, the time for
thriftiness is nigh.
To gauge how well they had come to terms with changes wrought
by the krismon (monetary crisis), The Jakarta Post asked a number
of people how their personal and household budgets had changed in
recent months.
Legendary jazz musician Bill Saragih said he has been largely
unaffected by the crisis, which has turned many people's lives
upside down. This, he said, was because he always knows how to
manage his spending.
"I'm a simple man and I live in a simple way," Saragih said in
his famous heavy voice.
TV host Shanaz Haque said the same thing.
"Crisis or not, it's been the same for me. I only spend my
money on things that I really need. I don't buy brand-name goods.
I often borrow expensive clothes for a performance. People may
call me as mean as Scrooge, but that's me. I don't work hard just
to throw away my money."
It seems that those who are used to living a "thrifty" way of
life have not had much trouble adjusting to the crisis. They know
all about how best to economize. However, those who became used
to extravagance and luxury during the last years of the New Order
might find the following tips on how to scrimp and save very
useful indeed.
* Show high appreciation for any invitation to dine,
* Tell your children what has happening to your earnings so
they too can join in your cost-cutting campaign,
* Ask your maid to join in by telling her to wash clothes only
on alternate days and to turn off all unnecessary lamps,
* Use the phone only for "urgent" calls,
* Use the car only for necessary trips,
* Only subscribe to newspapers and magazines that are of use
to your family/business interests,
* Beware of eye-catching banners advertising discounts. Prices
are often marked-up in advance,
* Invite family members to indulge in do-it-yourself
activities such as cooking. Remember, home-made cuisine is
delicious at best and amusing at worst,
* Renting a laser-disc is much cheaper than going to the
movies,
* Some cinemas offer big discounts on Mondays. Arrive early to
avoid long queues,
* Skim through newspaper ads for second-hand sales, which have
grown in number in Jakarta over the past few weeks,
* Discuss the best locations to scout around for second-hand
goods with your friends,
* Use local toiletries instead of imported brands,
* Instead of spending huge sums of money during the upcoming
holidays, stay at home and read do-it-yourself books with all the
family. Remember, the Fiscal tax is still Rp 1 million per
person,
* Instead of spending time and money at nightspots then taking
a risky trip home, stay put and discuss business opportunities
with your spouse and chat with your children,
* Never believe that you know how the rupiah will fare against
the U.S. dollar, so keep on saving for the next stormy day, and
* Last but not least, don't forget to exercise and play
sports. This helps to avoid stress and maintain health -- medical
costs are quite expensive these days. (ylt/bsr)