What financial woes mean to the people
What financial woes mean to the people
JAKARTA (JP): Just when many have begun to grow accustomed to
the good life, tougher times call for trimming expenses. Some
continue to be upbeat, but others have begun to feel the pinch:
Rebecca Tumewu, radio and television presenter, MC: I don't
have that much money so I can't say I have felt the effect of the
coming recession yet. Regardless of recession, I usually keep
expenses under control.
I have my own costume designer. With only about Rp 300,000
(US$91) to Rp 400,000, I can order a beautiful dress.
However, some banks have canceled their contracts with me for
functions where I was supposed to be the master of ceremony.
I think the ups and downs of my earnings and my expenses
depend on me...I have neither a regular income nor an obligation
like housewives to manage household funds.
Evie Tamala, singer of popular dangdut tunes: I enjoy living
life like running water.
I can adjust to any situation, and for me life is a matter of
compromise. Being economical is part of it.
Difficult times come sooner or later, regardless of recession.
However, I really felt the situation when I was in Turkey a
couple of weeks ago. I was on my way home from a pilgrimage
(umrah) to Mecca.
Last month, one Turkish lira was worth Rp 600, but two weeks
ago I found a lira was Rp 1,000, so I had to think twice about
shopping there.
I have no particular preparations for difficult times as I'm
not the type to spend money on luxurious things.
I don't go out much for fun and my stage costumes are not from
expensive collections...I thank God for anything He sends me and
will accept the things He takes from me, even material
possessions.
Komarudin, an airline company employee: I don't feel any
significant impact of the current monetary crisis on my daily
life. I still eat at least three times a day. But, yes, I now
rarely dine out at my favorite restaurants like Mbok Berek or
Ayam Soeharti. I don't have much secondary income now (from
office projects). But that's all right.
What really angered me was the fact that interest rates
skyrocketed. Imagine, suddenly I had to pay my housing loan
installment at about 10 percent higher. The bank charged me just
like that.
When I asked them, they explained it was because of the tight
liquidity and high interest rates. That's one thing.
Another thing which saddened me was that I had to postpone my
plan to buy a new car, again due to the high interest rates.
In July, I went to my bank and an officer told me that I could
get my car loan in early August.
But in August, they informed that the loan could not be
disbursed, pending the rate adjustment. It turned out in late
August that the loan carried an interest rate of 30 percent per
annum. Of course, I canceled my application...Anyway, that's all
right. I can get along with my old car.
There are rumors about retrenchment in my company. Well, the
rumors have been going around for a few years. In the beginning,
I, like everybody else, was quite worried. But then, my superior
assured us the company would only reduce contract workers. I was
content.
But now, with the economy in a downturn, the rumors are there
again, and this time, of course, it disturbs me even more.
Budi W.S., an executive at Diwangkara production house: This
situation, especially the tight liquidity, affects my company,
especially my unit which produces TV serials. But I have managed
to survive...As you can see, I am still producing more TV
serials. Now I am working on one on the life of a journalist. The
work is 30 percent done.
Well, at least my company is still running, and I can still
cover all production costs. Thank God, maybe it is because I did
not put my money in one of the liquidated banks.
So (the company survived because of) its finance
management...and manpower management...We have our own people to
do everything, from writing to directing.
Arie Sabaria, a housewife and graduate of advanced studies at
the University of Indonesia, who was not as well-to-do in her
younger days: I'm very, very sad about the current situation. I'm
mentally burdened...It does not affect my daily life, including
my family. I can still shop anywhere. Although prices of most
products have increased, I can still afford them.
But what really disturbs me is that it affects people around
me, like security guards, vegetable hawkers, construction workers
and so on.
Once when I bought fruit at a sidewalk stall, the owner
complained to me about decreasing turnover. When I went to
photocopy shop, the attendant, who usually gave me a discount for
every 100 copies, told me he could no longer give the discount.
"It's about the rupiah turmoil," he said.
You see, even a photocopy attendant is well aware of the
crisis.
When I was at a meeting of housewives in my neighborhood,
everyone talked about price increases, layoffs, about the crisis.
I realized everybody is now well aware about the situation.
I often think of the condition and say to myself: "Will all
this end soon or be continued?"
Rio, a pseudonym, drug firm employee: I'm going to an
interview tomorrow for this vacancy at a publisher. I'll take the
job even if the pay is not too high as long as we can cover the
house mortgage...the job is more interesting than what I'm doing.
But the publisher already said they were a small company and
may also be hit by the economic situation.
I know fewer people will be buying books. But did you read the
survey that inexpensive (Moslem) religious books with titles like
Tuntunan sholat (Guidance for Prayers) or Wanita Harapan Islam
(The Ideal Moslem Woman), priced at around Rp 2,500, are the
types of books that always sell well. (team)