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)