Oct 12, 2008
YOUR LETTERS
Be content, live within your means
I read with interest your articles on economic belt-tightening, along with the reactions of those interviewed.
I share their sentiments as I am part of the middle class and feel squeezed most times. I am working as a part-time teacher paid on an hourly basis and I have no income when the school holidays are on. It is tough for me and I feel the pinch.
However, I have a slight advantage as I am living with my parents so I need not worry about any housing loan. I don't own a car so there is no car loan to worry about either.
I go green by taking public transport such as buses and trains. I walk to the MRT station, which is not too far from where I live, so I save on bus transport there and pay only for the train ride to my destination.
Also, I try to return home for lunch instead of eating out. If I don't have the time to go home, I prepare my own sandwiches and have those for lunch.
As for dinner, my entire family tucks into a home-cooked meal instead of dining out. We do not cook in excess so there is no wastage. Whatever we cook for lunch will include our dinner portion as well. We don't use air-conditioning and turn on the fans only when the weather is really warm.
To conserve electricity, we have changed all our bulbs to energy-saving fluorescent tubes. We have long since switched to a gas stove instead of an electric oven as that would add to our energy consumption.
I don't really shop for clothes as I buy what I need during the Great Singapore Sale
I believe that living simply and with contentment is the best policy during this time of economic crisis.
Rupavathi Radhakrishnan (Ms)
YOUR LETTERS
Be content, live within your means
I read with interest your articles on economic belt-tightening, along with the reactions of those interviewed.
I share their sentiments as I am part of the middle class and feel squeezed most times. I am working as a part-time teacher paid on an hourly basis and I have no income when the school holidays are on. It is tough for me and I feel the pinch.
However, I have a slight advantage as I am living with my parents so I need not worry about any housing loan. I don't own a car so there is no car loan to worry about either.
I go green by taking public transport such as buses and trains. I walk to the MRT station, which is not too far from where I live, so I save on bus transport there and pay only for the train ride to my destination.
Also, I try to return home for lunch instead of eating out. If I don't have the time to go home, I prepare my own sandwiches and have those for lunch.
As for dinner, my entire family tucks into a home-cooked meal instead of dining out. We do not cook in excess so there is no wastage. Whatever we cook for lunch will include our dinner portion as well. We don't use air-conditioning and turn on the fans only when the weather is really warm.
To conserve electricity, we have changed all our bulbs to energy-saving fluorescent tubes. We have long since switched to a gas stove instead of an electric oven as that would add to our energy consumption.
I don't really shop for clothes as I buy what I need during the Great Singapore Sale
I believe that living simply and with contentment is the best policy during this time of economic crisis.
Rupavathi Radhakrishnan (Ms)
