Thursday, June 26, 2008

Change lifestyle, but how?

On June 4, 2008, Malaysian government raised the petrol price by more than 40% and diesel price by more than 60%. The government urged the people to “change their lifestyles” as a mean to cope with the inflation that ensued.

I wish I could, but how? As a working people who studies MBA on part-time basis, I have near zero entertainment. I don’t go to disco and the last time I went into a karaoke lounge was in the year 2006.

Some commuters switch to using public transport, but I can’t. I drive about 35 minutes to get to my office. If I take public transport, the traveling time will surely more than double. Now, for two days a week, I attend my MBA class right after work. If I take public transport, I won’t make it.

Even on the days when I have no class, I would like to rush home to do my homework, or jog in the park. Malaysian blogger who lives in Singapore, Noel, routinely jogs in the HDB flat area until very late. But this is Malaysia. The park is not safe after dark.

Some naïve government officers tell us to plant vegetables at our backyards. C’mon, I live in city, not kampong. How much land do I have? Furthermore, chemical fertilizer has become more expensive, while organic fertilizer a.k.a. chicken’s dropping is not available.

I think there is very little I can do to change my lifestyle. It would be better if the government changes its spending patterns and does not waste taxpayers’ money.

12 comments:

  1. Frankly, I haven't changed my lifestyle one bit though I'm more wary of not wasting food now.

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  2. i fully agree with u...
    expect me to plant veggie at home ? fine... later i will need to rare chicken and fish at home too....XD
    are they going to give me a piece of land with subsidy or wat ?

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  3. happysurfer
    It looks like we have die-hard habits that can't change, LOL...

    迷迭香
    If you were a bumi they may give you a piece of land. But it would be in some ulu area...

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  4. i dont think changing lifestyle can be done overnite. and i agree some cant change if they like you, already spend very lil on shopping, entertainment.

    i guess we as the general public if possible, try not to focus so much on the problems, but find our own solutions in our own way. i know this sound ideal (dont scream at me on this haha), but it does work. keeping an open mind if we can and just embrace as much as possible. & the best to learn ways to be financially independent (not super rich, but a healthy finances so that the problems get out of the way).

    im still in my process for that. but this is what i learnt in my short after studies life. i used (and sometimes still do) think of the not enough monies situation, but now, i try to avoid that and find ways to solve problems.

    i realise this is faced to most young entrepreneurs (and of course the working adults), which can bug them down from their company's vision :)

    btw, only my 2 sen worth :)

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  5. Change in lifestyle is possible. You could change you class schedules, etc. Carpool with friends.

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  6. No worry, 马照跑,舞照跳!

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  7. quachee
    In long run we can change - hopefully with the right support from the government. But the transition period will be painful.

    宝茹
    The class schedule is set by the university, not me. Neither can I car pool as nobody go in the same direction.

    anderson
    马照跑,舞照跳 is right. No worry is not...

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  8. Plant banana at my back ... yard la.

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  9. I wouldn't go to the extent of saying 'die hard habits' but rather it would not be practical or convenient to adopt alternative habits or way of life. However, I would be more watchful about not generating wastes or taking other steps to incur less costs. Does that make sense?

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  10. neo
    I thought you wanted to plant banana at the MPs' backyard...

    happysurfer
    Understood.

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  11. Totally agree with you! If the government doesn't send another companion into the space, then the money saved can be used to subsidize fuel.

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  12. jam
    I guess the government would have shelved the plan by now. But pity the angkasawan in waiting...

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