Survival tips for the hard times

So, how are you coping with the hard times (that we can only hope will not get harder)?

As America’s patriarch Joseph Kennedy once stoutheartedly declared, "When the going gets tough, the tough get going."

Truly, there are those who see the best of opportunities in the direst of times. Take, for instance, those selling bottled mineral water, fish balls, candies, and many other assorted stuff at political rallies that are a regular happening these days. Other enterprising souls sell political T-shirts carrying all colors of the political spectrum. Now, that’s shirting the issue.

And of course, the magbobote can make a killing cleaning up after a rally – think of all the trash (and we don’t mean the politicians) they can convert to cash.

In a lot of offices these days, there are the supot-supot food vendors, says colleague Kathy M. – and, yes, they supply even the Makati offices. The pembrera (stainless steel lunchbox) has made way for the supot-supot (plastic bag).

And what’s this – street vendors selling fishing rods on Roxas Boulevard? Didn’t one sage once say, "Give a man a fish and you feed him for a day; teach a man to fish and you feed him for life"?

We’ve seen other street vendors plying motorists with helmets. Well, they’re just using their heads and telling motorbike riders not to lose their heads, literally, by putting on their helmets.

Consumerist Pat Veretto notes, "When you don’t have enough to feed yourself or your family, when the electricity is turned off, and the car is being repossessed despite all your best efforts, you don’t need anyone to tell you that you’re living in hard times."

Pat shares a wealth of "frugal" tips that may just see us through the lean months ahead:

• Learn to be independent and do anything and everything to help yourself. Don’t pass up any opportunity that comes your way. Work at recycling anything that brings in a cash return. Aluminum cans, newspaper, glass, copper wiring – there are many things you can come across that will bring you a little money.

Offer to run errands, babysit, etc. If you’re handy at sewing or crafting, make up something inexpensive to sell.

Sell stuff. Look again after you’ve sold everything you can do without. Sell your furniture if you have any. Sell the mats in your car. Sell all but the dishes you need to eat from and the chair you need to sit in. If you lose your home, you won’t need them anyway.

• Don’t spend anything you don’t absolutely have to. Stash away some money in a jar or a box somewhere out of sight and hoard it until there’s enough to pay a bill or buy a tank of gasoline.

• Don’t use any utilities you don’t really have to. Wash dishes once a day, and don’t use more water than you have to.

• Don’t buy food when it isn’t necessary. If you walk past the fresh vegetable section and someone is sorting out the vegetables, ask if you can have what they’re throwing out "for your chickens."

For entrepreneurs wishing to get the most out of their peso, here’s precious news: The innovative retail chain 99 Peso Store recently unveiled its unique rolling store franchise capable of reaching retail markets in the farthest corners of the country.

The 99 Peso Rolling Store, featured in the Philippine Franchise Association exhibit at the World Trade Center, is a custom-built L300 van retrofitted with retail operations implements such as display shelves and swing-out full side openings. It enables store operators to bring the 99 Peso Store merchandise directly to the market, to serve customers who live far from traditional malls and town centers.

Says Eric Teng, 99 Peso Store marketing head, "99 Peso Store has always been about high value for money, giving customers quality products they want and need at the single, affordable price of P99 whether they be backpacks, apparel, desk clocks or the like. With the 99 Peso Rolling Store being franchised, entrepreneurs have an even better chance to reach out to their clients with no store renovation costs, low overhead, and more efficient use of their manpower and other resources."

The 99 Peso Rolling Store’s design is in itself a cost-efficient marketing tool since it serves as a full-sized rolling billboard when it travels to locations or even when it is parked.

For more info on the 99 Peso Rolling Store franchise, call Clang Chua or Malot Te at 732-9291, 732-0833 or 0917-8390100.

Indeed, necessity is the father of invention. Expect a 79 Peso Store in the not-too-distant future. Or street vendors selling stuff that defies the imagination.

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We’d love to hear from you. E-mail us at ching_alano@yahoo.com.