Frugality is the key

On the lips of almost everyone is the "global economic crisis". For instance, the hawkers, vendors and the like claim that the sales they have reaped thus far this year, especially during the Christmas season, are, because of global economic crisis, much lower compared to what they had last year. The same can be heard from most fishermen. Why, even taxi drivers, when we engage them in a lively conversation while on board their cars, will tell us that notwithstanding the surge of passengers these past few weeks and the low prices of oil, the global economic crisis has diminished their daily income.

Because yes, almost everybody I have met lately spoke of "global economic crisis", I thought I have really known this phenomenon or understood what it really meant. Then, one day last week, a farm hand, during a work break, approached me. He cleared his throat and quite uneasily asked me who might this "global economic crisis" be and why could he cause so much hardship on almost all people. "Nganong di man na siya dakpon sa mga Amerikano, torney, ug prisohon aron di na ta maglisod?" was his most difficult question.

Finding that he was still holding a very sharp bolo, I could not crack my mischief. It was time to take him most seriously that I begged leave to gather my thoughts. Taking advantage of my momentary silence, he went on to complain why could Global Economic Crisis, prevent the sale of the four sacks of uling he had produced for already a week for the price he wanted.

My own unfamiliarity with economics hindered me from being of much help. Just the same, I told him that this was a not a natural person we were talking about. It was a situation of dire need but not one without solution. The key would be going back to simple living. Our hero's Decalogo, wrote about it in terms of frugality. Then, I rattled off what frugal ways I planned to do.

1. I was a working student once and I needed to earn a daily keep to support a growing family. Every other morning, weather permitting, I would, under the pretext of being a health buff, jog, over four kilometers, to work where upon reaching, I took my shower. That way, I saved on my fare and maintained a trim figure. If I could do it then, I can do it now. Thus, I have resolved to take easy walk over the same span and save on gas, this time. In the event my aging body indicates that it does not anymore have what it takes to walk that distance, I intend to ride a bike and still project more the appearance of being health conscious rather than just being thrifty.

 2. Without sounding morbid, I asked my farm hand to look around if he noticed that some of his acquaintances might have met untimely deaths attributable to unhealthy eating habits. He nodded in agreement to my statement that High cholesterol diet had unquestionably taken its toll. I suggested to my farm hand that a way to fight global economic crisis would be to minimize buying meat and other costly food preparations. He could start planting his own source of substitute foods tuffs and avail of such healthy and inexpensive diet as the kamunggay, or talong or pechay.

3. We talked about his electric bill. Not much, he said. But, I noticed that, in additional to the karaoke unit almost permanently switched on, he had two incandescent bulbs lighted all night long along his pathway to discourage nocturnal prowlers of the undesirable kind. He could try, I opined, switching his lights only when was about to sleep and in tte process, cut at least four hours of use.

Oh there are a thousand ways to save. Frugality is the key to survive the impending financial hardships. We cannot afford to be extravagant. What is important is for us to spend on what we need and not on what we want. All these, I resolve to start with the coming year.