Inflation

It's already 12PM as of typing this and I still do not have anything to write about. I do have some topics listed but I feel like I cannot squeeze something from my chubby brains. LOL.

Let me just talk about my noisy post last night. Maybe some of you have already seen it but in case you have not, here is a screenshot of it.

I learned how to handle or manage our expenses when my dad had assigned me to do our groceries years ago. He would give me money and I would be the one to buy it. It was because of him that I have learned to make a market list before going to the supermarket. It has became a habit to me now but before I do have a marker list however, I would still get some other things that are not listed. Then if the money that he gave me was not enough, I would pay for the excess and would ask for a reimbursement. He would ask why I had an overage but I will just say that the price of the commodities were too high but he knew that I got some items that are not necessary. LOL.

It was after when my mom was hospitalized that I would only get what was written on the list. No more unnecessary items, no more junk foods and no more overage. It was during those times that I felt how difficult life was. Also it was during those times that I would pity myself even up to early this year. I would be depressed before and/or after errands day because I know how much my dad was trying to fit his pension money for our monthly expenses.

A month ago, I have shared an article on how we save money during the pandemic. I mentioned that we did grow some fruit bearing plants but is only limited to those plants that we lease use except for the chili peppers. We are already planning to buy some pots and we would want to try planting some vegetables. Though we do not know if we will be able to grow some of them because when we tried to plant a tomato, the birds pecked on it even if it was not yet ripe.

We also conserved water by limiting our baths. LOL. And we also did lessen our electricity cost by unplugging some appliances when not in use and not turning on even a single light at night in our garage. Then there's also the issue with my dad's maintenance medicines. He would cut some of it into half that he would sometimes drink every other day when he should be drinking the full dosage everyday.

During this pandemic, I have realized that it was really difficult if only 1 member of the family is the one who provides for the needs of everyone. Unlike before when my dad was still able to send me and my brother to school and he also gives us what we want. His pension is the same as his monthly salary when he was still working so what brought about that change? The obvious reason is the increase of almost all of the basic commodities.

It has been months that I kept on complaining to bbghitte and Firenze about our gas for cooking. It was around Php700 (around $14) when I started complaining to them and I would update them whenever their is an increase. Just recently we found out that our gas is now priced at Php1,100 (around $22). Hearing about it made me buy a cement stove wherein we can use charcoal instead of gas. It is perfect for grilling foods. My dad always wants us to have grilled eggplants so using a cement stove can really help lessen our gas consumption.

Not only that, I also bought an electric kettle. We do boil our water for coffee and oatmeal 3 times using a kettle and gas stove. I do not know if using an electric kettle is a good choice because I do not know if it will cost us a lot more in electricity. But I believe that it is much more effecient don't you think?

Some of us have already felt that everything is very expensive nowadays. I think even if both husband and wife are working but if their salary is only minimum, then it would be a little challenging for them to make ends meet. It is just my observation. It would be better if both of them would have a second and even a third source of income. It is not only the Philippines who experience inflation but also the whole world. But why is it that some people who work in other countries whose salary is just equivalent to what they get here was able to save some money? It is something that our helper and I were talking about. I know for some people that lodging and transportation are free that they onky need to provide food for themselves. Then there are also those that even if they receive a minimum salary in other countries, when you convert it into your own currency will be 2-3 times bigger. I cannot blame them because who would not want a higher salary right? Whether it means that they woukd be away to their families but the fact that they would be abke to provide for all their needs, their homsickness will just be minimal.

Other than the things that I have mentioned before and now, I do not know how I am going to help with the expenses here at our house. But I would really want to try to look for other online earning platforms. I think if I do have a monthly salary, my dad would oblige me to pay any  utility bill and I would not mind sharing them some of my hard earned money and even my BCH.

To be honest, I am really getting a little sad with the increase of a lot of things each passing year. I remember before that I told  my mom that I wanted to buy some sando or innerwear for school for my future little one even when I was still in high school. Why? Because the prices before was in the middle, not too huligh and most especially not that low. How do you plan to survive during a pandemic and economic crisis? Are you ready for more inflation in the coming days, weeks or months? I think it is only the Youtube influencers who were ok with spending their money even for simple and small items.

I am not sure if I said all the good points as I have already fallen asleep typing all of this. LOL.

P.S. lead image is a photo of the Korean grocery.