Try to keep up pls?

Just something I’ve been adding day after day. Sorry, my focus abit koyak!

i can vaguely remember one of our politicians (quite a prominent one i think) telling us a while back that in the wake of the asian economy crisis, we should not be fussy when looking for jobs. he had raised many issues, we, as citizens can do to counter the effects of the then numerous lay-offs and pay-cuts that alot of us were going thru.

some of what he said was really useful; informing the numerous welfare organisations if there is a need for financial assistance for school-going children, or the setting-up of organisations to upgrade mature workers.

but there's a particular matter which im not so hot about. he said we should not be choosy when looking for a job, and try not to put distance to the workplace as a factor. particularly those with lower qualifications.

of course not. especially with the raising public transport costs, why would i even put that into consideration?

i do not drive. and getting to and fro from one place to another via the buses, trains and the occasional taxis are the norm for me. and i tell you, how i wish i need not budget or cringe everytime i hear my ez-link card beep.

its getting mighty expensive to move around. and people on top don't know/might never know/would do anything about it.

i wanted to put a link to one of our newspapers about an interview that was made among their journalists and i think, 3, of our potential MPs but as usual, i couldnt (fine, i dont know how to). not sure if u guys can recall, but it made quite a huge spread that interview. 2-3 pages if im not wrong.

among the questions that were thrown equally to each interviewee was, " how much does it cost to take a public transport to town? "(do not quote me on this, i can hardly remember much, only that the issue made quite an impression.)

all 3 said $1. i can give it to them since they were all drivers. (meaning they drive, in their cars, not as a profession)

but it did strike a chord with me after i put the paper down afterwards. $1? now, why would anyone complain or gripe if it was a simple case of $1?

i live in woodlands. its not the easiest and most geographically accessible place in the SG to live in(im just saying that cos it takes forever to go anywhere) but im almost grateful for our world-class transport and road system. it makes it abit more tolerable.

this is my transport costs to go to work:
$0.64/bus trip to woodlands interchange.
$1.28/2-way trip.
$1.37/train trip to jurong east
$2.74/2-way trip.
total (train+bus) = $4.02/day.

Grand Total = $88.44 for 22 working days in June. (using my ez-link card ofcos. in cold cash, it would be: $105.60!)

that is if i just go to work and back EVERYDAY and not go out at all for that month. say, i work in changi (not ridiculous cos i have a fren who works there and she stays in Choa Chu Kang. ) :

$1.28/2-way bus trip to interchange.
$3.44/2-way train trip to pasir-ris.
$1.28/2-way bus trip to changi(provided its a feeder bus).
total (train+bus) = $6.00/day

Grand Total = $132 for 22 working days.(without ez-link it would be: $162.80!!!)

yes, again, this are my total transport costs if i just go to work and back EVERYDAY and NOT go out for the whole month. (u sure u can tahan?)

ok, how about if i add 1 meal/day? not all of us work office hours so maybe u can skip lunch but wat about dinner (or vice-versa)?

lets put it as:

$2.50/plate of something [(1) im not sure if such meals are widely available or even edible. (2) thats why i pack my own food)
$0.70/coffee or tea or ice water
thats $3.20/meal a day.
22 work days = $70.40.

adding it all up would make it $202.40 just to go to work. Lets say, a clerk:

earns $1200 (yes, some people do earn such amounts u ignoramus!) per month and
after CPF cut = $960
$960 - $202.40 = $757.60

woohoo! u'v got $700+ to spend on urself! after a whole month of being cooped up in ur house, eating horrible meals every day, its time to enjoy the fruits of ur labour!

wait a min, u say. how about ur bills? depending on how many commitments ur responsible for lets put aside $200 for any miscellaneous expenditures (ie, hp + internet bills). that leaves you with $557.60.

for the single you, it would be fine i guess. even bearable. how about those with school-going children?

the cost of living can sometimes make you wonder how this families can make ends meet. maybe they don't. or maybe they just get by however they can. either way, these people do exist and they do need help.

we have to take note that not all of us are blessed with a full set of limbs, a platinum spoon surgically implanted in our mouths, have loving children caring for us in our twilight years, or have a bank account to last 3 retirement cycles. some of us are just where we are by circumstance. No, really.

so whats my point here?

For a lot of you, those figures above may mean nothing. Mere pocket change. But for afew, they might mean a better day’s meal or an opportunity for a sibling to go to school.

Singapore dear Singapore…

You tell me to upgrade but I can only get a study loan if I earn $2500/mth.

My guarantor too.

If I earn that much, why would I want anything from you?

Its like telling me to learn how to fish but you’re putting fences around the ocean.

Back to my point. (which by now im not so sure anymore!)

How much do I have to earn to live comfortably?

How about my children? How’s their story gonna be like?

Should I even worry now? Or can i do it later?

I guess im blessed that there is always food on the table and my fridge is never empty. But my family’s not well-to-do. We get by with God’s graces and the traditional hard work.

Fortunately, i’ve set my eyes on a few goals. God-willing, everything might just turn out fine.


[The author is a singaporean whose proud of his country's successes and is all for its aim for progress but he wishes it would not be at the cost of its citizens inevitably living hand-to-mouth. He believes more can be done for the needy and unfortunate. He feels that the cost of living is high and would only get higher. And he wishes the relevent authorities would act soon to provide solutions or assistance for the many families who are in need. The needy maybe whispering now. Lets not wait till their screaming.]