Dealing with the expensive cost of living

By Ulimasao Fata 05 January 2018, 12:00AM

People deal differently with the expensive cost of living.

Some people work harder, others complain, while some people try to find the best way to cope. 

For Lepa Lui, a 63-year-old father of five, he said keeping a positive attitude is the key. He is also calling on the government to consider the plight of people who are struggling to make ends meet.

His eldest daughter has completed her education and is now providing for their family, while the other four are still in school.

“I must say that the cost of living today is really hard compared to back then when $20 was more than enough for most families,” Mr. Lui said.

“It’s been really hard today because we all have to rely on our daughter’s earnings.”

Mr. Lui was returning home from his plantation when the Village Voice team met him yesterday afternoon.

 “Before my daughter started working, my plantation was our only way to survive. We also relied on my vegetable garden.

“I have been selling vegetables for a living in order to support our family because no one worked at the time.

“Up until today, I’m working on my plantation because I know my daughter’s salary is not enough for us.”

Mr. Lui says he’s already thinking of his children’s education this year.

“I have two kids in university right now and the other two are still in high school,” he said. 

“I am thinking of where to get money for their school fees as well as school uniforms and lunch money.

“Life we have today is really hard because the cost of living is really hard.”

Mr. Lui also says the price of food has considerably increased.

“The money we earn today is basically for the food and for the kids’ education.

“And the price of food and products today is getting so expensive compared to back then.”

Mr. Lui urges the government to step up and help the people.

“I think for every three months period, there is a noticeable rise in the cost of living in Samoa today.

“I just want our government to understand that not everybody earns the same amount of money and not all family can cope with the expensive cost of living we have now.

“Our government is there for us (people of Samoa) and they are the one that should step up and try and make things easy for the people.”

By Ulimasao Fata 05 January 2018, 12:00AM
Samoa Observer

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