Your insights: cost of living

Last week, we asked readers how they were affected by the rise in the cost of living, what they were doing about it and what they thought the Government could do. Here are some responses:

‘FOOD and transport increases hit the citizens badly. A family of four will be hit four times each time the family goes out either to school or work. Multiplying by 25 schooling or working days a month, the month-end increase can be substantial for the average Singaporean.’

MR NOEL LAU, in an e-mail

‘WITH the high cost of living, which includes supporting our parents plus the rising property prices, it is really very difficult for a young couple to buy a flat from the open market and take a bank loan even with a combined salary that just exceeds $8,000.’

NICHOLAS, in an e-mail

‘WE GAVE up taking cabs and saved about $200 to $300 a month. I use the money saved for groceries which are more expensive now and for my three-year-old daughter’s violin lessons. We also started to dine at home more.’

MRS LEE YAN CHANG, in an SMS

‘LOGIC should prevail: Why ‘help’ the low-income by putting money into their CPF for after retirement when they have not even the cash to get by on now?’

MISS SARAH LAU, in an SMS

‘I HAD to vacate my rented flat , the third time in 18 months, because of high rent. It is too expensive nowadays for me to buy an HDB flat . How many times can I vacate rented flats with my wife and baby? How will middle-income families like us survive? I expect government intervention especially in the property market.’

MR RAJEEV PRAKASH, a permanent resident, in an e-mail

‘EVERY household earning less than $10,000 monthly should get help from the Government, especially those caring for old parents or with two kids or more, whether they’re living in an HDB flat or a condominium unit. Many upgraders to condominiums are struggling.’

MS NEO LAY HWA, in an SMS

‘I’VE always preferred to eat in coffee shops and hawker centres, rather than foodcourts or restaurants. I do not own a car, though I can afford one; I use public transport…The recent price hikes have not had any significant effect on me yet.”

MR WINSTON CHIN, in an SMS

Source : Straits Times - 12 Jan 2008