Jump to content

Search the Community

Showing results for tags 'SAVE'.



More search options

  • Search By Tags

    Type tags separated by commas.
  • Search By Author

Content Type


Categories

  • Articles
    • Forum Integration
    • Frontpage
  • Pages
  • Miscellaneous
    • Databases
    • Templates
    • Media

Forums

  • Cars
    • General Car Discussion
    • Tips and Resources
  • Aftermarket
    • Accessories
    • Performance and Tuning
    • Cosmetics
    • Maintenance & Repairs
    • Detailing
    • Tyres and Rims
    • In-Car-Entertainment
  • Car Brands
    • Japanese Talk
    • Conti Talk
    • Korean Talk
    • American Talk
    • Malaysian Talk
    • China Talk
  • General
    • Electric Cars
    • Motorsports
    • Meetups
    • Complaints
  • Sponsors
  • Non-Car Related
    • Lite & EZ
    • Makan Corner
    • Travel & Road Trips
    • Football Channel
    • Property Buzz
    • Investment & Financial Matters
  • MCF Forum Related
    • Official Announcements
    • Feedback & Suggestions
    • FAQ & Help
    • Testing

Blogs

  • MyAutoBlog

Find results in...

Find results that contain...


Date Created

  • Start

    End


Last Updated

  • Start

    End


Filter by number of...

Joined

  • Start

    End


Group


  1. Many of us here are no longer spring chickens… When you’re half a century old, choose your tennis kakis well… https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/ae-doctor-who-suffered-cardiac-arrest-playing-tennis-was-saved-by-colleagues-on-the-court?fbclid=IwY2xjawF3FY1leHRuA2FlbQIxMQABHaaT8B7TaH4OCJ1INujpBDM6G2wxKXGKBKGEKMiP_TFhT8RU64V4LYrDrQ_aem_gmm3BsAVI2OCLt1EIGr-UQ “ OCT 12, 2024, 03:29 PM SINGAPORE – An accident and emergency (A&E) doctor who saves lives at work found himself in need of saving when he collapsed from cardiac arrest during a tennis game. Fortunately, Dr Christopher Wong, 56, a senior consultant at Woodlands Health, was playing with three A&E physician colleagues who dropped their rackets to save him. They were Dr Sohil Pothiawala, 47, and Adjunct Associate Professor Amila Punyadasa, 52, both senior consultants at Woodlands Health, and Adjunct Associate Professor Kenneth Heng, 54, a senior consultant at Tan Tock Seng Hospital (TTSH).” learn CPR and the AED get your condo or apartment to install one and learn how to use it CPR https://www.redcross.org/take-a-class/cpr/performing-cpr/cpr-steps and no, you don’t need mouth to mouth even compressions are often good enough
  2. Let help to spread the news and help the family in one way or another. source: https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/health/parents-race-against-time-to-raise-3m-to-save-baby-with-rare-genetic-disorder A few weeks after their first child was born, Mr Nabeel Salim Abdat and Ms Syahirah Yakub found that little Zayn's appetite was getting worse. On Aug 4, Mr Nabeel took their baby to the National University Hospital (NUH), where Zayn fell seriously ill. "While I was looking at some admission forms, I heard him cry," said Mr Nabeel, 30, who is due to start work as a data centre engineer in October. "About 30 seconds later, he was unconscious and he wasn't breathing." Hospital staff managed to revive Zayn, who was later warded in NUH's intensive care unit. His parents soon learnt that Zayn has a rare genetic disorder, and his best hope for survival may lie with a treatment that costs about $3 million, which they are now trying to raise. On Aug 12, the boy, who is now seven weeks old, was found to have Type 1 spinal muscular atrophy (SMA), a neuromuscular disorder that causes muscles to weaken. It can lead to declining motor functions and such issues as respiratory problems, scoliosis and osteoporosis, said an NUH spokesman. If left untreated, the condition can lead to death by the age of two. In response to queries, NUH said Zayn is currently receiving "multidisciplinary supportive care". Ms Syahirah, a 31-year-old civil servant, said a paediatrician had also noticed that Zayn had poor reflexes and referred them to a specialist. The couple said they were told Zayn's best hope is Zolgensma, a one-time gene therapy that is infused into a baby's veins to help stop the progression of SMA. Zolgensma, approved by the United States' Food and Drug Administration in 2019, is not authorised by Singapore's Health Sciences Authority, but it can be imported under the Special Access Route. Costing almost $2.9 million, the treatment is often touted as the most expensive drug in the world. "We thought, 'how are we supposed to get that amount of money?'" said Ms Syahirah. Last Friday, in a desperate attempt to achieve the "impossible", the couple started a crowdfunding campaign, Walk With Zayn, which has since raised more than $540,000 on charity platform Ray of Hope. Ms Syahirah added that she has also appealed to the authorities to see if Zayn is eligible for the Rare Disease Fund, which provides long-term financial support to those who require high-cost medication for such conditions. The Straits Times reported in January that a two-year-old boy with Type 2 SMA, a less severe form of the condition, was able to stand and walk with support after the public donated $2.87 million for his Zolgensma treatment. Doctors have begun treating Zayn with Risdiplam, an oral medication taken daily. A bottle of Risdiplam, which lasts 64 days, costs more than $15,000. SMA patients on Risdiplam or Spinraza, another drug that is injected into the spinal canal every four months, will have to be on them for life, NUH said. The couple are hoping they can raise the money needed for Zolgensma, with Ms Syahirah noting that their son will still need therapy even after getting the drug. Mr Nabeel said they are working on a deadline, as Zolgensma must be administered before the child turns two. "We are racing against time and we are hoping that we can give him the medicine as soon as possible."
  3. TL;DR - Famous Tiktoker gets advice from Lalamove driver on how to own a GTR - and this is exactly why you should never look down on any blue collar workers, especially Lalamove drivers. Sign me up for Lalamove now! Watch this Tiktok to hear some words of wisdom from the man himself. What happened? There’s a pretty famous Tiktoker (@Koocester) who goes around Singapore interviewing drivers who drive exotic/luxurious cars and ask these drivers for their professions. And throw in some words of financial advice too. In the Tiktok, he managed to get some insights into the life of this Nissan GTR driver. The driver seemed to be rather friendly and shared some of his thoughts with Koocester. He mentioned things like saving often, donating and giving to those in need, and basically being wise when spending your money. Which is quite a no-brainer but most people need to be constantly reminded of such and coming from someone who owns an arguably, $600k GTR, better heed his advice! As dope as it looks, the video received mixed reactions from netizens - racial stereotypes (c’mon we’re living in 2023!) and possibly from the saltiness of them not being able to afford one. Online Chatter Instead of celebrating his W, netizens were making a fool out of the man - L behavior… Like, seriously… There’s more… & more… This wasn’t even the last of it. Many of the comments were also targeting his English, as he said “save often(ly)”. Hmm, what's bad English if he can afford such a sick car though… I don’t care that others say, when I grow up I wanna be like this guy! ========= Be the first to get the latest road/ COE news and get first dibs on exclusive promos and giveaways in our Telegram SGCM Community. Join us today!
  4. Disclaimer: I don't hold anything against freegans, but if they are overly desperate in hunting for free stuff and even work lesser, the line may be crossed. If everyone stop spending, will the world not stop moving? Afterall, all these free stuff come for someone else pocket, and I wonder if taboo applies to these group of "free" thinker. Commentary: Living in Singapore doesn't have to be so expensive when you're a freegan https://www.channelnewsasia.com/commentary/freegan-food-rescue-waste-lifestyle-cost-living-sustainability-2753251 SINGAPORE: With the cost of food and petrol increasing on a weekly basis, every conversation with friends is sure to touch on inflation. Sometimes I am shy to admit I have not felt it at all, because my expenses have not increased in the past five years. Yet life has only gotten more abundant. At home, our fridge is full of fresh vegetables and fruits, sourced from food rescues where we collect “ugly” but edible produce from shopkeepers. Our cupboards are full of canned food and condiments, gathered from cafes and restaurants that have shut down. We have more soap and shampoo than some provision shops stock, enough for maybe a decade of use. We have a brand new CorningWare gifted from a family after spring cleaning and a Rommelsbacher 40L oven picked up from a void deck. As freegans, we collect things other people no longer want, to reuse or repurpose for our own needs. We limit our participation in the conventional economy as much as we can to save the environment and our expenses. Freeganism originated in San Francisco in the 1990s and has since spread globally. Our Facebook group Freegan In Singapore has grown to 10,000 members since I co-founded the movement in 2017. Alongside the growing popularity of freeganism is rising concern about our carbon and waste footprint. According to a study by the Institute of Policy Studies published in 2021, three in five Singaporeans believe protecting the environment should be prioritised over economic growth. However, making more sustainable choices is not always cheap. Vegan and fair-trade foods and clothes tend to be more expensive than their regular counterparts. So are electric cars, even with incentives and rebates. But the freegan lifestyle marries sustainable and frugal living through its emphasis on reducing consumption. Each item you buy comes from a long supply chain that uses up resources and produces waste at every stage, even if those products are sustainably sourced. Take for example an audio store owner whom I recently met. He needs to keep a surplus stock of earphones to provide exchanges for customers claiming their warranty. After a few years as warranty periods lapse, the remaining stock is discarded. That’s how I ended up receiving a hundred boxes of brand-new earphones. Multiply this by the number of businesses in Singapore, big and small, and it’s no wonder the country’s non-domestic sector generated 5.12 million tonnes of waste in 2021. But freegans don’t always strive to cut waste out of a passion for the environment. Some have a much more pragmatic reason – to reduce personal expenditure. I used to spend S$2,000 a month in my pre-freegan days. Now my necessary monthly expenses have dropped to just S$350, including insurance. As I eat mainly rescued food, I’ve lowered my food costs from $500 a month to zero, not counting the occasional birthday treat at a restaurant for a loved one. I am also a lot healthier as the variety of food I eat has expanded. I don’t remember when I last stepped into a shopping mall because I’ve been able to get items on my wishlist for free. What I spend on entertainment has plummeted because all my favourite leisure activities cost nothing: Communing with nature, visiting our island’s many parks and beaches, volunteering with social causes, and enjoying meals made from rescued food with friends. My one luxury is travelling. Before the pandemic, I was travelling five to six times a year – much more frequently compared to the one or two yearly trips in my pre-freegan days. This was due to having not only more disposable income but more free time. Because freegans spend less, we aren’t as pressured to earn more. Full-timers become part-timers. Dual-income households become single-income. Some choose to retire early, like I did three years ago. Freegans believe the price of making money is too costly, because we buy money with our limited time alive. Think about it: In any kind of paid work, you are exchanging your lifetime for cash. Some squander it on impulse purchases, meaning they need to spend more lifetime to earn more money. I would rather spend four to five hours of my lifetime each week collecting things I need than spend 40 to 50 hours each week earning money to buy the very same things. With that time saved, freegans can focus on activities that matter to them. This could be making art or writing, growing plants to beautify the surroundings and improve mental health, or building communities where members look out for each other. We rediscover the hobbies we enjoyed before a money-centric world taught us we had to monetise what we like to do or drop it. We no longer sell irreplaceable lifetime to buy replaceable material goods. When so many things we need can be acquired for free, there is little else we absolutely need to spend money on – meaning that the cost of living in Singapore doesn’t have to be sky high. What many people find expensive could be the cost of lifestyle instead.
  5. wat with the rising fuel prices, just wonderin wat are the best gadgets the bros here put in the car just to save fuel thus saving $$$$.pls dun say remove spare tyre hor.....
  6. Gonna be without a car next month. Gotto wait at least 6 weeks for replacement to arrive. May have to take taxi or MRT. Realized I have close to 2k to spend on public transport every month vis a vis having my own ride. That's like $60 or more a day......... Hmmmmmm even if I book taxi, seems like the cost is still cheaper cos I travel less than 80km a day and some days I dun even use the car. When you pre book the taxi, services are ok ya. There must be many people like me........... If more car owners switch to taxi, COE will drop for sure...... but too late for me. 😜😝😛
  7. Wanted to start a thread for Singaporeans who pass away from accidental deaths (car accidents) or otherwise. I think previously they are all scattered in different threads and sometimes in a bit irrelevant type of grouping. Mods can decide whether this is relevant. Thanks. RIP to this father. http://www.straitstimes.com/asia/se-asia/singaporean-dies-after-plunging-down-kulai-waterfall-while-trying-to-save-7-year-old
  8. By Dinesh Dayani | DollarsAndSense.sg Singaporeans are affluent and busy people. Many times, we end up either not having time to check through our bills or just trusting that everything is in order. The matter of the fact is that service providers, existing for the sole purpose of profiting usually, will always be incentivised to work in fees into their packages to ensure they extract the maximum value from a customer. Checking our bills every month may be hasslesome, but it take a few short minutes. Further, the accumulation of fees adds up to a substantial amount if gone unchecked for long periods. Here are four types of common fees that every Singaporean will face at some point of their life. 1. Credit Card FeesCredit cards have been created to keep people in debt and spend more than we can. Without doing so, credit card companies will never be successful. So working in additional fees and creating “better” features will only ever serve to keep you in debt. With that being said, here are some credit card fees to watch out for i. Annual FeesCredit card companies charge annual fees to ensure anyone not keeping tabs on their spending will automatically lose reward points or actually pay it as part of their monthly payment to the company. ii. Late Payment FeesThey also have strange ways to compute which day you have to repay your bill by. It’s never the same so be sure to look at the due date and pay your bills before then. Interest charges are scary at over 24% and this does not even include the late payment charge. iii. Delayed Payment FeesMany credit cards offer its customers the option of only having to pay $50 or a certain percentage of their bill each month. What customers do not know is that fees have been built into this method of payment either through preferred interest rates (which are still scary) or a processing fee which is charged as a percentage of the amount. These fees are also applicable when you transfer balances from another card. 2. Banking FeesThe lines are a bit blurred when I mention banking fees since most banks also offer credit cards. But we’ll stick to pure banking fees here. So in addition to the fees they collect on credit cards, banks also profit through these other fees.Minimum Amount Fees i. Minimum Amount FeesMany banks require you to keep a minimum balance, usually $500, in your account each month. Failing to do so will activate a fee of approximately $2. However, this is for savings accounts, note that there are also minimum fees for current accounts that require much higher fees and much higher minimum balances. As a side note, some current accounts also charge fees for their cheque books. ii. Short Term Borrowing FeesAdvertised as a quick and easy way to get instant cash, often within a few hours of application. Fees for such are very prevalent and are in addition to the interest rates charged. 3. Early Termination FeesOnce a company has tied you down to a contract, you can be sure they will fight tooth and nail to make you pay for it. Even when we experience the shameful Singtel TV outage, we had to continue paying for the service. And their discount was given on goodwill rather than an obligation. We’ll leave the debate on how fair this system is, and how big companies can bully consumers without the government intervening. And when the government intervenes, you’ll know that the situation has really been atrocious. i. InsuranceInsurance companies are another financial institution that exists only to profit. They profit by offering consumers insurance, this is not a public service they are doing, they are profiting, and if they don’t do it, someone else will. Of course then, once you sign a contract, usually for the next quarter of a decade, you’re pretty much locked with them. At this point, it should be highlighted that we think you should think hard about any decision regarding insurance when you sign up. It will affect you for a very very long time. ii. TelcosAs mentioned in the opening paragraph, you can’t back out even when you’re being offered a terrible deal. You’ve signed up for it. This is far more acceptable, or so people think, because it only locks you up for 2 years at a go. Nevertheless, you should consider your decision carefully before signing up. There are always other options, like not watching TV and being more productive and using pre-paid cards. iii. MortgagesAnother way banks can earn money from customers. The logic is that banks have already “locked in” a certain amount of interest income that you will pay them, and if you want to back out, you have to cough up for it. This is actually the most fair of the fees they charge. Nevertheless, it’s an additional fee for us to consider when determining how fast or slow we can pay back our mortgages. iv. Almost Anything ElseSame logic applies. When you sign up for a deal, you’re going to be held ransom to that signature. Think before signing for any service. Some common ones are gym membership. 4. Convenience/ Booking FeesThis type of fees is cringe-worthy, mostly because it’s term “convenience” when most consumers are being inconvenienced. i. Movie ticketsThere are ways booking fees when booking tickets online or through mobile apps. Golden Village ($2), Filmgarde ($1) and Cathay ($1.50) all have these fees. ii. Budget AirlinesUsually ranging from $16 to $20, these fees put additional revenue in budget airlines’ pockets for seemingly no reason whatsoever. Some, like Jetstar, offer free payment options via Singpost or 7-11 outlets. We say, why not reward the airlines that offer better deals for their customers. Help them make up for it with greater revenues. They deserve it. iii. Many Other ServicesWe can list down everything under the sun, but the basic premise is that service providers will try to take more money, every possible way, this includes services offering you convenient methods to top up your EZ link card via mobile apps or with credit cards (under $1). In Summary You will have to decide for yourself what fees are acceptable and what fees are not. If you ask us, we will try to cut out all the fees, as the additional headache will be rewarded in the form of huge savings over our lifetimes. Sometimes, all it takes is a phone call, and other times, we have to be a little more firm. Regardless, we think everyone can adjust their lifestyles to not have to pay these kinds of fees. https://sg.finance.yahoo.com/news/4-types-fees-singaporeans-not-003015173.html
  9. Try not to waste water for this period of time, like washing your car..... Parts of Malaysia already start rationing water, quite suffering over there.
  10. Air con is set to fan mode and not cool air. Meaning it is blowing normal temp air.
  11. Hi I noticed that when i drive early in the morning, the air is good and the surrounding is cool. therefore, i can off the aircon and enjoy natural air while saving fuel. But what is the most effective way? To consider: 1) Wind resistance (more windows open = more drag? ) 2) Safety (driver side opening fully is dangerous on the expressway? ) 3) Dirty interior due to road dust/dirt sticking on leather I also notice that opening half full will cause the window pane to vibrate at speeds of 80km/hr. Will there be risk of it breaking? Pls vote!
  12. http://forums.hardwarezone.com.sg/eat-drink-man-woman-16/meowmeow-saves-boy-dog-attack-4677441.html
  13. LOUIS VUITTON PULLS OUT OF SINGAPORE STREET DOG FUNDRAISER BECAUSE DOGS ARE TOO LOW CLASS Post date: 14 Nov 2013 - 2:15pm Source : http://therealsingapore.com/content/louis-vuitton-pulls-out-singapore-street-dog-fundraiser-because-dogs-are-too-low-class The road to saving stray dogs is an uphill one, filled with set backs & difficulties. Esquire Magazine asked me yesterday why, I, an aesthetics doctor who people will view as being living in glamour & driving a nice car, decided to dedicate my life to doing this. I replied that before I started saving street dogs, I was indeed one of such people- chasing the "Singapore dream". But embarking on such a journey changes you profoundly. At the beginning, people thought I was doing this to get attention, waiting for me to give up. My colleagues, parents and loved ones were dead against it, telling me to spend my time and money doing better things. But compassion is a universal language. We may all have different views, but at our core, everyone speaks the same simple language of kindness - not only to humans, but to animals as well. That is what unites us in saving Singapore's street dogs. My interview with the good people at Esquire Magazine yesterday was supposed to be for a charity fundraiser with Louis Vuitton . LV donated some items which would be auctioned, and the proceeds donated to Save Our Street Dogs. But in a dramatic turn of events, they pulled out during the photoshoot despite initially agreeing to be part of it - because LV felt that dogs, MONGRELS,, stray dogs, in particular, are too LOW CLASS for their brand image. It is an difficult road we have chosen to take, because many corporations and people are still blinded only with superficial glitter & bright lights, falsely holding onto the belief that the make-belief world of "luxury" they have crafted for themselves is the real one. To these corporations and people, "charity" is merely a means of making their brand look better, or making themselves look good - not for altruism. These people have forgotten the most important language of all - the language of compassion. Hawk Cut Weis Founder of SaveOurStreetDogs.com
  14. http://business.asiaone.com/personal-finan...-debt-save-face
  15. LINK Explain when train's emergency button can be used ON TUESDAY night, I was taking the south-bound MRT train towards Ang Mo Kio. At Yio Chu Kang station, a woman asked for help in a desperate tone, then pressed the emergency button on the train. I realised that an elderly man had his arm caught between the train doors. The doors did not re-open after the usual few seconds, and his arm was stuck for about a minute. When the doors did open, the old man entered the train and was unharmed. However, an SMRT staff member came and demanded to know who had pressed the button. When the woman owned up, he asked in frustration: "Why you press the button?" Later, when the train stopped at Ang Mo Kio station, the woman was detained and further questioned. Thankfully, another man stood up for her. When is the right time to press the emergency button? If someone gets caught between the train doors, are we supposed to wait until the train starts moving before we press the button? Perhaps SMRT can clarify the protocol for using the emergency button.
  16. Last few days, a sticker on front page of ST stated that Shop & Save new announcement coming on 1st April 2013..... I was thinking, hur what offer will they be giving. Today open up ST and chey..... Just change name niah.... From Shop & Save to Giant ...
  17. DUH! of course lah....elder ppl got house, car, mistress mortgage.....wtf...even i can conclude [:p] SINGAPORE: Contrary to popular belief that young Singapore workers spend more than they save, a survey has found that they save more than their older peers. According to a survey by career builder, JobsCentral Group, 46 per cent of workers who are between 21 and 30 years old said they save more than 20 per cent of their income. That's almost double the savings of those who are between 41 and 50 years old. Only one quarter of workers in this age group said they save more than 20 per cent of their income. The survey team described these findings as encouraging. It said older workers may be saving less as they have more financial responsibilities like mortgage and car payments, as well as supporting a family. For the survey, 20 per cent was set as the benchmark of good savings habits. Overall, 56 per cent of Singapore workers save less than one-fifth of their income each month, while another 5.2 per cent do not save at all. The majority spend the bulk of their salary on necessities like food, transport and allowances for parents or children. About a quarter (24%) spend the bulk of their pay on entertainment, while 15 per cent said they would spend mostly on travel. One-quarter of those surveyed (25.5%) said they would save 21 per cent to 40 per cent of their salary, up from 19.7 per cent in 2011. Those earning S$7,000 to S$7,999 per month are big on savings, with 62 per cent most likely to save over 20 per cent of their salary. This is followed by those who earn S$6,000 to S$6,999 (51%) and S$8,000 to S$8,999 (50%). The online survey was conducted between September and October 2012, involving about 3,300 respondents. - CNA/ir
  18. What does it mean that to use internal ventilation system? Roof Roof rack? No. Putting your roof rack on only when you need it could save you up to 5% more fuel. Tyres Tyre pressure If your tyres are under inflated by just 1psi, fuel efficiency can be reduced by up to 3%. So check tyres once a week or whenever you fill up. Fuel tank Check fuel cap Simply make sure your cap is properly screwed on after every fill up. This prevents fuel, and effectively your money, from evaporating. Drive smoothly Don
  19. NS not only makes a Man out of a Boy but also a Live vs Dead Man. And He who lives to tell his tale is a blessed Man albeit his nakedness state. Man miraculously survives 4-storey fall from window Published on Jul 25, 2012 By Tham Yuen-C When army regular Jeremy Choo Jian Rong slipped on his bed and tumbled out of the window while changing the curtains in his room, his body instinctively assumed a position he had used often during military training. Body slightly curved and arms cradling his own head, he managed to land leg-down, four floors down. But the pain on impact knocked him out, and the former commando was found lying at the foot of his Fajar Road block. Besides having landed there in spectacular fashion, Mr Choo, 30, was also completely naked.
  20. Man Rescues Drowning Family Who Then Leave While He Drowns http://www.chinasmack.com/2012/stories/man...-he-drowns.html
  21. Target One Million is a Shell FuelSave campaign to help one million drivers from across the world learn how to save fuel through a series of interactive, online mini-games which are fun and quick to complete. The mini-games have been designed to show motorists how the right choice of fuel like, Shell FuelSave, and a few simple changes to their driving habits can help them save fuel, and in doing so, reduce their fuel costs. Two new mini games, Shell FuelSave Bootloader and Fuel Tank Focus, have been added recently. Bootloader will challenge players to check their virtual car boots to remove unnecessary items and excess weight which is affecting their fuel efficiency. Fuel Tank Focus is a fuel efficiency-based quiz. Visit www.shell.com.sg/targetonemillion today and start learning!
  22. Can't help but share wat I saw this morning. Was parking my car and noticed a bike beside a heavily kitted OPC lancer ex. Guess wat? The owner was transferring the petrol from bike to car! Wah lan..wanna save until tat extend might as well buy a smaller car (or better, dun buy at all!) or perhaps save the $$$ dun mod lah..really cheapskate IMO.. Anyway, juz for laughs on Monday morning..not targeting at OPC or any race in particular..cheers!
  23. How giving up one's seat on the bus to the needy can save our economy by reducing taxes for all. [img Source: Girl Refuses To Give Seat To Disabled, Slapped By 100 RMB] [PS, all references to either gender in this essay references the opposite equally] On 1st March 2012, Deputy Prime Minister Tharman Shanmugaratnam, who is also Minister of Finance said: "For these five years, we're okay and that's why we're setting aside monies in trust funds and endowment funds... But in the 10 to 15 years after 2016, we do have a real challenge, and we'll have to think beyond growing the economy and sustaining revenues based on GDP growth." ('New ways to raise revenue needed, says DPM Tharman' [TODAY, 02Mar2012][pict]) Whilst on 8th June2012, at the Economic Society of Singapore's annual dinner, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong said "As we enhance our social safety nets, expenditure will inexorably rise, and revenue must keep up. Surely within the next 20 years, the government of the day will need new sources of revenue, which means raising taxes," ('Singapore's growth expected to slow in next decade' [CNA, 08June2012], [pict]) Imagine an elderly person of good character, going about his daily activities- basic marketing (grandpa), taking good care of grandchildren (grandma), doing some charity work at a nearby temple/ home for the elderly aged (help out with cooking/ cleaning/ admin etc), volunteering at the library reading story books to nursery children; for others, it might just be daily errands attending to a disabled spouse, part time work helping at a nearby medical facility or just moving about to keep active and fit. Can the love and nurturing provided by this elderly person for another ever be measured? Not earning a salary does not make this elderly a worthless person, for his contribution to society is indeed immense- no matter how slow and old fashioned his ideas may be. Now imagine this same elderly person falling down on a crowded bus simply because someone feigned sleep to avoid the elder's need. The fall cost the elderly a broken hip and perhaps permanent immobility- this adverse result leading to depression and despair and immense stress to the rest of his family. All volunteering activities are cancelled- no more kind teacher, no more free storytelling, foreigners with language incompatibilities are hired to cover the part time duties once performed by the able elderly. Working adults become flustered given the sudden problem of taking care of another disabled family member, perhaps resulting in the government having to bear the cost of maintaining 2 immobile elderly in a state run welfare home. The next generation needless to say, is lost in the midst of this crisis and consequent financial disability. Can an economy of depressed individuals really be productive? Who can concentrate at work with problems at home so deep and unrelenting? Has anyone ever seen "social safety nets" large and strong enough to rescue a nation of depressed, unfriendly individuals? According to 'Adding up the cost of elderly care' [The Telegraph.uk, 29Jun2011]: "One in three women and one in five men aged 65 and over will need to go into a residential care home... A single room in a private residential home in Britain now costs an average of
×
×
  • Create New...