Greetings!
Sometimes last year, when the rumor of salary increment broke out into the public space, I was so happy as a civil servant that a new wave of life has finally come and that my cost of living plus my standard of living will have a new breath of life, but guess what? The reverse is the case as I'm talking to you right now.
Though, the rumor became truth about the salary increment as the government at all level make do with their promises on the increase in salary, but even with the increase, it's as if nothing was added to the said salary as the price of things have already overwhelmed the purchasing power of the money due to the high cost of living and inflation. Though traders and business owners are not also helping matters in this situation and this is because whenever they got to know about salary increments in my area, they too increase the prices of their goods and services. Though this is not their fault but the fault of the incompetent government put in place by the masses.
Now, with the said increment in salary, it would be difficult for a salary earner to live a comfortable life with his or her family in my area and this is because of the rising price of the commodity in the market space. Most importantly, the rising cost of foodstuffs has skyrocketed five times what it used to be in the past. Now with the decrease in the purchasing power of the money we all have at hand, it's been difficult to cope with this current economic situation in my country.
Just last week, I went to the market with a huge amount of money and on getting to the market, the price of those stuffs I needed had increased by 60% of what I got in the last month, so, for minutes I stood still and could not even decide on what and what not to get, it's after after trekked the breadth and length of the market that I decided to settle for what my money could get. After all, I left the market with a handful of bags unlike before. If I had to take such an amount to the market, believe me sincerely, I would hire a bus that would help me to take those things home, but right now, the reverse is the case.
Also, to talk about the house rent, which is one of the major aspects of living, the increase in rent has also been a thing of concern to most of us that have not got a place of our own. The landlord or house owner are not trying at all, these people are not even smiling at all. Like my current apartment, the landlord increased the rent age by over 100%. When I got the notice of increment, I went to him just to plead with him if possible he could just help me reduce the rent, but his response was so annoying as he asked me to pack out of his house if I'm not ready to pay, and not this man alone. Had it been I could get it cheaper somewhere else, I would have gone for it, but it's the same everywhere.
So, after removing the transport fare from my salary, the remaining balance would not even be up to 60%, but thank God my place of work is not too far as atimes, I trekked to my place of work in the morning and when coming back home, I do wait for those colleagues of mine who can afford to fuel their car. These people used to give me a ride to the bus stop that's very close to my home.
Payment of children school fee also has also added salt to the injury caused by the inflation in my country, now, the schools have increase the tuition fee and to pay has now been made difficult, but the only thing I do now is to pay it but by bit and not once as I used to do before.
Now, as a result of all these economic hardships, people, including myself, now overworked ourselves just to meet up with the increase in the cost of living. Though, this is actually telling on us as people, but what else can we do to salvage the situation than to double our hustles and live a better life.
This is my entry to week 159, Edition 01 of the weekly Featured contest in the Hive Learners community.
Thanks for reading.
Pictures are mine.