The Government is determined to eradicate hardcore poverty in two years despite the current austerity drive.

That’s what the they said.

Well, that’s also what they said 4 years ago. But it seems that everyone is getting poorer instead. The only people getting richer are the already rich.

For the past few months, I’ve been eating really cheap and lousy economy food in my canteen. Sometimes even just drinking some cereals for lunch and even skipping dinner. I used to pinch my wallet so that I could buy a new hardware or a new pair of shoes. Now, I have to pinch my wallet and even tie my stomach so that I can service my car! Already “ubah gaya hidup” mah.

As I look at the RM625 I got from the post office as rebate for the fuel subsidy, I can’t help but think how fast this stack of money is going to be spent. It’s only going to last me 7 times to the petrol station. That’s only 2 months!

I went for grocery shopping last weekend and the price of Tesco Value instant noodles has been replaced with what Cintan or Maggi used to cost. Wholemeal bread now costs RM3 instead of RM2. When the government asked us to “Ubah Gaya Hidup” during the last fuel hike, I supposed they were talking about our television usage, luxury food consumption, etc… I never know they were actually asking us to die of hunger.

More things to cut? Perhaps if I cut my hair BOTAK each time, I get to save more on haircut bills.