You are a father of two and you have less than a hundred tala to spend on your weekly budget.

You’ve got to think of food, water, electricity and your traditional obligations. 

What do you do?

Meet Pasi Uini. He is a young man from the village of Lefagoali’i, Savai’i. 

He spoke with the Samoa Observer yesterday, highlighting how tough it has become for young families like his to manage with the rising cost of living. 

“Samoa has become very expensive,” he said.

“It is a struggle every day to provide for my family.”

Pasi said his children are his priority and their education is extremely important to him.

“If you think about it, I get a $100.00 at the end of every week, with that money I need to spend it wisely so that we make it to the next Friday when I get paid again,” he said.

“Since I have two kids with one  in school, imagine the money we spend on the lunch, fares, school fees and stationaries.

“With that same hundred tala, I need to provide for my family at home. We have to have food and the basics we need at home.”

Pasi said fa’alavelaves (domestic obligations) are another headache.

“A family commitment is another big expense,” he said. “There are always funerals and things at the church we have to contribute to. This all has to come from that hundred tala. What do you do?

Pasi works at Ululoloa.

He said his saving grace are the Chinese stores who make things affordable.

“I am grateful to the Chinese for trying to make life easier,” he said.

“The prices of their products are cheap and that allows me to stretch my hundred tala a bit further. I’m scared to think of what it would be if it weren’t for these Chinese stores.”