Address the high cost of living please

By Aruna Lolani 08 August 2017, 12:00AM

The expensive cost of living is something many rural people can do without.

But why has the cost of living become so unaffordable? 

This is a question raised by Eni Tavita from the village of Vailoa Aleipata.

The 42-year-old was cleaning his employer’s land when he was spotted by the Village Voice team.

“For me, the cost of living is too much and whatever money I get from my pay, it gets used up like that in a blink of an eye,” Eni said.

“Even if we try to save, it’s impossible considering that we must always pay for something that we need.”

Eni works as a gardener for a family at Tanumalala and despite how unfair life feels, he’s grateful to have a job.

“I’m just thankful that I have this job because if I don’t, I don’t know what I would do to support my family and my kids.

“I get about a hundred something tala from it so at least there’s something right? It’s a lot of help because I really wouldn’t know what to depend on if I don’t have this job.

“We try to eat Samoan food or anything from the plantation when we want to save money for something.

“The cost of living can be cheap for other people but certainly not for people like me.

“We come to realize that as things keep on changing, the cost of living changes with it as well.

“So if you don’t strive your best to find yourself a job, it’s going to be worse for you because with the job I have, I need to budget the money I get so it can cover the basic necessities and anything else that we need for that matter.

“It’s too much and we deserve to be helped in this situation please; I know there will be a time when we have nothing at all to depend on in the near future.”

By Aruna Lolani 08 August 2017, 12:00AM
Samoa Observer

Upgrade to Premium

Subscribe to
Samoa Observer Online

Enjoy unlimited access to all our articles on any device + free trial to e-Edition. You can cancel anytime.

>