One working hand is no longer enough

By Ulimasao Fata 12 January 2018, 12:00AM

With the cost of living these days, having one person as a breadwinner for a family is not enough.

This is the belief of a father and grandfather, Tulasunu’i Vili Faluafaga, 68, from Malie. 

Mr. Faluafaga says his family struggles to cope with the expensive cost of living in Samoa.

“My son is the only person in our family who works and provides for my family,” he said.

“My other kids have married and moved on with their small families and we usually meet during the weekends.

“My plantation also contributes to the welfare of our family, but the thing is, I don’t sell any of my crops.”

He said one person working in the family does not help with Samoa’s increasing cost of living.

“The costs of things are all going up nowadays, and it is really hard for a family that has one working person to support everything.

“My son’s salary helps us with paying our water bills and electricity bill as well as support family obligations and church events.

“Sometimes his salary is really not enough to cover all the things needed for our house.

Mr. Faluafaga says they turn to the plantation when they do not have enough.

“My plantation caters for our family’s food on a daily basis. The packet of rice is too much, so we just stick to the crops from our plantation.

“Sometimes we just have (fa’alifu fa’i or taro) boiled bananas with tea and that’s it, because we can’t afford anything else.”

Mr. Faluafaga added that he is planning to start a vegetable garden as another source of income.

 “I’ll take whatever money I get as long as it tackles my family’s struggles.”

By Ulimasao Fata 12 January 2018, 12:00AM
Samoa Observer

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