Lesson 3: Flexibility and Adaptation

Lesson 1: The wave of rising costs spreads

Article 2: Businesses struggle to maintain production pace

Under pressure from constantly fluctuating gasoline and diesel prices, and the rising prices of many essential goods, the lives of people in Dong Thap are being significantly impacted. No longer just minor adjustments, "tightening spending" has become a necessary choice for many families. In these difficult times, people are proactively adjusting and adapting flexibly to maintain a stable life.

EVEN MEALS NEED TO BE PLANNED

In reality, the price surge is not limited to gasoline and oil but has spread to almost all sectors, from food and services to the cost of living.

When going to work, Mr. Pham Minh Nhat brings his own lunch and rests at the construction site to save on expenses.

Rising prices are making the already limited incomes of many families even tighter. With income stagnant, spending habits must be carefully reconsidered more than ever before.

In Vinh Binh commune, Dong Thap province, Ms. Le Thi Ngoc is currently a worker at a garment factory, earning an average monthly income of about 7 million VND (including overtime pay).

With the rising cost of living, her family proactively cut back on many unnecessary expenses. Weekend meals out were gradually reduced, replaced by home-cooked meals.

ENHANCE MANAGEMENT, ADMINISTRATION AND PRICE STABILIZATION

To proactively address challenges in price management and price stabilization of essential goods and services that impact the consumer price index and affect people's lives and the production and business activities of enterprises in the province, the Chairman of the People's Committee of Dong Thap province requests heads of agencies, units, and localities to continue to fully perform their state management functions regarding prices in accordance with the law on prices.

Simultaneously, it is necessary to strengthen inspection and supervision within the prescribed authority regarding the implementation of regulations on pricing, other relevant laws, and when unusual fluctuations occur.

In particular, strict measures will be taken against those who take advantage of peak periods and fluctuations in gasoline and diesel prices to raise prices unreasonably.

At the same time, strengthen the process of receiving price declarations and monitoring price fluctuations of goods; promote and encourage businesses under management to save production and business costs, lower the prices of products and services to support people and reduce input costs of production…

"Now, when I go to the market, I have to plan more carefully, prioritizing essential items and leaving out anything I don't need," Ms. Ngoc shared.

Sharing the same sentiment, Ms. Nguyen Ngoc Ha (Trung An ward, Dong Thap province) said that simply walking around the market makes it easy to see that the prices of many goods have increased compared to before.

Prices for everything from meat and fish to essential goods have fluctuated. Meanwhile, family income hasn't increased, so they have to carefully budget their spending.

Ms. Ha said: "Currently, most items have increased in price. Therefore, I only buy what I really need, and try to cut back on other things."

Faced with cost pressures, many families are changing their consumption habits to be more frugal. Ms. Nguyen Thi Phuong Loan (Cao Lanh ward, Dong Thap province) shared that previously, her family often ate out at restaurants for variety. But with rising service costs, cooking at home has become a more reasonable option, saving money and ensuring better health.

From another perspective, Ms. Tran Thi Mong Hoai (My Ngai ward, Dong Thap province) said: “Along with cutting expenses, my family has also adjusted our meals, replacing expensive food items with more reasonably priced ones. Since the price of gasoline and oil increased, I have to be more careful with my budget every time I go to the market.”

"My family prioritizes buying affordable items and reduces the amount of expensive food we buy, replacing them with eggs, beans, and seasonal fruits and vegetables to save on living expenses."

In reality, these seemingly small changes, when combined, have become a clear trend in people's lives - a trend towards more frugal and selective consumption.

SAVE MONEY IN THE RIGHT WAY AND FOR THE RIGHT PURPOSE.

The pressure of living expenses is not limited to family life; it's forcing people to change their way of earning a living as well.

Mr. Pham Minh Nhat (Phu Thanh commune, Dong Thap province), who works as a road roller driver for a construction company in Dong Son commune, said that to save costs, he brings his own lunch every day.

Mr. Ho Ngoc Kiet cut unnecessary expenses in light of the current rising cost of living.

In the scorching midday sun, instead of rushing home and wasting gas money, he chose to take a break at the construction site. After quickly eating his packed lunch, he snatched a 30-minute nap before continuing his work.

"The weather has been hot these past few days, so it's a bit stuffy staying at the construction site. However, it saves on expenses, which will be beneficial in the long run," said Mr. Nhat.

For unskilled laborers like Mr. Ho Ngoc Kiet (Vinh Huu commune, Dong Thap province), the daily income is around 270,000 VND. The increase in gasoline and diesel prices has driven up all living expenses, from transportation to food, forcing them to cut back on everything.

"Now I only dare to spend on things that are truly necessary, not as freely as before. I have to save to provide for my children's education," Mr. Kiet shared.

Meanwhile, those working as freelancers, directly affected by fuel prices, are feeling the pressure even more acutely. Nguyen Van Lam (Sa Dec ward, Dong Thap province), a delivery driver, said that each time he fills his gas tank, it costs nearly 100,000 VND.

While the daily commute can exceed 20 km, according to Mr. Lam, the increase in gasoline prices immediately drives up costs, but income does not increase proportionally.

Not only laborers, but also workers in industrial zones have to recalculate their expenses. Ms. Hua Thi Ngoc Nga, a worker at the Sa Dec Industrial Zone (Sa Dec ward, Dong Thap province), shared that with a combined income of about 18 million VND per month for both husband and wife, raising two children means expenses are always "on edge."

Currently, the family has to cut back on many things to save money for their children, especially their education.

In rural areas, farmers are also caught in this cycle. Mr. Nguyen Van Hieu (Tan Thuan Tay hamlet, Tan Phuoc 2 commune, Dong Thap province) said that to reduce fuel costs, he proactively rearranged his production schedule and limited the number of times he operated machinery.

From tilling the land to pumping water, everything is carefully calculated to maximize savings. "Farming now requires meticulous planning; you can't just follow old habits. Gasoline, diesel, fertilizers, pesticides, and labor costs are all rising. If you don't plan carefully, you're likely to suffer losses," Mr. Hieu shared.

It is clear that saving money is no longer just an option but has become an adaptive solution, helping people stabilize their lives amidst fluctuating prices of goods and services. In difficult times, people proactively adapt, changing their consumption, living, and working habits.

A. THU - N. KHANH
(to be continued)

Source: https://baodongthap.vn/bai-3-linh-hoat-thich-ung-a239825.html