surviving economic slow down

The world is experiencing economic slow down. As usual it is biting us badly. Our shilling as kept on depreciating. The dollar is gaining strength every now and then. The rich are becoming rich and living comfortable lives, as we continue to hallow in misery and discomfort.

Now, we have resolved to find ways of surviving this economic slow down. Firstly, as a family, we have put some measures with immediate effect that might not be pleasant to family members. We have arrived at these decisions after heavy and difficult deliberations.

You might be wondering why we are taking radical measures to cut down the family budget. The reasons are various. Number one, the cost of doing business across the world, so we are told has become extremely expensive so our regular shop keeper has hiked all prices of all the commodities that we used to buy from him. Secondly, our people have not been able to produce enough food in the recent times as a consequence increasing conflicts and bad weather. Thirdly, the level of inflation is increasing every day across our country-our money is losing value.

Now, these measures here below are meant to have the family afloat until September, 2009 when the situation is expected to normalize.

Meals. With immediate effect, we shall only have one meal a day instead of the usual three. This meal will comprise of sweet potatoes mixed with beans. The kids have been so keen in asking about jam and bread every morning. This has been scrapped. Break fast will be replaced with roasted maize and water served to children only. This will also be scrapped in the next three month.

Lunch will be a preserve for the children and will be served on merit. Any child above the age of five will not be entitled to lunch. The lunch will be strictly composed of porridge without sugar. This is also subject to change as the conditions become tough. With these friendly measures, we shall be able to save something for the next meal.

Even our one day meal will be strictly rationed. The children will take priority number one followed by the women and elders respectively. We shall reduce the number of potatoes every day until the economic situations stabilizes. In the subsequent weeks, the elders will select to eat these prestigious meals in turns. These again will enable us save for the next year.

Health. We have also resolved as a family not to fall sick in this situation. Anyone who falls sick, expect if he is a child will have to fight it out on his/her own. Fate will take it is cause. If you can not survive the sickness accept to die. We shall not sell a few of our potatoes in order to take you to the nearest hospital. Sorry we can not do that. It will be a very big blow if any of the children chooses to fall sick at this worst time. The lucky ones will be taken to the bush and provided with some herbs.

Housing and clothing .Soap has been scraped from our budget. Luxuries like clothing have been removed with immediate effect. Whoever misplaces a few of the clothing will not expect a replacement. We have also resolved not to repair our old house in the village despite the fact that it is showing signs of collapse. This will enable us save money for meals in these hard times.

We also resolved not to request for aid from our leaders because experience as shown that in such difficult times, it is the leaders that benefit most. The situation to others may seem blink, but we are confident that, with these sound and solid resolutions, we shall sail through the hard times and bounce back in September, 2009.