Yesterday marked the beginning of two things, namely the start of no smoking in clubs and pubs, and the rise of the GST from 5 to 7%.
While the former doesn't bother me much, as I don't frequent clubs and pubs, and I'm in the process of quitting smoking, the latter does get me jittery a little.
A simple calculation would be that for every $1, the GST is now $0.07, as compared to $0.05 previously. A 2% rise may not seem much, but it all adds up, no? Take for example, mobile phone bills. For someone who has a few lines under one's name, it DEFINITELY adds up. Feeling the pinch already!
The Sunday Times carried an article abt four shoppers who apparently 'saved' by buying things before the GST rise. The spending againts savings ratio are:
1) Spends $3,000 saves $60
2) Spends $10,000 saves $200
3) Spends $14,000 saves $280
4) Spends $92,000 saves $1,600
Funny. Save for the one who spent $92k, the savings for the other 3, to me, are peanuts really. Don't you think so? If one can afford to spend so much in the first place, the savings one gets, when compared to how much one spends, is that really saving? Hmmm..
The rise of the GST rate may be a little harsh, but amidst all the gloom and doom, at least someone can find humour in the situation. What am I talking abt? McD's, and their latest TV commercial. In it, an auntie is selling tissue papers. Those 3 for a dollar thing. A girl decides to get herself tissues, and hence hands the auntie a dollar. To which the auntie said "Tissue papers now cost $1.20.." Haha! Watch out for the ad. It's funnier to see it, than just to read abt it.
Just giving my two cents worth (pun intended)..
While the former doesn't bother me much, as I don't frequent clubs and pubs, and I'm in the process of quitting smoking, the latter does get me jittery a little.
A simple calculation would be that for every $1, the GST is now $0.07, as compared to $0.05 previously. A 2% rise may not seem much, but it all adds up, no? Take for example, mobile phone bills. For someone who has a few lines under one's name, it DEFINITELY adds up. Feeling the pinch already!
The Sunday Times carried an article abt four shoppers who apparently 'saved' by buying things before the GST rise. The spending againts savings ratio are:
1) Spends $3,000 saves $60
2) Spends $10,000 saves $200
3) Spends $14,000 saves $280
4) Spends $92,000 saves $1,600
Funny. Save for the one who spent $92k, the savings for the other 3, to me, are peanuts really. Don't you think so? If one can afford to spend so much in the first place, the savings one gets, when compared to how much one spends, is that really saving? Hmmm..
The rise of the GST rate may be a little harsh, but amidst all the gloom and doom, at least someone can find humour in the situation. What am I talking abt? McD's, and their latest TV commercial. In it, an auntie is selling tissue papers. Those 3 for a dollar thing. A girl decides to get herself tissues, and hence hands the auntie a dollar. To which the auntie said "Tissue papers now cost $1.20.." Haha! Watch out for the ad. It's funnier to see it, than just to read abt it.
Just giving my two cents worth (pun intended)..