Family struggles to budget $200 a fortnight

By Ulimasao Fata 03 January 2018, 12:00AM

Even $200 a fortnight doesn’t really cut it given the expensive cost of living in Samoa these days. 

That’s what a mother, Heta Pani, believes.

The woman from Nu’u-Fou shared with the Village Voice team her son’s earnings and spoke about how they struggle to budget it every week.

“We only have one person in our family who works and provides for us and that is my son,” the 49-year-old mother said. 

“He works at one of the Chinese Construction Company and basically that is where we get money from.”

“My son earns $200 a fortnight and that is the only money we use to survive in terms of food, cash power, water bill and everything.”

Mrs. Pani said the cost of living has not been friendly to the people of Samoa.

“The cost of living here in Samoa has been so high and expensive especially for families like mine,” she said while on her way to get medicine yesterday. 

Mrs. Pani said her son’s salary doesn’t match her family’s expenses.

 “So if we over spend it on food, we might as well get our water disconnected because the money we have is not enough.”

“In our church we don’t have to show support financially and we do not have to give in money for anything.”

“So our church is helping us in terms prioritizing our family.”

Mrs. Pani also mentioned that she and her husband have stepped up to contribute to their family’s welfare.

“My husband and I have started growing vegetables like cucumbers, cabbage and so forth around our house.”

“After seeing our family struggle with my son’s earnings, we have stepped up and helped him.”

“Right now we are selling our vegetables to get money because things are getting expensive every day.”

By Ulimasao Fata 03 January 2018, 12:00AM
Samoa Observer

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