More money to spend

When the government increased petrol price to RM 2.70 in June, it caused an uproar. Everyone hated the government so much. I was one of them, as I travel back and forth Penang - Taiping weekly, of course I felt the pinch. Then gradually and slowly, the government decided to ease our burden, dropping the petrol price 10 - 15 cents every now and then. Petrol price right now is RM 2.00 a litre. So, a full tank would cost from RM 115 previously to RM 85 now. With that, I have RM 30 more to spend on other things. Awesome # 1.

Not too long ago, the government decided that we pay less for our EPF contribution. From 11% to 8%. So, I'll have a couple of hundred ringgit more cash to spend every month. Awesome # 2.

And awesome # 3 is there's going to be toll discount up to 10% and an additional 5% for the loyalty programme starting 1st January 2009. As I'm a frequent user of the North-South Expressway, surely I applaud this move.

With all the savings, I'll be able to buy more stuff. Isn't it awesome? I even came up with the plan of buying some expansive electrical goods using installment plan with those little savings I'm going to have. Like almost every credit card is offering interest free installments.

But the problem with awesome # 2 is that I'm gonna have less money for when I am old and haggard and don't have the ability to work to earn somemore. What is going to happen to me then? Will the government spare the aged some money?

And you know the catch with awesome # 3? You got to travel between midnight to 7am to enjoy the 10% discount. I'm not sure if this plan was a good move and certainly I don't want to know who approved it. If it's a short distance, eg. Penang - Taiping, then if I start my journey sharp at midnight, I'll reach Taiping by 1am. That is ok to me. But for someone who is going to start their journey at midnight from Penang heading to KL, that's going to be a 4 hour drive. That person is going to reach at 4am? Isn't it insane? Is it worth your consciousness for an RM 4 savings? I think that's gonna cause more accidents as the driver is going to feel so sleepy and lose the concentration to drive carefully. Come to think of it, are they serious about this? Seriously?

I think I will apply to continue paying 11% contribution to my EPF, so that I could live a few months longer when I'm old. And maybe what PLUS can do to make this 10% rebate worthy is to provide free coffee at rest areas or petrol kiosks along the highways during those times. Maybe this time caffeine will save some lives.