HUMAN RIGHTS PROGRAM : FOMCA declares 'Buy Nothing Day' on July 16. Available at : http://www.eraconsumer.org/events.php?event_id=82
That day has been declared the “Buy Nothing Day” by the Federation of Malaysian Consumers Associations (Fomca). Fomca, with the cooperation of its partners, wants the Buy Nothing Day to be a day for consumers to review and reflect their personal values, especially in relation to consumerism. It is also a time for consumers to think of their spending patterns, and about their values in relation to the importance given to family and friends, and the goods they acquire.
I personally consumers needed to set a budget for themselves and spend on needs rather on wants. And it can be solved by avoiding using credit cards and installments. Food, cars and house are unavoidable needs. But for camera, laptop, phones, etc. are just wants, you can't live without that. Most importantly, spend according to how much a portion that you wanna spend on a camera and others. Or spend according budget. In conclusion, spend wise. As a finance student, I thinks that if a country wants to be stable and grow economically, spending power of consumers must be big. And it should be getting bigger. We shouldn't encouraging people to stop spending now. We are facing an inflation, not a recession. Prices of goods and foods goes up but our money value stays the same.
The best way to fight inflation is to balance the average income per capita, which is still very low. Increase people income is the way. Decrease corporate tax and force them to give as salary or bonuses. For your information, current corporate tax is 28% if not mistaken, update me. Earn 1million pay government 280k tax. Imagine the amount. Where is these money? Pay millions and billions to JB-Spore bridge contractor..They build first, talk later...What a joke..
Every government retirees including teachers, polices, soldiers, etc at least 1k per month..Already got high EPF and RM1 income tax, shouldn't that be reduced? Recently the oil price has also dropped and experts cited that it may be stable for quite some time. Like that still canot subsidize petrol ka? Petronas untung berapa? Duit mana? Macam mana guna? Cancel Penang's mega projects such as MRT and second bridge..Obvious bias la..Lets watch for the next GE....Ops gone too far, back to economic.
How to increase peoples' income? Most important is for the long term, stop population increase. Discourage birth of 7-8 childrens for a family. I once read in the newspaper that one man who has 2 wives and have like 11 or more very young childrens. His household income are around 2k. Why can they still survive? Gov subsidized. Whose money is that the gov use? Rakyat punya again..
Source: eraconsumer.org
Meanwhile, following are some of the positive measures consumers can do:
- Packing lunches/snacks at home and having them at the office;
- Having more meals at home and eating out less;
- Reducing electricity consumption, such as reducing the amount of time the air-conditioner is switched on or using the fan more often;
- Planning travel in advance;
- Using public transport more often;
- Buying only when necessary, and evaluating the needs versus the wants;
- Using energy-efficient equipment, like a front-loading washing machine rather than a top-loading one;
- Stop using credit cards; and
- Buying house brand goods instead of branded goods.
