Even with two people working, family still struggles to make ends meet

By Ulimasao Fata 23 December 2017, 12:00AM

Think about this. 

You’re working more than eight hours to try to earn enough to feed your family.

And yet on payday, you are left with almost nothing.

That’s how expensive the cost of living is in Samoa today.

It has left Savelio Iafeta, 46, searching and struggling for another source of income. 

“I currently work at one of the Chinese business here and I make $105 per week, while my wife makes $80,” the lad from Faleula told the Village Voice team yesterday. 

“I normally work for eight hours, but I am pushing myself to work more than that because I really need the money.

“I sometime just go around and see if anyone needs me for any of their work so I can make more money.

Mr. Iafeta says money earned from any work is not enough to cater for the expensive cost of living these days.

“My wife and I are supporting her parents and a few cousins we are living together and trust me the amount we make is just not enough.

“$100 today is like using a $10, what I mean is that $100 can only cover three meals for one day and that’s where my point comes in about the price of things we have now.”

Mr. Iafeta says his struggle right now is working overtime for his family’s sake. 

 “The cost of corned beef today is $10 while tinned fish is $5 and that is not good at all.”

Mr. Iafeta also mentioned that while Christmas is closing in, the only thing he has bought for his family is their new carpet.

“Carpets are not cheap, and I’ve bought one for my family to for this Christmas.

“That was the only thing I could afford for us this year, and it’s a gift for everyone in my family.”

Mr. Iafeta added life would be a ray of sunshine if earnings matched the prices on food shelves in stores.

By Ulimasao Fata 23 December 2017, 12:00AM
Samoa Observer

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