At the risk of getting downvoted to the point where I'll never be seen again. I want to take a moment to talk about being thankful and praising God for all things.
Even Inflation
Before you click the downvote button
Give me a chance to explain.
Just like everyone else I've been hit by high inflation. I'd be lying if I said otherwise.
) Just over a year ago I was looking to buy a vehicle like this one
and the price was about $6,000 Canadian. Now the price has more doubled to $14,500.
and about the same time I was talking to a contractor about building a container cabin for a homestead I want to start. The original quote for this container home :
Image from status homes
Was about $45,000 Canadian. Now the cost is about $90,000.
)Food is also more expensive. I used to buy a 16L container of oil for $16.99 just before Covid hit. Now a price tag like this is far more common.
Which means the price has almost tripled from just over $1/liter to just over $3/liter.
So am I a complete moron?
First: I'm in a much better position that most people.
Why? Because for the past 12 years I've been trying to answer the question: How could I live a good life in the Philippines...if I was to only make the minimum wage of a Filipino. That's led me to look at a lot of cost cutting measures that aren't typical in Canada.
However: A lot of people are really hurting right now with the increased cost of everything. As a Pharmacist I've seen things like Acetaminophen go from $5.99 to $12.99 in our pharmacy and our markup hasn't changed, only our cost to get from the wholesaler. I've seen first hand how some pensioners and people with limited income are hurting.
Here are FOUR ways that I can be thankful for inflation though.
1. Tough times lead to tough people
"Hard times create strong men. Strong men create good times. Good times create weak men. And, weak men create hard times."Source: Unknown (John Boyd?)
My grandparents grew up in the 1930's or the dirty 30s as they were called. They knew what living with nothing was like and they grew stronger because of it. They learned how to make due with little. They learned how to stay out of debt. They learned how to be resourceful with the plants and items around them. They knew the value of work and didn't feel a sense of entitlement.
2. It is a great way to treat Affluenza and waste
In Western culture there is an attitude that things are disposable. Buy more. Food gets wasted. Items aren't appreciated. In short...people are programmed to buy more and more and more without it really making them happy.
Hopefully with things getting more expensive people will take a moment to step back and think before they spend. Make wise decisions with their money. Learn that some of the most important things in life require TIME not money.
3. It can be call for Community.
Rising prices are going to hurt many people though. People who were barely making it before will be unable to make it now.
UNLESS
People come together as a community. When people work together things can get done. People can share the load more. People can share experiences more. People can hopefully get together in Unity to stand as one.
When people are rich and complacent its easy to just sit at home and watch TV. When times are hard they are forced to actually work towards a better community. Or at least I hope so.
4. It is a Call to Action.
Certain things just stay the way they are because people become complacent when they are cheap and money isn't a big issue.
On a small scale I had my Internet bill with a local provider (Telus) and was paying $130/month for years. I knew it was possible to get the same internet for cheaper but never bothered. When prices started going up I started taking a closer look at expenses and inflation was the kick I needed to switch to a less expensive provider (Freedom) at $50/month. So inflation indirectly saved me $70/month!
Or perhaps look at the amount of money spent on eating at fast food restaurants. When it was really cheap it was tempting to just take the easy way for dinner and pay a few dollars for a burger and fries. It wasn't healthy but it was fast, easy and cheap. However, inflation has made it much more expensive which is a great incentive to cook meals at home which are both healthier and less expensive.
On a larger scale inflation can help local communities become more self sufficient. When wheat, beans and other staples are cheap to import from overseas then why would local farmers bother to plant them? Just get the cheap stuff delivered.
However, as prices of imports rise it gives the community a good reason why they should plant their own food or make their own products rather than relying on imports. Doing these things in the community helps it to become more resilient and self reliant which can be very beneficial!
But for me its a little more personal
Being a blogger isn't something that comes naturally for me.
The amount of money I make for posting on Hive is far less than just playing Coin Hunt and going for a long walk each day. It is also so much less than I would make as Pharmacist. Two hours work in the Pharmacy is Two months work on Hive for me.
So, why do I bother posting?????
Because as a Christian I believe I'm supposed to be a light in the world
NOT because I need the money but because I want to show anyone and everyoneWhich is the whole reason I'm on Hive. @terganftp is the account I setup to show that it is possible to make money starting from absolutely nothing. I want to grow it to 4000HBD out there that it is possible to make money from nothing. Even if you are shy, awkward, and a terrible speaker (like me). Originally it was to show my friend @mamalen and another friend Lexy from the Philippines but now I'll happily show anyone, anywhere, that it is possible to share your story and make some money.
But making a little nest egg is only half of the solution. The other half of the solution is being able to live well on the income from that $4000HBD (about $800/year). How much is $800HBD...about 2.15/day or about 30,000 Naira per month. If you ask a fellow Hivian @monica-ene she will say that it is just not possible to do that.
But I hope to prove her wrong
Which is why I also started up the Hive Community "Be Frugal not Stingy". I believe it is possible to stretch a tiny amount of money a long way. I haven't started posting there yet because I needed to learn "Hive Etiquette" first and @dlmmqb has been my go-to person on getting me up to speed on how to be a good Hivian.
Also, I believe it was another Hive member @jjmusa2004 who was upset with rich countries who wanted to force poor people to do climate change without offering good cheap alternatives. Well, being from a rich country I want to explore good cheap alternatives to help people lead better lives (hopefully with fewer toxic emissions)
I really want to make a post entitled "How to live a rich life on 30,000 Naira per month". It's a topic I've been thinking about for over a decade (although originally it was $1 USD / day) and I think I have good ideas. Maybe with inflation being so high people might actually drop by and take a look, if not for inflation I'm sure it would be ignored.
To sum it all up.
Inflation sucks
I'd be an idiot to deny that.
However
Without inflation I would never have joined Hive, Never would have met @monica-ene, @jjmusa2004, @jmis101, and @dlmmqb, and Never would have bothered trying to present a way to live a good life on a tight budget.
So, maybe something good can come from something bad after all.
Thanks for reading.
I like your view on inflation. You said so many things so easily. Bad things teach us and made us more stronger and better.
There is a quote....
Life is 5% what happens to you and 95% how you react to it. Better to react positively the best your able so you can enjoy your day ... regardless the circumstances. Unfortunately some things are harder to be positive about (like inflation).... but have to at least try
that is the only thing am thankful for, for making me found hive thanks inflation, tough times makes you realize yourself
I'm glad you have a positive mind both to achieve a set goal and also have a charity community. The world needs a better people and not the other way round.
Kudos to your beautiful posts always!🔥
You're favourited!!!
Thanks. Enjoy reading your posts also.
Of course, I think the hardest part in my endeavor is to be taken seriously. I have a feeling anyone from Nigeria (or Philippines, or Venezuela, etc) won't believe that a Canadian would have any idea about trying to live on a tight budget.
Even fingers or identical twins are not the same. Every individual must be seen as a unique entity and one must be given the opportunity to paint one's picture and not the audience assuming.
I believe whatever you paint yourself as and would want me to know friend.
Living simple and starting from the scratch has its way of adding value to our accomplishments.
It's always a pleasure reading your contents
Living simple and starting from the scratch... They are truly an important watch word.
Thanks to inflation I am here on hive, and I am loving every bit of it.
Yes sure, meeting wonderful people from different parts of the world makes it super cool.
I love your positive energy and how you thrive to shame inflation.
I will really love to read about it, minimum wage here for a month is thirty three thousand naira.
Which one can barely save something from it.
We just live normal not richly, so your post on it will be beneficial.
Looking forward to it.
I look forward to writing the post. Although I was thinking about what you said "We live normal not rich" and about another post I'm hoping to make "Would you rather be wealthy or rich". Many people chase after money to be wealthy. I think its smarter to chase after God, friendship, community and peace so we can be rich.
I'd much rather make 30K naira and lead a "rich" life than 1 Million with strife. Which may be another post I make someday.
..... ahh.... so many ideas and so little time to write :)
Yes.
Is because you said "how to live a rich life with 30,000 naira".
That's the reason I mentioned the rich aspect.
I totally understand what you mean and that's how I have come to understand how a peaceful life works.
Rich in Christ is ultimate.
One person's right can be wrong in someone else's story. There is no such thing as rules. Just cause many people are here, a culture is built. Also, I just share my experiences. No guarantee about if they will guide you in right direction. All I can do is share my knowledge which I was doing since day 1, when I saw your post filled with questions.
Of course you are right. I know that I can do whatever I want on Hive. However, as with any freedom just because I can do it doesn't mean that I should do it....or that any action would be beneficial.
As a respected member of the community and curator for many communities I really will be relying on your advice on guiding me through.
Side note: I never knew Hive Learners had a two post per day cap over all hive posts. That's a real drag. One post for Actifit to keep my streak going (important for Actifit curation) and one post in Hive-learners means no posts left for my own community 😔 (Be Frugal not Stingy).....an example of a rule I might just have to break😉
You misunderstood this part:
It is recommended that you shouldn’t make more than two post per day on Hive. Generally it is considered as spamming And if you do not publish more than one content in Hive Learners Community, per day, then it is okay.He didn't mean what you think.
You shouldn't post more than one time in HL. But it's not like you see a clock to count 24 hours. On average, your post should follow this rule.
In general, making three posts a day on Hive may be perceived as spammy. It can become challenging to manage your time for other activities on Hive. Keep in mind that Hive rewards not only your content but also your engagement with the community. Now, let's consider if you make three blogs a day, and for each blog, you read and reply to five comments, read 15 posts, and comment on them.
Ask yourself, can you accomplish all of these tasks within 24 hours? Therefore, it's merely a recommendation. You have the choice to either follow it or ignore it.
I hope this clarifies the intended meaning.
hehe..
Yes, I know that Hive can eat up a lot of your time if you let it. I'm lucky as I am working towards retirement. Walking the dog for 3 hours a day means lots of time to come up with ideas for posts. Also with less than 20 followers I rarely even get a reply to my posts. I just hope someone will read it and enjoy it and if I'm really lucky a curator will come along.
However, for those few who are following me I don't want to have a bunch of stuff come up in their feed so they think I'm spamming their channel.
I promise I'll only break the 2 posts per day Hive guideline when I think I have valuable posts to make 😁 Hmm.... well, I'm keeping Actifit even though you think it garbage. If I'm walking 3hrs a day for over 10km walked how can I not 😛
If you think, your followers r low.....
Make a habit of commenting on other people's blog 5x for every blog you make.
If you actually read people, it's most likely they will check you out too.
Its about that time of the day I get quality time to engage here.
First and foremost, I am glad that you have viewed this from a positive mindset which has in turn influenced my thoughts.
I have never seen the good side of inflation before and instead of been thankful, we are often depressed and gloomy for the things we desire and cannot posses.
We are indeed holding on strong, I have stretched myself to grow my own food with an assurance that there is only little left to be bought from the market.
Managing multiple tasks and utilizing these resources meticulously.
I know the value of work, contentment, self reliant, independence and feeling of entitlement isn't a part of my being.
Indeed I have alot to be grateful for.
Nevertheless I still look out for the most vulnerable of society who have no access to any of the benefits I enjoy.
Have you thought about the beggers in the street?
What could have reduced them to such state.
Thanks for your reply. When I saw the Hive learners topic about inflation I knew it would be a hard topic for many people. So many are hurting because of it. I knew I could take the easy road and complain like everyone else but figured I'd try to show a different viewpoint. I'm glad you enjoyed it (or at least I think you did).
As for beggars on the street. Absolutely I've thought about beggars on the street. A lot. In truth when I was a child I went from garbage can to garbage can looking for cans to sell. Maybe not a beggar but close enough. After university I was homeless for a month (after I had a degree but waiting for certificate to be issued so I could work).
I've come from nothing and worked hard to develop a mindset to keep me from going back. However, I've also seen that wealth does not equal happiness. Wealth is a trap just as deadly as being poor....although I bet many people wouldn't believe me on that point.
In the end I see Hive as a tool where anyone gets a chance to tell their story and make some money in the process. even if they are a beggar on the street. That's why I started blogging on this account, that's why I want to show hope starting from nothing. That's why I'm hoping I can enlist the help of those in poorer countries to help me in formulating this plan and telling my message.
...I'm just worried about being seen as arrogant. I don't want anyone to think I'm just some Rich Canadian trying to push my values on someone.
As for how do people become beggars. I wish I had time to write about a wonderful girl I know named Lexy...who was put in a situation so bad she may well end up a beggar. Or if I had a chance to watch the show "Metro Manila" with you which shows the hardships that put an honest hardworking father on the street.
So much hurt in the world and I feel so powerless to do anything about it. Then again, I'll never stop looking for a responsible way to try and help.
...and remember that I can't do anything without the help of God.
Hmmm.... This is thoughtful and sometimes it is best that we learn something's from experienced people.
You sure have alot to share and it doesn't matter what anyone else thinks, everyone is entitled to their opinion and interested persons will have a thing or two to learn from your experience.
Truly difficult times makes people strong. I am so happy that inflation and the challenges of life didn't break you but made you a better man. Honestly most of us wouldn't have been where we are today, if life was just very easy.
See us now, we have discovered diverse ways to survive and we are still doing well. The saying whatever doesn't break you will make you is true. Our daily prayer is that this problem of inflation will soon pass away.
hehe... Bet you didn't know that's part of the Lord's Prayer 😉
"Thy kingdom come, thy will be done".
A lot of people think of that line as being overly religious. I think of what God wants for us peace, prosperity, and love. When we pray that we are asking for politicians to do what is right, people to have enough money for that which they need, crime/strife/unrest to go away.
However, until that day comes I'll also be praying for inflation to ease.
That part of our Lord's prayer is very deep, at a time like this, every wise person will hold unto to it tight, because if God doesn't help us, we are doomed.
Those in the government are also men, most of them are full of selfish ambition, one must learn to shift his hope from them to God almighty for supplies
Prayer is all we can offer, I am sure it will soon ease. Let's keep hoping on God
A LOT of beautiful truths in this post! Not sure why you fear being downvoted for saying so many real truths! Thank yiy for creating and sharing what i consider to be a very inspiring post! I send my love and best wishes to you and your loved ones!🤗🤗🤗🤗A LOT of beautiful truths in this post! Not sure why you fear being downvoted for saying so many real truths! Thank yiy for creating and sharing what i consider to be a very inspiring post! I send my love and best wishes to you and your loved ones!🤗🤗🤗🤗
Why do I fear being downvoted?
Because a lot of people are feeling a lot of very real pain with the cost of things right now. I hear the despair in their words. I feel for their plight just trying to feed a family or themselves with everything getting more expensive. People are losing their homes because of high interest. Having to choose between heating their homes or eating their food.
Telling people don't worry, be thankful for it can seem downright mean.
Now I don't intend it to be mean. My whole point is that there is hope but its a long hard road.
Thanks for engaging though. I appreciate the feedback :)
This is so true.
Not everyone will be willing to listen to an opinion that speaks against their fate and pain.