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Living on less: Spending less, getting more
Out in serenity: A great way to spend the day in the city is by enjoying nature with friends and family over snacks and joyful conversations at public gardens such as Taman Ayodya along Jl
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span class="inline inline-center">Out in serenity: A great way to spend the day in the city is by enjoying nature with friends and family over snacks and joyful conversations at public gardens such as Taman Ayodya along Jl. Barito II in Kebayoran Baru, South Jakarta.
Sustaining a low-end lifestyle sounds challenging, especially taking into account Jakarta's ever changing social scene. There's always something new ' a more popular restaurant, a better workspace, an even healthier snack ' that we want to try. However, cutting costs on some basic needs, such as food and transportation, can help us live with the hectic pace of Jakarta life without stumbling into a financial ditch.
Food
Spending a lot of money on food is something habitual and accidental, but sometimes we shouldn't spend too much. One way to cut costs on food can start from consuming a simple breakfast, says Jakarta Low-End Living administrator Eric Wirjanata.
'We can change our breakfast menu to fruits,' he says. 'Obviously melons or bananas cost less and are healthier compared to instant noodles and manufactured foodstuffs. We can purchase these fruits from local markets.'
For dining out, Eric has a socially comforting tip.
Acknowledging Jakarta's vibrant social media scene, Eric suggests 'utilizing social media promo discounts' in addition to credit card discounts. He also added that one should not dine at a certain place just because of the hype. Making sure of the value of the restaurant and its food is important.
Having a picnic with friends can be a fun and more affordable alternative to dining out together, says founder of Jakarta Low-End Living Kurnia 'Ni'ang' Joedawinata.
'Bring your own beverages or homemade foodstuffs and enjoy them with friends in many of Jakarta's public spots.'
Transportation
Altering our mode of transportation is another way we can cut down on our daily spending. Instead of using personal cars or motorcycles, which require us to spend money on fuel, consider using public transportation that is guaranteed to take us where we want to go.
Taxis are a popular mode of transportation. However, even if it saves money, it doesn't save time because passengers will still be caught in traffic. Thus, Busway or Commuter Lines can often be a suitable alternative, and all for less than Rp 10,000 (74 US cents). Busway and Commuter Lines operate on a city-wide integrated public transportation system that takes passengers to various parts of the city.
'I choose what's fast but affordable,' says Felix Dass, another Jakarta Low-End Living administrator. 'But walking is still the most efficient. The city is changing and sidewalks are developing.'
Making use of new applications that focus on public transportation and harnessing their beta promotions is also an option to temporarily cut commuting costs. Some of these services can cost half the regular price during the promotional phase and provide ride-sharing services where passengers can share a ride and split the fee.
Working out
In terms of exercise, letting go of gym membership and instead engaging in simple cardio exercises at home is an effective way to cut costs. Looking up exercise videos on the Internet or even running around a residential area costs nothing yet produces visible results.
' Text and photos by JP/Sekar K. Tandjung
