How do you cope with rising prices?

The rising cost of living is felt by everyone today. Whereas in previous years price hikes did not seem to affect the rich, the rise in gas prices in recent months has altered everybody’s behavior. People who never before took the MRT are now leaving their cars at home and carpooling. Here are some tips on how to save — and still enjoy life.

MAI KAUFMAN, bag and interior designer/owner, Karma Antiques: Fight rising prices with strategic shopping. Buy only necessary things. Reuse, reduce and recycle religiously. Consider changing your eating habits, opt for leaner meals at home over richer restaurant fare. Unplug unused appliances around the house. Use energy-efficient light bulbs. To reduce driving expenses, keep your vehicle in good working order. Consolidate your trips and consider carpooling with other people, riding a bike, jogging, or walking. The exercise will benefit your health.  Bottom line: use your common sense.

FE RODRIGUEZ, housewife: We do not use incandescent bulbs. During the day we open windows so we don’t have to turn on the air-con. Ironing is done only once a week and trips for errands are scheduled. We use our diesel car more often to save on gas. Every bit of savings amounts to a lot when added up.

ANGELI VALENCIANO, talent manager: If you’re in the music industry, get more sponsors! We hold creative meetings at Studio V instead of in expensive restaurants. We try to solicit food and drink sponsors for all projects as well to minimize food budget as we feed suppliers’ workers when they work for Gary. When you market for meetings done at home, you spend P2,000 for what would otherwise be a P7,000 to P10,000 dinner. Recently the ASAP gang went to the house and 68 people came! We planned the dinner, we bought flowers, went to market for food, and we spent only P14,000 yet it looked like it was catered.

We encourage our daughter Kiana to sleep in our room to minimize air-con use at night. We plan our trips together now. I carry with me in the car a thermos with water and juices and a basket of snacks like Sky Flakes, raisins, nuts, etc. and this makes it cheaper than buying them in malls. I also send my girl to Divisoria now and then where the prices are cheaper.

VICKY PIMENTEL, managing partner, Cucina Victoria: Wow, I think we’re all forced to cope since there’s no other way!  Going to Cucina Victoria at Rockwell was a daily thing for me until the never-ending gas price hikes. Now the store has to get used to an every-other-day delivery. I have to plan all trips to Makati from Alabang, and that includes riding the pickup with deliveries to cut down on toll fees and fuel consumption. I even have to monitor the purchasing of supplies and ingredients on a daily basis because I discovered that some items from distributors cost more than from retailers. My son who goes to La Salle Taft has been on a car pool for two years now. Tipid tips: prepare the same food for the entire household (including family members and househelp), minimize electric or LPG consumption, water etc., use “super kalan” (with charcoal) instead of a pressure cooker if not in a rush. Cook in big batches if it can be stored for a long period, like adobo, tomato-based and oil-based pasta sauces. Replace old appliances for low-wattage equipment.

YUMI CASTRILLO, lawyer/baker: My tipid tip: eat out less! I’ve unearthed some of my old, forgotten cookbooks and our family stays at home more and cooks together.

MARK VILLAR, CEO, Crown Asia: In the office, we’re going to convert some vehicles to LPG. I’m also trying to adjust my schedule to minimize my car usage.

CRYSTALLE OZAMIS, O Cuisine owner: I have switched to jogging outdoors instead of driving myself to the gym. Not only do I reduce my gas expenses, it also helps save the environment. I am also big on using recycled paper for the office as well as my sketches.

MIA URQUICO, fashion designer: I realize there are many things I don’t really need and it’s liberating to simplify. I invite my family and friends over to my house to hang out, planning movie nights at a friend’s house, a good massage to relax, swapping books instead of buying new ones, working out at home. Being more organized in planning car trips helps.

FERNANDO ARACAMA, executive chef, Embassy Cuisine/Cafeteria, Members Only, Holy Cow Chop House and The Tides Boracay: I take the MRT from Makati to Quezon City to work in my restaurant at TriNoma. The MRT does get full at times but nothing that you can’t deal with; it certainly beats sitting in traffic, wasting your time and gasoline.

At home, cook with your turbo broiler. It cooks fast, uses less or no oil at all, produces healthier meals, and you don’t consume LPG.

LEN NEPUMUCENO GUIAO, fashion designer: We plan the daily transportation trips, arrange carpool for the kids. I have three kids, who attend different schools. My daughter first gets off at Poveda, then my son is dropped off at Shangri-La to take the MRT-LRT to DLSU; last stop is LSGH for my youngest. It has saved us P800 a day for gas, or P16,000 a month! Also, eating out with the family is now done on special occasions only.

MIKEL CAMPOS, actor: Rising prices are a reality that we have to accept. I try to continue enjoying the good things in life in a simpler, less expensive way, like being with friends at my home or theirs instead of expensive locations, and using the landline more than the cell phone.

AMPARITO LHUILLIER, businesswoman: Vehicles should be warmed up from one to five minutes before traveling. House and garden lights should be on between 6 and 9 p.m. only. Make sure all appliances are shut off, plan car use and use your senior citizen’s discount card. Walk and climb stairs whenever you can; it’s a great exercise!