Keep the Gate Open

GATE has revolutionized education in Trinidad and Tobago. Degrees are rampant all thanks to a move by government firstly in 2001 with the dollar for dollar programme then in 2004 with the Government Assistance for Tuition Expenses (GATE) programme. For the first time a lot of families can now boast of having degree holders. No longer are Degrees, Masters and PhD’s for a chosen few. Through this avenue, doctors, lawyers, business professionals and many others were produced. Something that to many before seemed unattainable was now a reality.

For 12 years we enjoyed it but like every good thing, it came to an end. Well in this case it didn’t end but the “gate” has closed in a bit. So what does that mean for the generation of students coming up? Yes, the gate is still open but to enter it, we have to put in a little something. Our children have a right to education too so parents have to make sure that they get it. And if we have to help the government, then so be it. We should be thankful that the entire financial burden of tertiary education doesn’t fall on us and the government is still assisting. Citizens from many countries around the world are not as fortunate as we are in T&T.

How do we then ensure that our children are not deprived? How do we keep the "gate" open? Start saving for college. We hear it all the time on American tv. Families have a college fund and it costs way more to get a degree in the US. We need to do the same. Start saving for your children’s education if you’re not already doing it. Who knows how long the existing GATE arrangement will last. It could get better or worse. Don’t chance your child’s future on a possible political decision. Save, Save, Save!!!

Classtube

“Daddy, I want to learn to play keyboard”. A decade or so ago I would have had to go searching for a reasonably priced keyboard class. Location, class times, transportation, teacher would all have to be considered and these a just a few of the issues that would need working out. But no more.

Welcome to the classroom of the 21st century. Classtube if you will.

We live in the information age. This is a mantra that I live by. I say it all the time to remind myself of it. It is so extraordinary that anything we want to know, anything we want to learn is at our fingertips. Information is easily accessible, convenient and instantaneous. The internet has changed the world. We need to embrace it and run with it.

Youtube.com is one of the greatest avenues for sharing that has ever been created. It is free to give and receive information. It can be your own personal tutor for diy home projects, repairing your vehicle, developing yourself academically or learning to play the keyboard.

If you didn’t understand the first time, you can go back and watch it again. If you don’t like the tutor, you can change him or her. You no longer need to spend money to learn the things you want to learn and even more than that, you don’t need to pay to get certain things done anymore. Just watch a video and you can do it yourself. Watch it, do it. It all adds up to savings.

How has youtube and the internet changed your life?

Making Market

Ahh yes! It is Sunday morning and I’m off to the market to get the usual. You know, green seasonings like celery, chive, shadon beni and pimento peppers. The only difference is I’m not going to the regular market but to my backyard to reap these from my kitchen garden.

A market list includes all these and so much more. Dasheen bush, ochro, hot pepper for the Sunday callaloo; carrots, tomatoes, lettuce, cucumber for the fresh salad…all of these add up to a fortune on a Sunday morning. And these are just a sample of the produce that we purchase at the market. 

These items however, can be grown at home in a small kitchen garden or in containers. Guides for doing this can be obtained here under "Publications". You can also check out the Growbox System at this link.

While space for planting may be a challenge, teaming up with a neighbour or two is an option worth considering. You can plant 4 or 5 different crops, another neighbour 4 or 5 and another the same and when the harvest is in, produce is shared. In total each family can enjoy 15 different items and save a lot of money. If the produce is extremely bountiful, you can even share with other friends and family members.
Are there any other crops that can be planted at home and end up on a trini plate? Drop us a comment and let us know what you intend to cultivate.

Old Thing Does Bring New

An old trini saying which basically describes the scenario where someone damages an old borrowed item and has to replace it with a new one. That’s not the scenario I’m describing here though. What I’m talking about specifically is using your old car to help subsidize the cost of a new one.

I’ve been driving a Nissan for the past 8 years and it’s about time I “upgrade” as everyone keeps telling me. My decision is not based on the hankerings of my friends though. The vehicle itself has reached the point where it is costlier to keep. Mileage on the litre has decreased, oils have to be changed more regularly and the normal tune up is now demanded more often than I would prefer.

I could sell the old girl but I’ve decided to make it a taxi and get a driver. This way the vehicle will take care of itself and provide some extra cash for my installment on a new vehicle. How much cash will it provide, you ask? Taxi drivers nowadays pay the owner an average of $200 per day for 6 days per week. That works out to around $5000 monthly and that’s being prudent. It can work out to as much as $6000 per month.

So what do you think? Can an extra 5 or 6 thousand dollars a month take care of your old car and purchase a new one? I’m willing to give it a try. How about you?

Christmas is Coming

“Ah cyah wait for Christmas. Oh gosh! Soca parang, sorrel, ginger beer, pastel, black cake”. Christmas is my season.

It’s a known fact that we trinis love to celebrate and one of our most favourite seasons is Christmas so a lot of us spare no expense in decorating and stocking up on drinks and food supplies not to mention spreading some Christmas cheer with presents.

The Christmas expenses though, have a way of adding up and creating what we call “guava season” come January month. For those who don’t know, guava season is our way of describing the difficult economic times that we find ourselves in as a result of our frivolous expenditure. December’s salary is usually paid before the 25^th of the month and the majority of trinis, captivated by the spirit of the season, spend it on Christmas expenses and find difficulty meeting their financial obligations in January.

Getting around this guava season can be a simple matter of spreading out the expenses. Rather than using the November and early December salaries to meet all the Christmas expenses, try spreading them out throughout the year leading up to December. Buy a case of drinks every month, a present each month or buy decorations during the year in the off season when they’ll even be cheaper. counting this month, we have 5 salaries before December so why not give it a try. Trust me, I did it last year and guava season didn’t come in 2016 for me or my family.

What other Christmas expenses can we take care of before the season actually starts?

Dinner and a Movie

What can we do to entertain ourselves and our families on a Friday or Saturday evening these days? A little lime has gotten so expensive!

Cinema tickets cost $35 to $45 at best. For a family of four we’re multiplying everything by 4. Four times the tickets, four times the food. It can get quite costly and while going out is an experience in itself and families look forward to it, there has to be some control with regards to how often we do it.

Dinner and a movie can be enjoyed at home for a fraction of the cost. There are so many delicious meals that can be easily and quickly prepared. A ‘finger licking good’ home-made fried chicken and mashed potatoes, oven-made pizza or a spicy Italian dish of spaghetti and meat balls. These are just some ideas but this site can help spark even more creativity.

Movies can take the form of a family flick on tv, cable if you have or a dvd or internet movie. There a number of internet movie sites such as putlocker.is, solarmovie.com, genvideos.com, just to name a few. There are also full length movies on youtube.com. In essence, there are options to entertain the family at a reduced price so that having family time doesn’t have to leave you broke.

Give us some ideas on what cost-cutting activities you and your family enjoy.

Walking For Health And Wealth

Recently the taxi drivers in my area increased their fare from $4 to $5. The residents in the community groused and voiced their disagreement and displeasure with the increase but the fare has remained. $5 for a 3 minute drive, good road and no traffic. Unjust in my opinion but that's the fare. We do have an option however.

I can recall walking out of my area to get to school as a child. The fare at that time was $1 yet children and adults walked morning and evening. Travelling was for bad weather, late hours or if you had baggage like groceries etc. The distances haven’t changed, the climate hasn't changed significantly but our behaviours have. Granted, depending on where you live, walking may not be an option but if it is, give it a try.
A half an hour walk on mornings and evenings will do wonders for your health and your wealth.

When last have you taken a walk with the children or the spouse? These days all we do is go for a drive, never a walk. Next time choose a cool, relaxing walk and save some money on that monthly fuel bill.