Economic slowdown forces white-collar workers to tighten belts

BANGKOK: -- Concerned by the economic slowdown due to rising oil prices, white-collar people have opted to tighten their belts by postponing purchasing new houses and having a child until the economy picks up, according to a survey by the country’s leading advertising agency Spa Advertising Co.

The survey was made with a random sample of 200 white-collar people aged between 23-35, who are in the working age and just enter the wedding life with a family revenue of around 20,000 baht a month, on how they could adjust themselves to the economic slowdown, particularly in the second half of this year.

Most people surveyed said they would begin to tighten belts by reducing spending on mobile phones (43%), clothes (40%), luxury goods (39%), beer and liquor (24%), overseas tour (20%) and seeing movies in theatre (17%).

On how to increase revenue, 55% said they would work more or find special jobs, 21% would save more, and 3% would buy life insurance policies.

On how to adjust themselves to accommodate the increased costs of living, 49% said they would postpone purchasing houses, 46% opted to postpone buying or changing a new car indefinitely, 34% to delay a plan to further study, 32% to postpone opening new business, 19% to delay the marriage plan, 14% to give up the oversea tour plan, 7% to cancel the high education plan, 3% to stop investing in the stock market, and 2% to give up the plan to have a child.

--TNA 2005-06-21

Nothing like curtailing spending to boost an economy.

Will farangs be tightening their belts and reducing spending on beer and girls and buffalos ?

Farang comes home from the office.

"Tilac due to the ever increasing cost of fuel oil we have to cut our monthly expenditure on buffalos and duggadan "

Tilac throws a fit !

WHAT ! bwaaaa-bboohoooooo

Never cut our buffalos darling, you promise me 1 buffalo per mun!

Sorry Tilac its us or the buffalos.

I wan deevorce then ......bwaaaaaaaaaaa..i go home mama .booohooo

"Economic slowdown forces white-collar workers to tighten belts"...

"according to a survey by the country’s leading advertising agency Spa Advertising Co." ...but make sure spend more $$$ at Spa?